Morvern Callar by Alan Warner Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.00 You Save: $5.95 (46%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.05 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Morvern Callar
Book Review: blokes can't 'do' women.
Summary: 2 Stars
I loved the verve and panache and originality of the writing. The book was funny and black. But so much left unanswered ... did no one smell the rotting corpse? Did no one find out that the practically illiterate girl didn't write the novel? And has Lanna not actually guessed that Morvy, poor sod, is a transvestite? No, of course she isn't really, but kerrist why do men persist in writing from a female viewpoint?? Real girls stuck in airport lounges drink coffee and read mags or books, they do not drift off to find the nearest Formula One machine. And they don't spend HOURS soaping up their best friend's breasts in yet another shower scene. And they really don't have that mad urge to masturbate in front of the TV. It's just a male fantasy splurging out of the pages, and that's a shame cos the book was otherwise pretty good, and I liked the characterisation of people like Red Hanna. Wanted to know more about Morvy's past. The last page left me thinking: "yeah...and the point of this novel is...? And... so what??" If people are going to jump on the 'Young, Gifted, and Scottish' band wagon, at least have SOMETHING to say!! Not just ain't it grim being from a small town in a cold place.Book Review: high hopes....mixed feelings
Summary: 3 Stars
Being an avid reader of all Irvine Welsh novels I was intrigued by Morvern Callar (being a recommendation book from the amazon.com scottish fiction library). Heck, there is a brilliant quote from Irvine right on the cover...I thought this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately it only meandered around the alley...the abrupt start throws you headlong into Morvern's life which was a bit bizarre as it becomes glaringly obvious that this book was written by a man who doesn't quite know how to write convincingly as a girl (the reader from Maryland has it right...enough with the baths). Aside from the [small] character glitch, the story is a smooth progression of random events and as my faith in the novel begins to rise it grinds to a screeching halt and I'm left with questions which go unanswered...as if Warner was getting a bit bored and decided to call it a day.Book Review: read it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I absolutely loved this book, probably because I come from the town it is set in, Oban, and recognise quite a few of the characters. But apart from that it really is a good book as Alan Warner totally lets you into the mind of this character, we see everything exactly as she does. It does get confusing sometimes when you're reading it, but do stick with it!