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Reviews

The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis

oscarpatton's review against another edition

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dark funny relaxing 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

3.0

taylorelm's review against another edition

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

4.5

glenmowrer's review against another edition

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2.0

2 1/2* "There was something of the same difficulty with the works: talented charlatanry, or deeply flawed works of genius? Or perhaps they were just beside the point?"* Trying to review this "work" is somewhat like trying to hold onto and evaluate a weighty polished marble sculpture in a dim and misty room, while drinking copious amounts of booze. Kingsley Amis is absolutely remarkable in his ability to twist sentences, omit focus and create a sense of meaning without actually expounding one. I was not able to decipher substantial parts of conversations presented by the "devils" for want, I fear, of sociological knowledge on the issues dividing Wales from England in the mind of the English upper class. I am not able to verify if the drinking habits, the marital habits or the gossipy back-biting behaviors reported in the book are meant to be literal or symbolic. But whether the life and proclivities of the elders depicted in this were meant to be accurate, this reader (and "old devil" himself) is unable to relate to their situations. So I offer the quote above as capturing my gross view of this effort.
* (This work, NYRB edition, 1986, page 230.)

nootchybean's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny 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

3.0

lynnenad's review against another edition

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funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I have mixed feelings about this book. I appreciate that it is well structured but I struggled to understand what the author meant as many sentences had so many subsidiary clauses in such an odd order. Some comments by the characters were extremely funny and showed great insight into the modern world. I didn’t like a single character though 
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damc's review against another edition

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1.0

tediously boring. hard to follow. unlikable characters. not even remotely booker-worthy.

brittn's review against another edition

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dark funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

rowan21's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

fern17's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

s_books's review against another edition

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2.0

The older characters of this novel are somewhat interesting to read about in that they all seem to be trying to disguise their bullshit from each other.