Rating: 
Summary: A good book full of irony, romance, and dead people.
Review: Evelyn Waugh is undoubtedly very creative in expressing and revealing the irony of "The Loved One." The novel is easily read but partially difficult to understand. At some parts, especially during dialogue, the reader may be lost at who is speaking due the lack of some words like "said." Not that I feel that Waugh is reluctant to use them but I can understand that a repetition of many "said" words can bland the communication between characters. Also, Waugh's plot was a bit confusing for me. It was sometimes difficult to feel the realism of the book when I couldn't interpret the time frame, (i.e. Sir Francis' past life, Sir Francis when he's alive, the present with Mr. Barlow, Mr. Barlow's past, Miss Thanageo's past.) Other than that the plot went along smoothly. The novel's characters are a work of art. I thought I knew Mr. Barlow as a sensitive writer, but he had no clue how to deal with love. Miss Thanageos can only be pitied. She ha! d a good life, but didn't listen to her heart, but to Guru Brahmin. The setting of the novel somewhat disappointing. I think of Hollywood as a lively place, far from the gloomy cemetery; not a place where lots of people die, and where unexpected things happen. I was surprised by the mortician's attitude. Unlike a classical, long-faced, spooky undertaker, Waugh came up with a cheerful mortician (yet Miss Thanageos still kept a cold emotion within when dealing in business.) In this book, you can't expect a happy ending. The last chapter has much to reveal. It uncovers the coldness of Mr. Barlow, the insanity of Miss Thanageos' life problems, and the desperate groveling of Mr. Joyboy, (ends up that he isn't joyful anymore...) For those who haven't read this book, I must say, read carefully; expect irony and the unexpected, and don't take the death of book characters seriously; (in the book, it happens too often.)
Rating: 
Summary: A unique book filled with intertwined sarcasm and humor.
Review: The book was very well written and worthy of its high stature. The characters which he made up were filled with depth, almost as if they were real people. The situation he put the characters into was clever as well as humurous. His settings were beautifully crafted making the book realistic and thus creating a sense of reality within the book. All in all, I thought the book was one of the best I had ever read.
Rating:
Summary: VERY DRAMATIC AND FUNNY
Review: The prolific Waugh has done it again! The story showed great emphasis on drama,suspense and Romance. The setting is a mortuary named Whispering Glades. All I can say that it is an excellent book and you have to read it to get the full effect.
Rating:
Summary: Unusually Funny
Review: This book contains a very odd sense of humor that is prevalant throughout. It very well written and has excellent well-rounded charachters.
Rating: 
Summary: Thumbs up for this book.
Review: One can have loved ones, of any species go into eternity on the best terms by following the proticol outlined in this volume. ;-) Waugh gives us insight into the buisness of death. ;- )
Rating:
Summary: The book is very dramatic.
Review: The book is very much like today's society. It shows that with Characters Mr. Joyboy, Mr. Slump, Sir Ambrose, and Miss Thanatogenos. Having Mr. BArlow working at the pet Cemmentary and Miss Thanatogenos work at the Funeral home was marvelous. There is not much to say because its a must reader.
Rating:
Summary: A darkly funny masterpiece about art, love and death
Review: I have read The Loved One over and over again. It is laugh-out-loud funny, with Waugh having a merry time at the expense of movie studios, advice gurus, cemeteries (both human and animal)and the rituals of courtship and love. The satire is razor sharp and quite nasty. No one is spared in the skewering.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely Funny!!!!!
Review: This book, even though slim, is a laugh out loud satire on the burial industry, the movie business, and all of Hollywood. This is an excellent book for fans of Waugh and a fantastic one for those who have not yet discovered his dry wit. All I can say is: READ IT!!!
Rating:
Summary: Waugh's Black Humor At It's Best
Review: Evelyn Waugh has long been a favorite of mine. His satire and his wit, along with his wonderful ability to capture human personality with words, introduced me to a whole new standard of literature in my college days. I read everything he had written, or so I thought, until I stumbled on a few books at the local used bookstore several years ago--and before my introduction to the world of Amazon.com. I don't know why it took me so long to pick up The Loved One, but I'm so glad I finally did!Dennis Barlow is a young Brit, brought over to Hollywood for his poetic skills. When his contract is not renewed, far from being horror-stricken like his fellow ex-patriots, he simply takes another job, with the intention of returning to poetry on the side. What happens afterward is a morbidly humorous tale on which I can not expound for fear of ruining it for you. I can say that it includes a cosmetician, a mortician, Whispering Glades Memorial Park, a parrot and a few famous poems. Oh, and lots of typical Waugh black humor that will have you laughing out loud, re-reading, and thoroughly enjoying yourself at the expense of the characters, dead and alive. I've read all but two of Waugh's novels, and I must say that this one tops even Scoop as my favorite!
Rating:
Summary: Dead Funny
Review: Waugh is wickedly merciless in this attack, his use of humor morbid and obsene, his wit piercing, as always he leaves no room for empathy or sympathy as he cruely dissects his victims. His targets are common themes in many of his works, the British upper class, the Catholic Church, a lack of post war standards, human vanity ,love and the biggest of all, any symbol of the establishment (in this case societies method for the disposal of the dead).
This short book skewers all of the above, set against the Los Angeles British film community in the thirties. Our central character (not hero) is Dennis Barlow, british expatriate, failed poet and employee of the Happier Hunting Ground Pet Cemetry. After the suicide of his mentor Sir Francis, Dennis has the task of arranging the funeral at the hallowed Whispering Glades Funeral Home where he falls in love with cosmetician Aimee.
There are cultural problems, class of funeral establishment issues and a rival suitor in the shape of embalmer Mr Joybody. Waugh as you would expect extracts the maximum humor from every situation, allows no sentiment to creep into the novel or even endearing qualities in his characters. As with much of his work the love story ends in tragedy, no one much cares and life moves on.
I love satire and this is so good, not the authors best but much better than many if not all his imitators work.
|
