A review by lize_barclay
Giant's Bread by Mary Westmacott, Agatha Christie

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

2.0

I am reading all of Christie’s novels, plays and short stories. However, this was rather jarring. I am very sensitive and forgiving towards the zeitgeist of when then book was written, but even from that perspective this work is depressing, horrific and confusing. The main character is really horrible. I know the tortured genius composer thing would have to be taken into account, but still, his racism and treatment of his family and friends is absolutely unforgivable now and would have been 100 years ago as well. I wish Christie studied and described more of the music and art movements of the time as that would have added value to this work. The 3 young women in his life probably meant something symbolic, but are all tragic in their own way, but also very forgettable. Sebastian is a solid and sympathetic character at least. I really miss Christie’s crisp descriptions and understanding of the time and people. It doesn’t feel like it was only written under another name, it feels written by a completely different writer completely: maybe a moody cousin who wanted to publish something too. If you are a Christie fan, skip this and rather read her murder mysteries or spy novels again.
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