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Arthur & George
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
Brilliantly imagined and irresistibly readable, Arthur & George is a major new novel from Julian Barnes, a wonderful combination of playfulness, pathos and wisdom. Searching for clues, no one would ever guess that the lives of Arthur and George might intersect. Growing up in shabby-genteel nineteenth-century Edinburgh, Arthur is saddled with a dad who is a disgrace and a mum he wishes to protect, and is propelled into a life of action. To his astonishment, his career as a self-made man of letters brings him riches and fame and, in the world at large, he becomes the perfect picture of the honourable English gentlemen. George is irredeemably an outsider, and has no hope of becoming such a picture. Though hes dogged and logical, a vicars son from rural Staffordshire, he is set apart, and he and his family are targeted in his boyhood by a poison-pen campaign. George finds safe harbour in the reliability of rules, and grows up to become a solicitor, putting his faith in the insulating value of British justice. Then crisis upsets the uneasy equilibrium of both mens lives. Arthur is knocked for a loop by guilt and other dishonourable emotions. George is put to the sorest test, accused of a horrible crime. And from that point on their lives weave together in the most profound and surprising way, as each man becomes the others salvation. Arthur & George is a masterful novel about low crime and high spirituality, guilt and innocence, identity, nationality and race. Most of all, its a profound and witty meditation on the fateful differences between what we believe, what we know and what we can prove. George and his father pray together, kneeling side by side on the scrubbed boards. Then George climbs into bed while his father locks the door and turns out the light. As he falls asleep, George sometimes thinks of the floor, and how his soul must be scrubbed just as the boards are scrubbed. Father is not an easy sleeper, and has a tendency to groan and wheeze. Sometimes, in the early morning, when dawn is beginning to show at the edges of the curtains, Father will catechize him. "George, where do you live?" "The Vicarage, Great Wyrley." "And where is that?" "Staffordshire, Father." "And where is that?" "The centre of England." "And what is England, George?" "England is the beating heart of the Empire, Father." "Good. And what is the blood that flows through the arteries and veins of the Empire to reach even its farthest shore?" "The Church of England." "Good, George." And after a while Father will begin to groan and wheeze again. George watches the outline of the curtain harden. He lies there thinking of arteries and veins making red lines on the map of the world, linking Britain to all the places coloured pink: Australia and India and Canada and islands dotted everywhere. He thinks of blood bubbling though these tubes and emerging in Sydney, Bombay, the St. Lawrence Waterway. Bloodlines, that is a word he has heard somewhere. With the pulse of blood in his ears, he begins to fall asleep again. excerpt from Arthur & George
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yoavshai
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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#BookCoverChallenge
Day 145.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

review
rwmg
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
Pickpick

Novelisation of a true story where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle campaigned on behalf of George Edalji, unjustly convicted of animal cruelty.

I found Arthur's relationship with Jean Leckie slowed down the book, but George's story and Arthur's campaign to clear George's name and his investigation were rivetting.

Equally interesting was George's denial of any racial basis to his ordeal despite what would now be considered blatant racism on all sides.

15 likes1 stack add
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rwmg
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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rwmg
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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review
Sarah83
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Mehso-so

well.... no.... I thought it would be a great one, but no. The story is simply ok and the main interested of the story is only a short part within the book, even if the book is quite too long. @julesG

julesG Wow! I admire your strength. I bailed just after 100 pages. 5y
Sarah83 @julesG Thank you so much 😉 5y
57 likes2 comments
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julesG
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Bailedbailed

Dear @Sarah83, I give up.

The story gets slightly interesting at around page 100, when Campbell enters the stage. Knowing the outcome from Conan Doyle's own story, I'm absolutely not willing to plough on through this book.

I do not understand why it got so many raving reviews. The writing is convoluted with hypotaxis. There's too much boring, unimportant information.

Just look at the cover, it tells me more about the author and his past glory👇

julesG ...than about the contents of the book. 😠 There are at least 20 snippets from positive reviews on the cover and fly leaves. But not a single, really good blurb. I'm not going to pick up another book by this author. 5y
CaroPi Have you read something he wrote before? I totally love his short stories in "a brief history of the world in 10 1/2 chapters" one of the few books I re read. I also found out very interesting "the sense of an ending". But this second one I like after I finished and tought about it. 5y
julesG @CaroPi The short stories were good, you are right. But this book was definitely riding on past glory. 5y
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CaroPi Well I truly believe that all prolific authors have their good and bad moments. I also like John Boyne but he has his good and bad moments 5y
julesG @CaroPi True! 5y
Sarah83 I will tell you the end in a short message 🤩 5y
71 likes6 comments
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Sarah83
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Sitting on the floor and trying to cool down a bit.... Why, oh why has it to be so hot again. I don't want it, I want a lovely autumn right now...

