Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Troubles
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
Winner of the Lost Man Booker Prize 1919: After surviving the Great War, Major Brendan Archer makes his way to Ireland, hoping to discover whether he is indeed betrothed to Angela Spencer, whose Anglo-Irish family owns the once-aptly-named Majestic Hotel in Kilnalough. But his fiance is strangely altered and her family's fortunes have suffered a spectacular decline. The hotel's hundreds of rooms are disintegrating on a grand scale; its few remaining guests thrive on rumors and games of whist; herds of cats have taken over the Imperial Bar and the upper stories; bamboo shoots threaten the foundations; and piglets frolic in the squash court. Meanwhile, the Major is captivated by the beautiful and bitter Sarah Devlin. As housekeeping disasters force him from room to room, outside the order of the British Empire also totters: there is unrest in the East, and in Ireland itself the mounting violence of "the troubles." Troubles is a hilarious and heartbreaking work by a modern master of the historical novel.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Brimful
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
Pickpick

A compelling and acerbic reflection on the decline of the British empire post the traumas of World War One. Rather than plot driven this is an account of the rot and corruption of empire and the emasculation of a particular kind of liberal masculinity in the face of undeniable claims to self determination. The futility and dark absurdity of maintaining empire is made stark with uncomfortable resonances with contemporary uk.

quote
Brimful
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

Winter 1919. A peacetime winter: skating on frozen ponds, roasted chestnuts? He had forgotten what winter in peacetime was like and through the unbroken bubble of bitterness in his mind, inches thick like plate glass, he tried to visualise it. But the war was still there. He had not yet finished with it.

blurb
Brimful
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

About 20% into this unusual novel. Set in 1919, an officer suffering from post traumatic stress visits Ireland to clarify his relationship with the daughter of the owner of a hotel, the majestic, the central character of the novel. The majestic is sprawling decaying and feral - a metaphor for post war empire. It‘s residents are also decayed but In denial in particular of the potency of Irish nationalism. It‘s brilliant but is it sustainable?

quote
Brimful
Troubles | J.G. Farrell

it was beyond doubt that they were engaged: a certainty fostered by the fact that from the very beginning she had signed her letters ‘your loving fiancée, Angela. This had surprised him at first but with the odour of death drifting into the dug-out in which he scratched out his replies by the light of a candle,it would nave been trivial and discourteous beyond words to split hairs about such purely social distinctions.

blurb
Brimful
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

Charity shop find! I am intrigued by this winner of the lost Booker prize which I started on my commute home

AlaMich Oooh, that cover!! What edition is that? (edited) 3y
Brimful It is rather classy! Phoenix paperback 1993 reissued 2007. Artwork Lucy Davey 3y
7 likes2 comments
blurb
sisilia
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

JG Farrell 😍😍😍 Handsome guy, and an excellent writer 😍 I‘m still thinking about the tagged book. It was a tough read, but I think I will reread it one day

Suet624 Why was it a tough read? 4y
sisilia @Suet624 His writing is quite dense, it took me a while to get used to it 4y
Suet624 Ahhh,I see. 4y
38 likes3 comments
review
sisilia
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image
Pickpick

4⭐️ The first novel in the Empire trilogy, Troubles told the story about a crumbling Majestic hotel, set during the Irish War of Independence. The decrepit hotel struggles to remain standing, holding its last breath for its eccentric inhabitants. The writing is brilliant although I found it difficult to get into at times.

Liz_M It is so very atmospheric! I liked The Siege of... best. (edited) 4y
sisilia @Liz_M I‘m looking forward to it 💕 4y
53 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
sisilia
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

Slooooowww progress with this book. The writing is so dense, but I grow to love JG Farrell‘s style 🥰

blurb
sisilia
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

If only Farrell could see what is happening in the world today, he‘d probably write another trilogy... with angst!

blurb
sisilia
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

A messy desk gives me comfort 😅

AlaMich I enjoyed Troubles very much! 4y
sisilia @AlaMich I think I‘m going to like it, too ❤️ It‘s satirical and funny 4y
QuintusMarcus Stylishly messy... 4y
marleed A creative mess is so much better than idle tidyness! 4y
sisilia @marleed I totally agree 🤩 4y
54 likes5 comments
blurb
sisilia
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

I can never stick to my reading plan. I‘m supposed to read another Zola, but this caught my eyes 🙈

Cathythoughts I‘m a disaster for sticking to my reading plan 😂.... enjoy your book 👍🏻❤️ 4y
Liz_M But how else do you read the right book at the right time? This one is good, but I preferred 4y
sisilia @Cathythoughts 🙌🏻😹 4y
sisilia @Liz_M The mood dictates everything 😆 I have The Siege of Krishnapur, and The Singapore Grip waiting... 4y
65 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
Emilymdxn
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

My reading slump continues but I‘m getting by slowly. Im working my way slowly through Troubles which is long, whimsical and fairly plot free though it has a lot of content and ideas, wirh an old buffy episode in the background.

