Reviews

The Informer by Liam O'Flaherty

swaggle's review

3.5

I like how unbelievably stupid Gypo was throughout the entire book, what a funny character. But still barely cunning enough to make the novel exciting. Overall fun, short read with plenty of descriptive language, never felt tedious or boring. 

franklinroberts12's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

robertwhelan's review

4.0

Good. Nice descriptions of Irish archetypes. Felt accurate in terms of characters and outcomes.

katbert's review

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

unobstructedspace's review

3.0

60/100

I'm sure this is a fine book and all, but I could not, for the life of me, stand the needless exposition upon exposition upon exposition. I honestly feel that O'Flaherty could have told the same story, but shorter while still leaving in the important details.

bibliothecarivs's review

3.0

Worth reading once but the film is much better.

mhanlon's review

3.0

This was a good story, mired in a heck of a lot of bilious, overwrought, sometimes plodding adjectives.
But entertaining with a few little funny moments and observations (even funnier when they weren't laden with the minutest of details regarding the angle of both theft and right arms, hands, each finger, hair on the character's head, &c.).
It reminded me of an Irish version of The Secret Agent, by Joseph Conrad (which I loved and flowed more smoothly, so far as I recall).