Still dealing with this chunkster... Well, I think, the book could have been shorter..... @julesG

julesG Definitely! Toooooo long! Too many boring details. And, having had a glimpse at some of the covers of the author's other books, I definitely think that the author rides on past glory. Author's name is in larger font than the title of the book. I'm struggling with the heat and the book. 5y
Sarah83 @julesG so true 🤒🤩🤷 5y
Ncostell I read this one too and agree that it dragged on and could have been much shorter! 5y
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julesG @Ncostell Thanks. 5y
julesG Sarah, I am very close to bailing. I'll skim through the next few "chapters" while I enjoy the cool wind on the balcony drinking my tea, and will come back with a definite answer by 8am. 5y
Sarah83 @julesG I just have 100 pages left. I will finish 💪💪💪 5y
julesG You are stronger than me!!! 👏👏👏 5y
Sarah83 @julesG I fought too long... I don't quit now. 🤩 5y
julesG Again wondering about all the 5 star reviews 5y
Sarah83 @julesG da kann man nur wieder sagen, die Geschmäcker sind eindeutig verschieden... 5y
julesG Echt jetzt! 5y
53 likes11 comments
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Sarah83
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Some more reading time for #24b4Monday @Andrew65

Andrew65 All reading time is good. 5y
SilversReviews Love your photo. 5y
Daisey Looks like some great reading time! 5y
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julesG
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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@Sarah83 - have just picked up from here. Not far in yet, but it's getting more interesting, or I'm getting used to the style of writing.

#BuddyRead

TrishB 😂😂 5y
Sarah83 🤣🤣🤣 gut, dass ich es auf deutsch lese. 🤣 Aber auch da war ich schon teilweise irritiert. 🤩 5y
julesG @Sarah83 Der Stil ist gewöhnungsbedürftig. Und ich vermisse Kapitel. 😀 5y
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Sarah83 Kommt noch mit den Kapiteln. Die sind sehr lang. 😉 Ja, ich liebe Bücher mit Schachtelsätzen. 5y
julesG @Sarah83 Jetzt muss ich doch mal genauer lesen, ob sich die Sätze im Englischen auch schachteln 5y
Sarah83 Der Anfang war unabhängig dessen auch sehr langatmig 5y
julesG @Sarah83 Aber der langatmige Anfang ist bestimmt wichtig. 😵 Weil das erklärt, warum die ganze Geschichte ist wie sie ist. - - Ich bin weiterhin gespannt. Du weißt ja, nur weil der Autor Preise abgeräumt hat, heißt das nicht, dass alles Gold ist was er schreibt. Oder, mit anderen Worten, traue keinem Buch auf dessen Cover der Autorenname größer als der Titel ist. 😁 5y
Megabooks 🤣🤣🤣 5y
Sarah83 Das stimmt definitiv. Ich mag das Buch schon. Wie weit bist du jetzt? 5y
julesG @Sarah83 nicht viel weiter. Da wo Arthur erkennt, dass die Bibelstunden nur Märchenstunden sind. S 20 oder so. Hab dann ein anderes Buch weiter gelesen. Damit ich alle abarbeiten kann 5y
Sarah83 Ok 😊 5y
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Sarah83
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Sitting at my mum's and waiting for dinner. Perfect time to start my #fridayreads .

@julesG how far are you? Do you like it?

julesG Need to check where exactly. About 10 pages. 5y
Sarah83 @julesG still working or don't like it? 5y
julesG Not sure. It's probably the busy week that keeps me from really getting into it. I'm hoping next week will be better. Only my usual appointments 5y
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julesG
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Good Morning. Bathroom rebuilding day 5 is dawning. The loud and extremely dirty work is done, but there's still dust everywhere. I've visited the DIY shop more times yesterday than last year in total. Good for my #BFCR3 steps, bad for my #BuddyRead. Managed the first three pages only.