AlaMich I loved Troubles! It‘s definitely an odd book, and really, nothing much happens. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. 4y
Gogobooks Yes, I liked it very much too. There were some unforgettable images. Loved The Siege of Krishnapour as well. 4y
61 likes2 comments
blurb
KarenUK
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

#bookhaul from yesterday.... I‘d added them to my #TBR over the last few months and finally ordered them.

-Homing .... a rare Non fiction choice for me, I‘d heard it recommended by Radiohead‘s bassist on my favorite BBC radio 4 show/podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008y4v
- Binstead‘s safari & The Last September were 5⭐️recs from goodreads
- Troubles is an #NYRB that was mentioned by the main character in Lily King‘s Writers & Lovers

review
ClairesReads
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image
Mehso-so

3 stars because I can objectively see that this is a good book, although it was not for me. Some interesting moments of discussion about the Irish War of Independence, but ultimately a book/person mismatch. #indiebuddyreads #readharder2020

TiredLibrarian I like "book/person mismatch" - I think we've all been there! ? 5y
ClairesReads @TiredLibrarian we have! I don‘t feel like a negative review is fair because it‘s just not a me book 5y
27 likes2 comments
blurb
ClairesReads
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

A book that takes place in a rural setting #readharder2020 #indiebuddyreads

21 likes1 stack add
blurb
EadieB
Troubles | James Gordon Farrell
post image
AmyRebecca Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! 💜😁 5y
44 likes1 comment
blurb
Dragon
Troubles | James Gordon Farrell
post image

Was anyone else down ? The only way I could get Litsy back on was to delete and then reload the app. I missed you guys.

SilversReviews Yes....they did some update and you had re-log in. I was in a panic. :) It worked on my phone but not on my iPad. Gorgeous photo. Glad you are back. 7y
AmyG I had to log out...and then log back in. Ha @SilversReviews It worked on my ipad...not on my iphone. (edited) 7y
Dragon Thanks @SilversReviews I‘m going to have to try it on my iPad mini, hopefully it works. Thanks, the Gardens were so beautiful that day throwbackThursday 😀🐉 7y
See All 35 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful!!! 7y
Dragon Thanks @AmyG - I really hope they don‘t do too many of these updates. It‘s a bit stressful. I‘ll try the logging out logging in on my iPad mini. 7y
SilversReviews @Dragon It should work. 7y
SilversReviews @AmyG That is funny how we had opposite things work. 7y
Dragon Thanks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks it‘s a bit rainy and overcast here today so I thought I would post a photo from earlier 🌷🐉 7y
Kristy_K Mine was! It was very annoying lol. 7y
Dragon Thanks @SilversReviews my mini is a bit capricious and isn‘t turning on at the moment. Technology is not my friend today. 😂🐉 7y
Dragon Thanks @Kristy_K seems like it was a system wide issue. Hopefully it‘s not going to be a regular occurrence. Fingers crossed 🤞 7y
SilversReviews @Dragon Oh no...my iPad blacked out about 10 minutes ago and I was getting worried, but it came back to life. 7y
Soubhiville Wow that‘s so pretty! 7y
Crazeedi Beautiful flowers! 7y
Dragon Yay my iPad mini has Litsy working. Thanks @SilversReviews @AmyG Happy dance 💃 7y
Dragon Thanks @Soubhiville @Crazeedi I couldn‘t believe how much those tulips 🌷 looked like poppies. It was an impressive display. 7y
SilversReviews @Dragon Yippee!!! I actually have attacked a Bluetooth keyboard to my iPad. I like it so much. 7y
SilversReviews @Dragon I thought they were poppies too. 7y
Dragon Thanks @SilversReviews why do iPads do that? At least they are working now. 🐉 7y
Dragon A Bluetooth keyboard sounds very useful @SilversReviews 👍🐉 7y
Crazeedi @dragon they really do!! Amazing! 7y
MicrobeMom I was down but Facebook said to log out and back in! That did the trick. 7y
SilversReviews @MicrobeMom Where do we find this on Facebook please? I “might” have been on it after I did a search, but is the page called Litsy? 7y
SilversReviews @Dragon It is awesome...so much easier for typing than on the phone. I actually hooked up the Bluetooth keyboard to my phone before I got this iPad. :) 7y
SilversReviews @Dragon You mean why do they black out? Not sure...maybe it was a software update?? My computer does that at times when it is updating. 7y
MicrobeMom @SilversReviews yes I just searched Litsy. It did not show up in my feed but when I went to the Litsy page it was the last post. 7y
Dragon Thanks @MicrobeMom for the heads up 👍😀 7y
Dragon Thanks @SilversReviews updates make sense. I have a few apps on the iPad. 😀🐉 7y
Alfoster I panicked as well. But Jeff/Tim responded that when my iPhone updated it erased my log in so I just had to log out and in again. I was freaking out that I couldn‘t fix it! 7y
Dragon Thanks @Alfoster me too. Panic city. Next time I hope I remember to just log out and log in. I didn‘t think of it. That would definitely have been easier than deleting and reinstalling the app. 7y
CoverToCoverGirl That was me for about 5 hrs last night until I tried logging out ..🙁 I‘m not a happy camper when Litsy acts up .. 😬 7y
Dragon Thanks @CoverToCoverGirl I was so relieved when it worked again! Agree I missed Litsy today. Now we‘re happy campers 👍🐉 7y
ReadZenRites Me also! What a panic for a bit!!😱😁 7y
Dragon Thanks @ReadZenRites so happy it‘s working this morning 👍🐉 7y
69 likes35 comments
blurb
ValerieAndBooks
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image

