Rating: 
Summary: Very dark, excellent novel
Review: The Loved One has to be one of the greatest pieces that I have ever read! My English teacher introduced my class to Evelyn Waugh, who I thought would be just another boring satirical writer, but to my astonishment I found his book to be funny and dark at the same time. Perfect black humour. I am 16 and I respect peoples' different opinions on this book, but i feel that some can be very ignorant, and they don't know a good book when they read one. This novel is one that should be read the world over to introduce people to the dark side of humour.
Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece!
Review: A slim but likeable sort of "twist in the tale" idea becomes bad dream in fairyland - a short book that makes a big impact. Waugh manages to produce a reversal of his usual style - early on he favoured wistful whimsy cut with vicious nastiness, here the nastiness is occasionally spiced with lyricism (Dennis' first visit to Whispering Pines is beautifully mystical and unreal, as is Aimee awaiting the dawn). I don't know who he appears to think less of, the stupid, ignorant, childlike Americans, who have no idea how to make anything worthwhile of their ease and prosperity, or the callous, snobbish and self-obsessed English who think it should all be given them for nothing. The whole novel has the quality of a wierd, sick dream, with a strong sense of unreality when dealing with Americans giving way to seedy realism with the English, and the ending is almost nightmarish - rather odd that the one time it's been filmed it was all played for laughs.
Rating:
Summary: British satire takes a bite out of Hollywood
Review: The disproportionate number of Californians offended by this book is great evidence that Waugh has hit the spot.
Rating: 
Summary: Where is the video?
Review: This is, perhaps, one of the classic humor pieces of all time. J. Winters in a dual role ("We've got to get these STIFFS out of my cemetary") and Rod Steiger as "Mr. Joyboy."If ANYONE has a source for a video of this, PLEASE let me know!
Rating:
Summary: A Treasure-trove of Wit for the Literate Reader
Review: Waugh's "Loved One" is as rich in dark humor as one could imagine. Not content to name some of his characters in a way that would do a Dickens or a Mervyn Peake proud (Joyboy, Slump), Waugh trumps the ace in naming his heroine Aimee Thanatogenos... literally "The Loved One, Bringer of Death". The novel is for neither beginners nor flat-liners (just couldn't resist!). The film (I have a copy!) was advertised as "The movie with something to offend everyone!" Even Love, Patriotism and Motherhood are not spared.... Joyboy's mother is about as offensively sick a person as could be imagined and the film capitalized on it. Ayllene Gibbons was suitably gross as Joyboy's 'Mum and Liberace was a natural as Mr. Starker, the gay casket salesman. This was my entry to the World of Waugh and treasure the day I ran into it. Well Done!
Rating:
Summary: Wagging Tails All Round
Review: Quite brilliant satire. Risque choice of subject but boy oh boy what rewards to be reaped. I really laughed hard and heartily and bitingly . Swamped with emotions. Thank you very much Evie.
Rating: 
Summary: A great sendup of the Death industry.
Review: The American funeral industry deserves Waugh's satire. What I really want to know, though, is why I can't find a video copy of the movie that starred Robert Morse, Jonathan Winters, and Rod Steiger. Also, the story (and the movie) is an excellent companion piece to Jessica Mitford's expose' of the funeral industry, "Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain." Amazon doesn't have it. Blockbuster and their ilk certainly don't have it. Who does?
Rating:
Summary: you'll believe that the dead are truly happy
Review: Looking through the reviews of this book it quickly becomes apparent that the great majority of readers are, in fact, from California. Virtually no one seems to be aware that the very essence of this book's high satire is occurring daily, right in front of them. Death, it's true, is an industry like anything else. And in California, for the wealthy, and for those that desire it, death need never be a simple, natural process. If you've got the cash spend it, you can't take it with you. The book is not a satire on death as such, it's a wonderful pisstake on the ways that people prepare for the great unknown, Through Waugh's highly evolved humor death's sting is lessened. We ought to enjoy life and its absurdities now. Not from any whispering glades. The book is painfully funny. And, fer chrissakes, you people in LA should go out to Forest Lawn in Glendale because that is what the book is sending up. Not the dear departed themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: The book failed to entertain with its dark humor
Review: After reading this book, as I was forced to for school, I really found myself dissinterested in the characters. Without giving too much of the book away let me just say that the dark humor was unattractive to me, and that I was looking for a more light and facetious comedy. But as I had no choice I read the entire book. I would not recommend it for anyone that is pleasure reading, and have totally lost the desire to read any other of her books.
Rating:
Summary: hmmmmmm, sweet sarcasm
Review: I read this book about a year ago and it was only upon stumbling across it recently that I remembered how brilliant it was. Waugh's subtle sarcasm and sharp wit in this farce create an interesting and quirky plot. I absolutely adored how the story and its odd setting were simultaneously entertaining and intriguing, while criticizing the very foundations of American pop-culture. A definite must-read!
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