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Reviews
The Napoleon of Notting Hill with Original Illustrations from the First Edition by G.K. Chesterton
deannalovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
atlantisblauw's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Initially I enjoyed reading it, the first couple of chapters were funny and had interesting ideas about government and nationalism. The last part of the book, however, were mainly descriptions of fighting and that's not my cup of tea. Also felt like it didn't really go in a clear direction , made me wonder what the point was.
sottokyutto's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-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
3.75
zachlittrell's review against another edition
4.0
I don't often re-read a book, but I had to. I got to the end, went "I think I must've missed something. It seemed very clever and I wasn't paying enough attention." And sure enough, a second read through bumped this up from 3 to 3.5. I'll rate it 4 with the faith that Chesterton hid even more whimsy and satire that I still haven't found.
It's not as great as Chesterton's masterpiece The Man Who Was Thursday, not by a country mile. But it's still a delight, an impressive first novel, and the product of a cheeky mind: what if a war started between a man who treats being king as a joke, and another man who is dreadfully serious about his little slice of London?
Chesterton's first book definitely benefits from being eerily prophetic: published before WWI, when a thousand small hiccups fell into a bleak disaster, or even WWII and today, when larger-than-life personalities dragged us poor slobs into their psychoses. Either by a smart finger on history's repeating pulse or just dumb luck, good for him by managing to write a satire about things that hadn't happened yet.
It is missing a little 'oomph' and Chesterton is, as usual, a little too clever for his own good (there are intensely tangled sentences that punish you severely if you decide to skip them). Still, it's a charming read and not a waste of time. There's something I love about a king becoming a war correspondent to see what's going on in the battlefield, and he's instantly recognizable -- but folks let him do it anyway because why not?
It's not as great as Chesterton's masterpiece The Man Who Was Thursday, not by a country mile. But it's still a delight, an impressive first novel, and the product of a cheeky mind: what if a war started between a man who treats being king as a joke, and another man who is dreadfully serious about his little slice of London?
Chesterton's first book definitely benefits from being eerily prophetic: published before WWI, when a thousand small hiccups fell into a bleak disaster, or even WWII and today, when larger-than-life personalities dragged us poor slobs into their psychoses. Either by a smart finger on history's repeating pulse or just dumb luck, good for him by managing to write a satire about things that hadn't happened yet.
It is missing a little 'oomph' and Chesterton is, as usual, a little too clever for his own good (there are intensely tangled sentences that punish you severely if you decide to skip them). Still, it's a charming read and not a waste of time. There's something I love about a king becoming a war correspondent to see what's going on in the battlefield, and he's instantly recognizable -- but folks let him do it anyway because why not?
schlinkles's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
pennylain555's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ellachis's review against another edition
3.0
Un re che fa dell’umorismo virtù, proclama assurdi decreti finché un giorno si trova qualcuno che li prende per buoni. Da lì alla satirica distopia ci vuole poco e per Chesterton l’ironia rimane il punto di partenza per la riflessione.
“la materia, nella sua bellezza brutale, continuerà a contemplare dall'alto quelli che sono abbastanza pazzi per accettar la morte, e ancora più pazzi per accettar la vita.”
“la materia, nella sua bellezza brutale, continuerà a contemplare dall'alto quelli che sono abbastanza pazzi per accettar la morte, e ancora più pazzi per accettar la vita.”
sembray's review against another edition
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
apollo1994's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eronn's review against another edition
2.0
Typical Chesterton: brilliant. What if we stopped and actually enjoyed the wonder of this world we live in?