@Sarah83

#TeamLetsDoThis @CocoReads @Reecaspieces @Moony @imabusybee @CaroPi @jb72 @Eeyore031370 @LibrarianJen @britt_brooke @wanderinglynn

CaroPi Is totally worth it! Bathroom remodeling is a nightmare but the results are amazing! 5y
CoffeeAndABook What @CaroPi said!! We had our bathroom remodeled two years ago and I hated the process. The dirt, the men in our home every day for a whole week, the upheaval of life in general. But soooo worth it, I‘m still pleased with how it turned out. Halte durch💪🏼 5y
julesG @CoffeeAndABook @CaroPi Thank you! It's just so much on top of everything else. 5y
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jb72 Good luck on the bathroom reno! 5y
Crazeedi Remodeling is stressful, but I'm sure you will be so glad after it's done. Hang in there! 5y
imabusybee Yikes Good luck...great for the steps👏🏻💜 5y
LibrarianJen I want to redo my master bathroom because of the peachy faux marble counters, tub and shower. At the same time I don‘t want to lose my garden tub. It‘s huge and has jets! 5y
85 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Libby1
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
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I‘m not sure which book this quote is from. (Ending sentence on a preposition! 😜)

The tagged book is good.

Cathythoughts I love this quote ... this is what reading is about 👍🏻❤️❤️ 7y
rabbitprincess 😜😁🙌🏻 Yay ending sentences with a preposition! So liberating 😉 7y
76 likes3 comments
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Sapphire
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
Pickpick

I had forgotten how much I enjoy everything by Julian Barnes. This was no exception

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erzascarletbookgasm
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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63 likes2 stack adds
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rabbitprincess
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
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The house has what appears to be a hardcover first edition of Arthur & George (it says 2005 and no other pub date). And then they had to go and put a Booker Prize sticker on it 😕

Leniverse But can the sticker be removed, or is it part of their cover design? 7y
rabbitprincess @Leniverse It looks removable. 7y
Leniverse Whew 😅 7y
Sace Why?? 😢 Stickers should be banned from all book covers! Glad that one is removable. 7y
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Book_Gnome
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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charissharpe Sounds like an intriguing book 📚 7y
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rabbitprincess
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
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My Vintage Canada edition of Arthur & George has lovely stripes on the spine.
#junebookbugs

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Ncostell
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Mehso-so

I finally finished this book last night. It felt like it would never end, perhaps because I was reading so many other books at the same time that it took me longer to finish than it normally would. An interesting historical fiction based on the story of Arthur Conan Doyle's defense of a man wrongly convicted of a crime. Glad I read it but ready to move on to another read. This is my #A book for #LitsyAtoZ.

BookishMarginalia 👍🏼👏🏼 8y
19 likes1 comment
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Ncostell
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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#page24currentread. I'm about two-thirds of the way through this book. It's taking me longer to read than it usually would as several books that I've had on hold at the library for a long time have finally come in so I'm working on those as well. #ReadJanuary

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Ncostell
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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I love getting up early and getting a little bit of extra reading time in before heading to work. Here is my current read. #Andawaytheygo

Suet624 I do this every morning. Great way to start the day. 8y
15 likes1 comment
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susanw
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Another good book patiently waiting to be read. #orangecovers well, orangish. #photoadaynov16 @RealLifeReading

LitHousewife It's twin is on my bookshelf sitting patiently as well. 8y
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susanw
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
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Peach-ish. Anyone else rediscovering books they forgot were on their shelves? Thank you to @TheSpinecrackersBookClub and #augustphotochallenge !

TheSpinecrackersBookClub You have quite a few. Good work. So far readers have one or none. I myself am still looking for something. 8y
[DELETED] 2232195534 I hadn't thought about A Woman Of Independent Means for years! Read it long ago. 8y
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KimHM
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
Bailedbailed

I normally like alternating viewpoints (am, in fact, committed to them) but the very rapid switchbacks (each section only a few paragraphs long) in this one just didn't work for me. I also dislike stories told in present tense. It was disappointing after my rave for The Sense of an Ending.

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KimHM
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
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"It's just that in some novels the people are real and in some they aren't." -- Julian Barnes in The Guardian. One book to begin, one to finish. #FinishedbyFriday

Blair_Reads Yay! 8y
3 likes1 comment
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silver_jenny_dollar
Arthur and George | Julian Barnes
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Reading about scrupulous people being manipulated and undone by less scrupulous people was maybe not the best way to cheer myself up today. :P

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makeworkproject
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
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Mehso-so

Julian Barnes' writing is stunning, as usual. This story, while fascinating, fell a bit flat for me.

Angelala007 Me too. I tossed it. After The Sense of An Ending, I thought all his books would be enthralling. Not so. The opening passage is beautiful though. 8y
makeworkproject @Angelala007 he's got a beautiful way with words. This was not his best. 8y
2 comments
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Bookboss
Arthur & George | Julian Barnes
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Only 90 pages in, but I am loving it.

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