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The Dwarves of Death (Paperback)

by Jonathan Coe (Author) "I find it hard to describe what happened ..." (more)
2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (29 Mar 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140294929
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140294927
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 475,841 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #27 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > C > Coe, Jonathan

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Product Description

Product Description

William's life is beset with frustration: his band turns his melodic songs into grotesque parodies of Status Quo, and cool Madelaine dangles out of reach. Things could hardly get worse, it seems - until he becomes the only witness to a bizarre murder. "A very clever, very funny book ...Brilliant" - "Sunday Times". "Like a Hitchcock movie on drugs ...a novel of considerable gusto and panache" - "Observer". "It's about being young, poor, confused and in love ...Sharp, lucid and witty" - "Guardian".
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
I find it hard to describe what happened. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
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4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (2)
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Average Customer Review
2.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars An Early Work That Shows Some Signs Of The Artistry To Come, 23 Mar 2001
By Fastest Loser (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews
I am a big fan of Jonathon Coe. I read this book after enjoying "What A Carve Up !" and "The House Of Sleep". I found it a little disappointing.

The story has to be shoehorned into shape for it to make any sense, and some of the characters are drawn a little too roughly. The plot requires a good deal of imagination to make it fly, and it seems as if it haad been added rather late in the process.

That said, it also contains the writer's honest eye for detail, and he captures the ordinariness of life in many well-drawn scenes.

I think this is an example of the early work of a writer who now produces extremely enjoyable, meaningful, challenging and accessible work. He doesn't deliver it in this early work, but you can see the early signs of it here.

I couldn't in all honesty recommend it to anyone but his biggest fans, despite the fact it is streets ahead of most of the c**p that litters the booksellers nowadays. Compared to the quality of his later work, this book does not deliver. Only for those who are truly fascinated in the work of this talented writer.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A bit disappointing..., 25 April 2006
By Snapdragon (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
Like other reviewers, I had read 'The House of Sleep' and absolutley loved it, so I was a bit disappointed when I read 'The Dwarves of Death'.
The blurb lead me to believe this would be more about the actual murder that William witnesses, instead it was more of an exploration of his relationship with Madeline.
There were some nice observations but I wouldn't say it was up to Coe's usual standard.
The bits about the different notes and keys of piano music also left me a bit cold.
I do disagree with the other reviewer about the loose ends though. One of the things I love about Coe's books are the structure...how different threads are picked up and tied up neatly by the end.
Sorry...but not his best work. If you haven't read his stuff before go with 'The House of Sleep'instead.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars fantastic - one of my favourite books, 17 Dec 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: The Dwarves of Death (Paperback)
Since I first brought this book when I was 16 I've had to re purchase it four times - and I still don't have a copy. Its one of those books where you feel compelled to tell everyone to read it, then they do, then they don't give it back or lend it to someone else and its lost again. Compulsive to read, eminently re-readable, I'll just have to go out and buy it again - and never lend it to anyone else
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars The Dwarves of Death
I've read a few of Jonathan Coe's books, so was pleased to find this one in a charity shop. Unfortunately, I found it to be pretty much unreadable. Read more
Published 15 months ago by gerty guinea

2.0 out of 5 stars Not one of his best
Uninteresting and repugnant characters, complex implausible plot. Good thing that his elegant style shines through, or I wouldn't have bothered finishing it, short though it is.
Published 21 months ago by Jezza

3.0 out of 5 stars "What's up?"..............."Nothing"
This book seems to be marketed as a mystery, but reads more like a Nick Hornby lager saga. At the end of the book lots of things suddenly fit together but, unlike with a proper... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2005 by dangermash

3.0 out of 5 stars well now...
this is more of a caution for those who want to read some J. Coe. I have not read this particular book, but i do think he was honing his craft a little in his first few novels... Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2004 by john mertens

4.0 out of 5 stars superb full of witty phrases that sum up Coe so perfectly.
When you pick up a book, and then put the book down two days later with blisters on your fingers from turning the pages to quickly you know that you have hit a winner. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2000

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