A work of genius - nothing less

If you have stumbled on this review, then do yourself a big favour and get hold of this book, please! The one novel that tips a narrator's hat to Samuel Beckett in a fully deserving way. How the narrative functions as it does, how it manages to twist and snake, slow down, speed up, stop, redouble, back up to the start, leap forward, echo back and all the time beckon us on.....I have absolutely no idea. To sit down and sketch out either the narrative plot to begin work on this novel can only be described as a genius. To describe the machinations of the plot, is simply to miss the point - Remainder arrives complete in front of the reader and must be appreciated for exactly that....it is not constructed it simply flows and runs as an organic whole. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and the whole of the unsurpassable work of Samuel Beckett stand easy comparison - it really is of that magnitude as an individual work and the author will, undoubtedly be judged on his ability to carry off his current whimsey to the same standard. Sounds convoluted....I'm sure. But regard this review as a piece of extraordinary luck - read it, enjoy it and then describe it to someone else and pass the message on.....this is the most exciting piece of work to come out of Britain for years and years and, at last, is a work that can be pointed to as standing amongst Haruki Murakami and Roberto Bolano as the cutting edge and joins them on the new frontier.

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2 people found this helpful

Surreal and intriguing and thought prevoking.

Great read. quite a slow paced story but that is part of the creepy atmosphere. Not a book for those who want a neat story and satisfying ending but very thought provoking.

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Surely in my Top 5 British Novels

I wonder how I found this book... and I don't have any clue. At a certain point I picked it up from my Wishlist and it landed soon on my ipod. It tied me down to my seat from the first sentences. The best prose I ever read, sincerely. I ended it all with a very satisfying feeling and I decided I really don't want to listen any more Tom McCarthy. He is briliant but I see tendencies in him to go blur. I am particularly not interested on purchasing 'Satin Island' but I would read his literary essays (no available in audio).

I realise this is not a listen for everyone but I recall it with pleasure. The author is a literary genius, the narrator was absolutely fine.

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Hard to give a rating out of 5

Reminds me of what I’ve read of Haruki Murakami or Kafka. At points confusing, intriguing, disturbing, frustrating….
It’s definitely worth giving it a go if the story interests you. Also I’d recommend listening to at least an hour; for the first 30 minutes I wanted to give up but as it went on it became clearer to understand and then I was hooked.I don’t think I’ll ever forget it, that’s for sure!

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