Picture of author.

Stuart David

Autor(a) de Nalda Said

17+ Works 261 Membros 11 Críticas

About the Author

Image credit: "© 2002 The Barcelona Review"

Obras por Stuart David

Associated Works

Hebbes 1 — Contribuidor — 2 exemplares

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Membros

Críticas

I might have had a different reaction to this book if the front cover hadn't borne the subtitle "a memoir of Belle and Sebastian's formative years" (then again I might never have read it in the first place). I guess, technically, the subtitle does not promise any special insights into the band, but man does the book really not deliver any insights into the band! Even as mere characters in a memoir the band members remain quite lifeless. If I didn't know they were members of Belle and Sebastian, I would wonder why David is even mentioning them at all. I do feel that the reader will learn a bit about Stuart Murdoch, and the stories behind a few Belle and Sebastian songs are revealed. The strongest impression the book left on me was the utter tedium of their Beatbox experience (basically limited to David and Murdoch), and that does debunk the prevailing myth that the band was formed at Stow College. I love both Looper and Belle and Sebastian, so I had high hopes for the book. For Looper fans, you will learn a little bit about how Karn and David met.… (mais)
 
Assinalado
gtross | 1 outra crítica | Nov 14, 2020 |
Funny! Heavily Wodehouse-inspired, I think; Peacock could be Bertie Wooster reincarnated as a Scottish small-time criminal, at least if you judge by his narrative voice. The plot is rather Wodehousian too: there's a marriage to save (not without ulterior motive), and a tangle of hare-brained schemes and bungled plans. The characters are archetypes but there's a nice hint of warmth beneath the surface of Peacock and Bev's relationship. The ending was a little jarring -- an abrupt raising of the stakes, resolved by something of a deus ex machina -- but overall this was great fun.

(Interesting side note: the running gag of references to Ian Rankin is based on the fact that he really did write Peacock into one of his books. Apparently Stuart David bought at an auction the right to feature in a Rankin novel, then gave his name as Peacock Johnson and even corresponded with Rankin in character.)
… (mais)
½
 
Assinalado
matt_ar | Dec 6, 2019 |
This is a rawer, younger Peacock than the version in Peacock's Alibi. Less Bertie Wooster, and more.... I can't think who, really, but I certainly don't remember Wodehouse using the word 'cunt' quite this much. The characters are great fun and David shows us just enough to flesh them out beyond the caricatures they basically are. Very funny.
½
 
Assinalado
matt_ar | Dec 6, 2019 |
Beautiful. The first half didn't grab me, and the deliberately clumsy prose was hard to warm to, but I recommend pushing through if you feel the same way. It's very sad, but in an honest way. I couldn't help but think about my own driving (and stifling) fears, and missed opportunities to change.
 
Assinalado
matt_ar | 3 outras críticas | Dec 6, 2019 |

You May Also Like

Associated Authors

Estatísticas

Obras
17
Also by
1
Membros
261
Popularidade
#88,099
Avaliação
½ 3.6
Críticas
11
ISBN
33
Línguas
5

Tabelas & Gráficos