A Fool's Alphabet
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Product Description
Product Description
The events of Pietro Russell's life are told in 26 chapters. From A-Z each chapter is set in a different place and reveals a fragment of his story. As his memories flicker back and forth through time in his search for a resolution to the conflicts of his life, his tory gradually unfolds. . .
About the Author
Sebastian Faulks worked as a journalist for 14 years before taking up writing books full time in 1991. He is the author of A Trick of Light, The Girl at the Lion D'Or, A Fool's Alphabet, The Fatal Englishman, Birdsong, Charlotte Gray, On Green Dolphin Street and, most recently, Human Traces.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is quite simply one of the most poignant and reflective books I've read, precisely because it lacks the "melodrama" or "plot" that are the pre-requisites of most novels and...which are totally absent in most peoples' lives. Shorn of these constraints it becomes a quite brilliant exploration of a "normal" person: so skilfully written that you are subtly and compelling drawn into it and, by the end, feel you know the central character (Pietro) inside out. Sequenced as a series of "random" snapshots (with each chapter moving backwards & forwards through time, with no obvious structure) its end effect is like looking at a good friend's photo album with the pages mixed-up in some sort of random order. Young to old/old to young; parents to children; hopes to reality, ecstatic infatuation to family life... it's all there: "life as it is - plain, human, real".
Clever, beautifully written and wholly effective this is "art" rather than popular fiction because, having read it, you'll feel that you'll know Pietro for the rest of your life. But... of course, he's not "real", you only want him to be. A rare feat of writing indeed!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The 26 chapters of this book are named after places, one for each letter of the alphabet. Moving around in time as well as location, it reads rather like a collection of short stories with a common central character rather than a novel. Rather than being driven by exposition of a plot, each episode is enjoyed as a nicely written set piece.
The writing is good - Faulks has a style which is elegant and descriptive without being overblown. Some chapters are very strong, for instance the description of office life and the chapter set in Jerusalem. Others were less interesting, although I suspect every reader would have a different preference depending on their own experiences.
It isn't really a very memorable book. I enjoyed the experience of reading it whilst I was actually reading the words, but it is not a work that has made any particular emotional impact on me. That's not to say it isn't a good read, but a book with so little long standing impact cannot, in my opinion, be great.
The writing will be particularly enjoyed by those who love language and word play - there is plenty of exploration on the origin of words, for example. I would also recommend it to those who like short stories, and its themes of 'finding yourself' and mental illness will be of interest to those with experience of these issues. Overall, I suppose I feel ambivalently positive towards the book - it wasn't a waste of time to read, but I wouldn't say it was unmissable.
The writing is good - Faulks has a style which is elegant and descriptive without being overblown. Some chapters are very strong, for instance the description of office life and the chapter set in Jerusalem. Others were less interesting, although I suspect every reader would have a different preference depending on their own experiences.
It isn't really a very memorable book. I enjoyed the experience of reading it whilst I was actually reading the words, but it is not a work that has made any particular emotional impact on me. That's not to say it isn't a good read, but a book with so little long standing impact cannot, in my opinion, be great.
The writing will be particularly enjoyed by those who love language and word play - there is plenty of exploration on the origin of words, for example. I would also recommend it to those who like short stories, and its themes of 'finding yourself' and mental illness will be of interest to those with experience of these issues. Overall, I suppose I feel ambivalently positive towards the book - it wasn't a waste of time to read, but I wouldn't say it was unmissable.
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was my second Sebastian Faulks novel (my first was Birdsong), however, I was not disappointed, quite the opposite. This is a book rich in depth - of prose, description and character. Each chapter peels back another layer to unfold the inner Pietro, and forces us to look back at the choices we have made during life and how they have shaped our future.. quite simply a good book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointed with condition
Purchased the book as a used copy which was described as never read and in very good condition, unfortunately the books pages were seriously yellowed indicating its age making it... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2009 by S. Carmichael
Irritating and Tiresome.
A real disappointment. 26 chapters entitled with a place name from A to Z. Clever but really just a gimic with little relevance. The chapters are not in chronological order. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2008 by Mike707
Short and sweet.
A Fool's Alphabet is essentially a biography of a half-Italian half-English male, called Pietro. I say 'male' because the biography is in no chronological order and instead, small... Read more
Published on 29 July 2006 by Mr. J. A. Holmes
Is that it ??
I've just finished reading A Fool's Alphabet and feel completely let down. Having read Birdsong, Charlotte Gray and Girl at the Lion d'Or I was expecting a lot more than what I... Read more
Published on 10 April 2006 by C. M. Webb
The Time Travellers Wife
This book kept me gripped from the first page. The way Niffeneger describes Henry's journey with Clare makes the book all the more interesting. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2006
an excellent read
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Birdsong - indeed, if you haven't read Birdsong, read this. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2001
an engrossing and enthralling piece of work.....
I simply adore this book....infact,I have read it again and again and everytime a new dimension, a new thought filters through,just like the sunlight from behind the... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2000
an engrossing and enthralling piece of work.....
I simple adore this book....infact,I have read it again and again and everytime a new dimension, a new thought filters through,just like the sunlight from behind the... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2000
A well-constructed, absorbing and touching read.
For some reason this book has never been as feted as Faulks' others - particularly the brilliant Birdsong. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 1999
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