Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful and terrifying exploration of the nature of love.
Review: With sharply etched characters and a sweeping, epic scope, Oscar and Lucinda richly deserves all of the praise with which it has been blessed.
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Summary: A voice guaranteed to lead you into another world
Review: I have been a proud owner of the audiotape for Oscar and Lucinda since it first came out, and I must say that to the uninitiated that may be contemplating a purchase of these cassettes, that you will be hearing a novel read to you that is in the very capable hands of a Master Narrator, Ralph Fiennes. I was decidedly taken the the inclusion of Mr. Fiennes on this project, as I felt, what better person to bring me this story, but the actor who would be portraying Oscar Hopkins in the film of the same name. I was not disappointed. He envelopes the listener, and they find themselves drawn into the world that Peter Carey has created within the boundaries of the characters, Oscar and Lucinda. But it is the fulfillment and enrichment of the additional characters that Mr. Fiennes brings to life that compliments one and all. I have always thought that Ralph Fiennes' voice has stood worlds above the rest. The timbre of his voice has that power to resonate through the chambers of the inner workings of the soul and mind of those that are privileged enough to hear him. His soliloquies, the casual manner of his tone when appearing closed to the world around him, the utter heartbreak of his fragile state when obsessing over the fate of a doomed relationship, the witnessing of joy that glows as incandescent as a white hot fire, and fury and damnation that will lead the listener to the very edge of the abyss....all of these emotions are welled within that structure known as Ralph Fiennes. To listen to his voice, is to imagine one's self bedded with the silken, voluminous style of incantations that are recited by a master speaker who is at complete and absolute ease with his manner. The recitation and the candor, the scope of possibilities and the realm of decided delights are all an intricate part of the inner workings of this man who gambles each and every word upon a tablet of scope and wonderment, confident in the knowledge that he will transmit to his audience another world, time and place. There is great jubilation and a declaration of techniques that are guaranteed to be demonstrated with the care and precision that are necessary to envelop us into that state of exaltation that will become apparent with each and every syllable that slides from his lips. Would there be anything else that we would expect? I think not. I know that to hear is voice is to envision vocal ambrosia and the liquid honey of expectations as a topping. To hear Ralph Fiennes as he welds his way along the paths of supreme trial and tribulation is to become a witness to the greatness that is so apparent in his persona. Ralph's voice is quite distinctive from the crowd and it is cast in a golden glow that resonates with the millieu in which he was trained. Ralph Fiennes is an actor who puts his complete all into his work and it works with him to become a force to be reckoned with. I never for one moment, felt that Ralph would give anything less than his "best" and for me, the beauty and unparalleled scope of his voice will continue to work its magic upon these ears of mine for many years to come. To this purpose, I must highly recommend these cassettes to anyone that wants to be treated to several hours away from the work-a-day world, and into a vision of another time and place.
Rating:
Summary: Bright points make the novel
Review: Though filled with beautiful and sympathetic passages describing the characters, the whole of this novel didn't impress me on the scale other novels have. It was the chapter "Oscar In Love," the chapter "Thistles," and the last page that made it my favorite novel of all time. Stay patient; Carey's novels don't become worthwhile until you've finished them.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprised if not Shocked
Review: I found it amazing that so many enjoyed Oscar and Lucinder as much as they did. It was annoying long and extremely drawn out. I felt that the author could have done without the detail he used, and made Oscar and Lucinder much more creditable. A personal option, yes, but before entering into Oscar and Lucinder, read Bliss. You finish with a much higher opinion of Carey and his style of writing.
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Summary: no one is too weird to be unloved
Review: thoroughly enjoyed this book. carey is an excellent storyteller. im not going to write anything profound here, i just want to say how deeply this book has affected the way i look at people and things...it's like finding how human you are yet how celestial the height of your emotions can get you to...i love this book!
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Summary: Enchantingly Tangible
Review: As someone who hates perfect endings and neat little packages, this novel came as a wonderful surprise. Carey's off-the-wall, misfitted characters were delightfully real. His descriptions of Oscar and Lucinda--especially their eyes--made them tangible. I especially appreciated the way Carey addressed the problems women faced in Victorian society. Lucinda's struggles to be her own person and her determination in spite of ridicule were an inspiration. I found Carey's writing voice enchanting and rich in color and texture. I devoured this book and was delighted by my first encounter with Peter Carey.
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Summary: Totally Unpredictable!
Review: I bought the book because Ralph Fiennes was on the cover, but I loved the inside better! The descriptions of the characters are full, there are scenes of the most humorous interaction. Can't you smell the llamas on the ship passenger? Carey takes you to the world where two misfits almost create a life together, but yanks it away. I love books that do not have predictable characters or plots, and this one fit the bill.
Rating: 
Summary: The situation fits the era.
Review: I found the book exasperating.
Rating:
Summary: An epic of obsession
Review: Oscar and Lucinda are a pair of unusual characters , both victims of childhood trauma, who share a weakness for gambling and a penchant for obsessions of all kinds. Carey might have created a simple romance here about two misfits who find each other, and on the surface that is indeed what happens; however, the story is far more complex and is peopled with assorted other characters that give the book added richness. Mr. d'Abbs, Mr. Jeffris, the Strattons, Oscar's father, Theophilus, and others serve to demonstrate that we are all subject to our own foibles and obsessions. One of Carey's messages is clearly that none of us is "normal"; that behind the mask we wear for society lurks a mass of insecurities and imperfections. Oscar and Lucinda give each other what they each seem to need, and it is not at all what the reader expects. If this book has a fault, it may lie in the sometimes disjointed method of narration. It can be intrusive. However, the identity of the narrator--not revealed until the end of the novel--is a nifty twist itself. A challenging read that is well worth the effort.
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Summary:
RALPH FIENNES reads Oscar and Lucinda
Review:
Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes, who stars in the epic romance Oscar and Lucinda, masterfully reads Peter Carey's Booker Prize-winning novel.
This AudioBook includes an excerpt from the original soundtrack by Thomas Newman. Exclusively on Sony Classical.
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