This is an excellent novel that’s difficult to like, there are no likeable characters and the protagonist is not one you could root for

This book is brilliant, insane and twisted – a grotesque fable, sometimes funny & beautifully written. Even my daughter came to enjoy it after the first chapter

Roland Barthes (12 November, 1915 – 26 March, 1980) a French philosopher,critic, essayist, and theorist. Mr. Barthe’s ideas influenced many schools of theory.

In a futuristic society people are grown as nearly identical embryos & conditioned to remove strong desires. They take a drug called soma to keep them docile.

The few interesting events that do happen in this book are being told in such short order that it seems the author glossed over them on purpose

The “League of the Scarlet Pimpernel” is famous for rescuing French noblemen from certain death in creative and daring ways. A bounty is placed on their leader

The dark, brooding and punishing interactions between the complex characters are a mastery of storytelling. The characters are also part of this complex plot

The story of Jane Eyre is absorbing & well written. Brontë’s observations are poignant & engaging, her storytelling, when not of on a tangent, is admirable

Hartright, the one who is doing the investigation, doesn’t only talk to witnesses, but also minor characters who can give him background information

Even though Don Quixote – by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was written centuries ago I found it contemporary, charming, hilarious and accessible.