A Perfectly Good Man
This book has a wonderful structure, heading back and forth along the lifeline of Barnaby, a parish priest (Anglican, I think not, Catholic, because he is married with a family.) This results in an odd patchwork effect – you often find out someone’s fate before you actually meet them for real as they enter Barnaby’s life or leave it. This patchwork is mesmerising, gorgeous and very intriguing. I read it in less than 24 hours, ignoring various vital writery or family things I should have been doing instead…
All the Patrick Gale books I’ve read so far have delicately described people and places (often Cornwall) but have also tackled large and hard to pin down concepts. Notes From An Exhibition was about creativity (and the cost of creativity); this book is about faith, where it springs from, and how it changes people and their lives.
It is also about cruelty, deception and love, and it contains two of the cruellest things I’ve ever read in a book - a parent’s refusal to allow a child to grieve and a thief’s casual destruction of something precious – both of which happen almost quietly and unnoticed within the narrative, and yet are breathtaking in their inhumanity and believability.
I loved this book. And I must not let myself forget, because of his quiet calm lack of melodrama, how much I love this writer. I must go and find another life of his to read.
I don't usually mind books that jump around in time and voice but I felt with this one that it detracted from the great characters and thoughtful story a bit. However, the overall effect is very satisfying. We join Barnaby as he is hi-jacked into sitting with a young man as he commits suicide and end with a simple but very believable explanation of how he came to live his life the way he did. along the way, along Barnaby's lfe in fact, are a warm, engrossing and endearing set of friends and
I really wanted to like this book, it was an interesting concept for a novel but I never connected with any of this book or the characters. The book revolves around the community effects of Lennys suicide in front of a priest. This small community and the stories of past and present play out in this book. For me the people never felt real and I think that first began with Father Barnaby Thomas feeling to fake. Having grown up in a small town with a minister for a father Ive seen how people react
Its almost possible to forget how wonderful Patrick Gales books are, because they arent showy or loud. This book has a wonderful structure, heading back and forth along the lifeline of Barnaby, a parish priest (Anglican, I think not, Catholic, because he is married with a family.) This results in an odd patchwork effect you often find out someones fate before you actually meet them for real as they enter Barnabys life or leave it. This patchwork is mesmerising, gorgeous and very intriguing. I
This is a very fine novel. A fascinating tale with a powerful emotional impact, beautifully written and ingeniously structured: what more could a reader want?
I got as far as I was likely to get.About half way. The way it was told , with different people at different times of life, it was like opening a photo album to find all the photos muddled up. Afraid the quality of the writing wasn't enough to keep me motivated to continue reading, plus I didn't much care about any of the characters, largely because I never got time to settle down with them in a logical fashion. I know others have loved it , but it just wasn't for me.
This is a very fine novel. A fascinating tale with a powerful emotional impact, beautifully written and ingeniously structured: what more could a reader want?
Patrick Gale
Paperback | Pages: 405 pages Rating: 3.92 | 2665 Users | 313 Reviews
Identify About Books A Perfectly Good Man
Title | : | A Perfectly Good Man |
Author | : | Patrick Gale |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 405 pages |
Published | : | March 3rd 2012 by Fourth Estate (first published March 1st 2012) |
Categories | : | Fiction. Literary Fiction. Contemporary. European Literature. British Literature |
Interpretation In Pursuance Of Books A Perfectly Good Man
It’s almost possible to forget how wonderful Patrick Gale’s books are, because they aren’t showy or loud.This book has a wonderful structure, heading back and forth along the lifeline of Barnaby, a parish priest (Anglican, I think not, Catholic, because he is married with a family.) This results in an odd patchwork effect – you often find out someone’s fate before you actually meet them for real as they enter Barnaby’s life or leave it. This patchwork is mesmerising, gorgeous and very intriguing. I read it in less than 24 hours, ignoring various vital writery or family things I should have been doing instead…
All the Patrick Gale books I’ve read so far have delicately described people and places (often Cornwall) but have also tackled large and hard to pin down concepts. Notes From An Exhibition was about creativity (and the cost of creativity); this book is about faith, where it springs from, and how it changes people and their lives.
It is also about cruelty, deception and love, and it contains two of the cruellest things I’ve ever read in a book - a parent’s refusal to allow a child to grieve and a thief’s casual destruction of something precious – both of which happen almost quietly and unnoticed within the narrative, and yet are breathtaking in their inhumanity and believability.
I loved this book. And I must not let myself forget, because of his quiet calm lack of melodrama, how much I love this writer. I must go and find another life of his to read.
Present Books Conducive To A Perfectly Good Man
Original Title: | A Perfectly Good Man |
ISBN: | 0007442424 (ISBN13: 9780007442423) |
Edition Language: | English |
Literary Awards: | Green Carnation Prize (2012) |
Rating About Books A Perfectly Good Man
Ratings: 3.92 From 2665 Users | 313 ReviewsCriticism About Books A Perfectly Good Man
Withdrawn from Liverpool Libraries.Description: The apparent serenity of parish life in Pendeen and Morvah is disturbed when 20-year-old Lenny Barnes takes his own life in the presence of Father Barnaby Thomas, the charismatic, indefatigable local priest, whose enduring service has made him a popular member of his Cornish community.Though Lennys death is publicly mourned, the tragedy continues to wound those closest to him, and its reverberations seem to threaten a fissure between the Parish andI don't usually mind books that jump around in time and voice but I felt with this one that it detracted from the great characters and thoughtful story a bit. However, the overall effect is very satisfying. We join Barnaby as he is hi-jacked into sitting with a young man as he commits suicide and end with a simple but very believable explanation of how he came to live his life the way he did. along the way, along Barnaby's lfe in fact, are a warm, engrossing and endearing set of friends and
I really wanted to like this book, it was an interesting concept for a novel but I never connected with any of this book or the characters. The book revolves around the community effects of Lennys suicide in front of a priest. This small community and the stories of past and present play out in this book. For me the people never felt real and I think that first began with Father Barnaby Thomas feeling to fake. Having grown up in a small town with a minister for a father Ive seen how people react
Its almost possible to forget how wonderful Patrick Gales books are, because they arent showy or loud. This book has a wonderful structure, heading back and forth along the lifeline of Barnaby, a parish priest (Anglican, I think not, Catholic, because he is married with a family.) This results in an odd patchwork effect you often find out someones fate before you actually meet them for real as they enter Barnabys life or leave it. This patchwork is mesmerising, gorgeous and very intriguing. I
This is a very fine novel. A fascinating tale with a powerful emotional impact, beautifully written and ingeniously structured: what more could a reader want?
I got as far as I was likely to get.About half way. The way it was told , with different people at different times of life, it was like opening a photo album to find all the photos muddled up. Afraid the quality of the writing wasn't enough to keep me motivated to continue reading, plus I didn't much care about any of the characters, largely because I never got time to settle down with them in a logical fashion. I know others have loved it , but it just wasn't for me.
This is a very fine novel. A fascinating tale with a powerful emotional impact, beautifully written and ingeniously structured: what more could a reader want?
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