Here we have, without a doubt, the germ of the very best of John Hawkes, who is, without a doubt, one of the very best.
Just devastating, terrifically devastating, and, horrifically, crushingly, even-toned ...

Ford Madox Ford has had three hours of my precious "listening-to-Librivox" time and he won't be getting a minute more. After having heard about one-third of this book, I began to suspect that the narrator - and maybe also the author - was full of the proverbial "BS".

I have known people who tell convoluted, confusing tales like this. Yes, they do exist. No doubt you know at least one of the species too. Why do they do it? My theory is that there is a perverse sense of power in stealing the listener's time with this kind of garble. What a lark, isn't it - to actually hold the attention, and waste the time, of another person with this sort of nonsense? Wherein is the thrill? - in deceiving the listener. What is the payoff? - the boost to one's ego - the little voice that says, "Hah! What a sucker! They believed me." Well, sorry, Mr. Ford (or whatever your real name is), I am not willing to stroke your puny mixed-up ego.

Yes, I have read the reviews. Yes, I know that technically the story is considered to be a masterpiece. Yes, I know that "not loving" a celebrated novel by a celebrated writer lands me squarely in the camp of the uncouth and uneducated. So be it! I could not live long enough to believe that listening to a seven-and-a-half-hour soap opera is time well-spent.

Neither Dowell nor his self-absorbed, loafing companions gets any sympathy from me. While the rest of the world is stewing about the political events leading to the outbreak of the Great War, they are lolling about Europe, taking cures at spas, smoking cigars, and munching on caviar, pretending to be fast friends, and all the while deceiving each other and themselves. Yada yada yada.

No rating, just a DNF - writ large!

This is a set text for my studies and it was an extremely challenging read for me. After 5 chapters I had to start again, as the narrator of the story recounts the affair involving his wife in such a convoluted manner. Infact the narrator himself is completely unreliable which leaves the reader questioning exactly what information is true. I must admit this did make it interesting and once I was involved in the story I found it very engrossing but i would say that it’s a book that demands patience and attention to detail.