One Twisting, Turning, Fun Book!

This is a fun book! Having recently finished The Moonstone and The Lady in White (several times), I thought I had a handle on Mr. Wilkie Collins' style and subject matter. Was I ever so wrong. This book is written as if autobiographical as he looks back on his well meaning and hard-working youthful self who just couldn't get things to work out. He stumbled out of one career and scrape into another with sometimes alarming frequency. He got tossed out of the house by his family, thrown into debtor's prison, took up forging old masters paintings. Then he meets his dream woman, lost her, had to search the country for her, then his life really took a turn for the unexpected and sometimes bizarre. The author writes in a matter-of-fact, self-deprecating manner about the most trying turn of events and dramatic setbacks. The narrator, Bernard Mayes, is splendid. I wouldn't characterize his style as BBC World Service where the most catastrophic events are reported as calmly and detached as possible but it is something of that nature. In any case, Mr. Mayes is perfect for A Rogue's Life.

11 persone l'hanno trovata utile

A Lot Of Fun!!

This story is simply delightful and fun. You can't help but be entertained by the path and career choices of the main character Frank. Pleasantly amoral, he gets into one scrape after another and always land of his feet but never for long. This is Wilkie Collins at his comical best! Like is very good friend Charles Dickens, Collins would write any genre brilliantly. Just sit back and enjoy the ride!

4 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Very Enjoyable

Sit back and enjoy. Very entertaining the scrapes that main character gets into, with the final one in the name of love. First chapters set the stage, and albeit are a little slow, but hang on, you get sucked in and can't wait to find out what happens next.

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Funny and Well Read

A very enjoyable listen. The narrator is great. Not at all your usual Wilkie Collins. Nothing supernatural, or dark. Just a well-writing, funny, romantic, sometimes satirical story of a charming young man with no particular calling making an unconventional beginning in life

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Rogue Trip

Though admittedly dangerous company in real life, from the safe distance of the page or earbuds, a rogue is irresistible. And, unlike Barry Lyndon, S. F. Ukridge or Dortmunder, Frank Softly is—or at least seems to be—a self-confessed, self-deprecating rogue, which only makes him more attractive.

We start by marveling at his nonchalance in the face of family displeasure and disinheritance. We raise our eyebrows at his natural aptitude for various criminal enterprises. We can’t help but half admire his invention and ingenuity. Finally, we (kinda-sorta) start rooting for him. “It’s a bold thing to say” opines our hero,” but nothing will ever persuade me that society has not a sneaking kindness for a rogue”.

A measure of the excellence of the entertainment on offer here is the fact that, despite a rather shopworn recording, I persisted in listening. I suggest you do the same; Bernard Mayes’ performance is well worth the effort. By the time our antihero is disowned by his family (chapter 2 or 3, I think), you won’t even notice that tinny sibilance.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Witty

This book was full of such wit. Every explanation and description were full of dry humor. I was entertained from start to finish.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

some laugh--out-loud passages

The story, overall humorous, has a few dry spells, and some overwriting, as was common in novels if this period, but I enjoyed it. There are a number if LOL moments that are priceless!

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Very Droll

Sometimes so much so that one is put in mind of the TV character Buzz Killington. Nonetheless, there are giggles to be had here. It would have been better if the author had used more "showing" and less telling. It is in "journal" form more than fictional form (dialogue, rich details, etc.) For good droll British humor, George Grossman's TALES OF A NOBODY is better.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Humorous and educational

such a witty and enjoyable book. Not the type of book I would normally read. But I was so glad. I did. would recommend it especially if you enjoy discovering the culture of England in the 1980’s

Lots of fun!

Ironic and adventurous- the “never say die” almost Pollyanna-ish attitude of the character as he gets himself in and out of scrapes is a joy to listen to.