England, England by Julian Barnes

[BelligerentGhoul]

Has anybody read this? Having loved 'Flaubert's Parrot' and 'Arthur And George' was expecting to really like this but it has disappointed me.

Some quite amusing social commentary and some passages of decent writing plus occasionally excellent scathing putdowns but overall I feel as if he didn't quite know what the POINT was, or failed to get to it sufficiently to make me care.

Nobody?

Trying again - please tell me I'm not the only person to have forced my way through it?

Not read this. Would have given it a go if I'd known about it as I love JB usually. Not sure I will now though

He's a funny old writer, Julian Barnes, imo, I really liked Arthur and George but found Flaubert's Parrot unbelievably dull. I rarely start a book without finishing it but I found it just impossible to get to the end.

Not very helpful, I know, but I haven't read England, England and from what you've written I think I'll save myself the £7

Hurray! See, I really liked Flaubert's parrot, which I thought was very funny indeed.

I've got The History Of The World to take on holiday with me - have either of you read it?

I really enjoyed the History of World in 9 and 3/4 chapters (I think that was it's title) and Talking it Over. But Arthur and George was his best IMO.

Thank you! I haven't even read the blurb, so I have no preconceptions about it at all!

Arthur And George was superb.

History of the World is fabulous- my favourite, more like Flaubert's Parrot than Arthur and George though.

Fantastic - good to hear!