Used bookstore haul today!
Green and or Irish books are on sale this month for $1 each (top two) =$2
Memoir at regular price =$4
Essays on art, from ARC table = $1 donation

Total: $7
Now how can I buy time to catch up on my ever-growing TBR?!
ETA: just now realized Troubles is an #1001Books! Bonus!!

DebinHawaii Nice haul! Love the Moosewood cookbooks! 💚 7y
LeahBergen Troubles is a nice score for $1. A NYRB! 7y
ValerieAndBooks @DebinHawaii thanks! Trying to fill out my Moosewood collection 😊, and getting new ideas, too. 7y
ValerieAndBooks @LeahBergen yes!! And it‘s like new, too. 7y
75 likes4 comments
blurb
Dragon
Troubles | James Gordon Farrell
post image

Has anyone else had TROUBLE with notifications? Mine have disappeared 👻 and I can‘t access new ones. ( a photo of the eclipse through the trees )

Dpotter I'm having the same trouble. 🤔 7y
booksandsympathy Having the same problem 7y
FlowerFairy Same here 😕 7y
See All 22 Comments
Laura317 Same. I sent Litsy a note telling them of this. Maybe if others do, they will realize it‘s system-wide. 7y
Meeko93 Same here 😔 7y
jfalkens Same here 7y
jfalkens I can't send a report. You shake your phone to send the report on my phone and my gyroscope is broken. 7y
Chrissyreadit Sent report 7y
AmandaL Me too. 7y
Dpotter Sent report 7y
Dragon Thanks @Chrissyreadit @AmandaL @Dpotter , I think it‘s fixed now 😀👍 7y
Meg11726 Yes! Has been like that on mine for a few days! 7y
Dragon Thanks @Meg11726 It seems to be working again, so far, fingers crossed 🤞 7y
jfalkens @Dragon mine's working now 😊 7y
Dragon Thanks @jfalkens 👍 it seems to be fixed 🐉 7y
batsy It was bedtime for me here when I noticed it too. I went to bed and said a prayer for no Litsypocalypse. I'm so glad it seems to be working now 😂 7y
SilversReviews It seems to be working. 7y
Dragon Thanks @batsy I‘m so pleased your prayers were answered and Litsypocalypse was averted 👍🐉😂 7y
Dragon Thanks @SilversReviews let‘s hope Litsy stays up and running. Fingers crossed 🤞😀🐉 7y
SilversReviews @Dragon same here. 7y
44 likes22 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image
Pickpick

This is the story of the Major who stays in the decaying Majestic Hotel in Ireland way too long. However, many of the guests never leave, although the place is taken over by cracks in the walls, roots through the carpets, cats and rats.

The parallels with the situation in Ireland are clear: these are the 1920s and Ireland experiences its 'Troubles'. #booker #1001books #manbooker

Picture: Lisbon, Portugal

8 likes2 stack adds
review
AlaMich
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
post image
Pickpick

Okay, this was an odd book that I imagine only a few would enjoy. A man seeks out his (maybe) fiancée at a huge, crumbling resort in rural Ireland in the 20s and....not a lot happens. And yet, I could not put it down. It won the "Lost" Man Booker prize. #nyrb #manbooker

Centique A crumbling old hotel sounds like just my kind of thing! 8y
AlaMich @Centique The hotel is really almost a character itself in this book. 8y
14 likes5 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Johoney
Troubles | James Gordon Farrell
post image

Oops... Book haul.
I love second hand books!

review
Suzy200
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
Bailedbailed

Beautiful writing but dull story. Bailed at pg 82 as I didn't care anymore. Major writes to Angela during WW1. Visits her at home in Ireland after the war to clear up whether or not they are promised to each other. She lives in a weird hotel which is where it lost me. Another reviewer described it as Faulty Towers without the humour. Disappointed.

review
WendyAebi
Troubles | J.G. Farrell
Pickpick

Published in 1970; won the lost Man Booker Prize. My first foray into Irish historical fiction. It was very well-written and I enjoyed it, but I don't feel compelled to finish the trilogy.