The Dwarves of Death

by Jonathan Coe

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William's life amid London's jazz clubs and council estates is beset with frustrations. Things could hardly get worse, but they do - when he becomes the only witness to a bizarre and savage murder.

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13 reviews
Potenzialmente un grandissimo libro, se non fosse per il finale che non ha affatto concluso il libro e se anche si può dire che ci abbia provato, l'ha fatto in maniera terribile e completamente inaspettata (in senso negativo, si capisce). Tuttavia, a me è piaciuto molto come si è svolto il tutto ed è proprio per questo che il finale mi ha così deluso. Inoltre, l'atmosfera generale così dannatamente inglese che si respirava durante il corso del libro mi è sembrata davvero magica, così come i riferimenti musicali (sarà che rappresentano anche uno degli elementi che cerco di più in un libro di Coe) che tra le altre cose hanno allargato molto i miei orizzonti e finalmente anche fatto apprezzare gli Smiths, band che non ero mai show more riuscito a digerire fino ad ora. show less
An entertaining look at where the music industry meets organised crime. William had cone from Sheffield to London and is working hard at trying to make it in the music business. He inadvertently gets mixed up on something awful. This novel is sharp and well paced. It is amusing and interesting.
This book was really short. What there was of it was really great - typical Coe really. The title of the book might put you off, but the Dwarves of Death is just the name of a Band. This is the story of a young muscian in the early 80s. I won't give the plot away - it's a bit daft really a la 'What a Carve Up', but still the detail is enjoyable. At times it drifted into detailed discussion about the musical make up of piece (the chord progressions etc), even having the music printed in the book. In an odd way, this reminded my of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, in which there where lots of odd digressions into the minutae of marine life. The problem with the book was that it was just too short. The characters and set up were great, but so show more much more could have been done with it. show less
This was a quick read, neatly packaged so that every small detail is shown in the end to have some significance. Music was an entertaining thread running throughout this book. A lot shorter, though, and not as satisfying as Coe's longer offerings, The House of Sleep and What a Carve Up
An interesting read but not one of his best - it felt as though Jonathan Coe was still honing his considerable skill as a writer. Still enjoyable though and I loved the musical theme of the book and the main character.
½
Pretty good, not as good as some of his later stuff, but still very readable and enjoyable.
Prestato da: Stefania, knight of Cydonia
http://www.anobii.com/stefy85/books

VOTO: 8,5

Per la precisione sarebbero 3 stelle emmezza.

Mah, a me è piaciuto. E' un libro abbastanza leggero, piacevole, ogni tanto anche abbastanza divertente.

Dando una scorsa ai commenti altrui ho notato che tra i suoi fan non è particolarmente piaciuto. E questo sembra derivare dal fatto che avessero letto altri suoi libri prima di questo, e che essi fossero piaciuti di più, mentre per me questo è il primo. Ne deduco che il meglio deve ancora arrivare :D

Quindi sfrutterò i consigli dell'indomita Cydoniana (e anche i suoi libri >_>) *__*

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40+ Works 13,732 Members
Jonathan Coe is one of Britain's finest contemporary writers

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title*
Les nains de la mort
Original title
The dwarves of death
Original publication date
1990
Original language
English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, General Fiction
DDC/MDS
813Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English
LCC
PR6053 .O26 .D93Language and LiteratureEnglishEnglish Literature1961-2000
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392
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79,272
Reviews
12
Rating
(3.10)
Languages
8 — Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
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Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
21
ASINs
3