Un bolsillo lleno de vodka

Laurence Carroll #2

by A.J. Cronin, Nora Bigongiari (Traducción)

A. J. Cronin vuelve con toda la intacta energía de su imaginación que sacudiera en su momento los ambientes literarios con títulos tales como Las llaves del Reino y La ciudadela.
Un bolsillo lleno de vodka es una novela destinada a perdurar, porque contribuye a definir la dimensión del alma hermana, a señalar con habilidad extrema los acontecimientos cotidianos del drama que se vive y a celebrar por último la gloria misma de la existencia del hombre.
El doctor Laurence Carroll, protagonista de esta historia, se revela como un personaje irreverente, libre de prejuicios y que vive intensamente el momento. Pero los acontecimientos y la gente que encuentra en su camino, perturban y distorcionan su acomodaticia forma de encarar la vida y lo fuerzan a mirarse introspectivamente, para llevarlo a su verdad y por último a una sorprendente decisión que él jamás hubiera imaginado.
Un bolsillo lleno de vodka es una historia poco común, donde conviven la astucia y la conciencia, la vida y la lucha por sobrevivir, la tristeza del amor y el olvido intencionado de los días ya pasados.
Estos temas cruciales alcanzan una vez más un tratamiento soberbio, demostrando que Cronin mantiene todas y cada una de las condiciones que lo señalan como a uno de los más grandes escritores contemporáneos.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, British Literature, Medical

235 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Archibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish novelist, dramatist, and non-fiction writer who was one of the most renowned storytellers of the twentieth century. His best-known works are The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films. He also created the Dr. Finlay character, the hero of a series of stories that served as the basis for the long-running BBC television and radio series entitled Dr. Finlay's Casebook.
-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Cronin

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book of a duology. The central character, Laurence Carroll, has now become a doctor. The early years of his practice are quickly passed over through flashbacks. He is working now at a Swiss clinic in the Alps caring for children with lung ailments. He is scarcely likeable; the things he does are downright despicable. If it’s important for you to like the characters in a story, the book isn’t for you. We know from the earlier book that women have given Carroll a hard time. We know that he is emotionally bruised. He is hurting. We understand that his horrible behavior is a backlash. This softens one’s judgment of him, at least to some extent.

At the sanatorium he cares for the son of a woman he once knew. The story revolves around a fuller understanding of their past relationship and getting to know the son. He’s a precocious little kid of seven. He loves chess. He’s quite simply a fun character—one you’re going to like; one you’re going to root for. Your heart goes out to him.

The book gives a good description of Switzerland, both the people and the land. The sanatorium is near Zurich, in the German speaking part of the country.

Religious beliefs play into the story, but in a way that doesn’t work very well. That’s just my opinion of course.

The ending is abrupt. I would have preferred to know more about the future.

I think it would have been better had the two books of the duology been tightened and put together into one. The flashbacks were awkward and could have in this way been avoided. I see a trend. I prefer Cronin’s one volume novels. In both the duologies I’ve read, the second book is not as good as the first.

As an audiobook, I could only get this as a Swedish translation. The translation is by Nils Pontén-Möller. When reading a translation, I always wonder how it compares to the original, particularly when I am not thoroughly pleased with the prose. Such was the case here. Tore Bengtsson reads the audiobook I listened to. His speech is clear and easy to follow. His tone reinforces one’s negative view of Carroll. Bengtsson’s narration I have given three stars.

The two books of the duology have different translators and narrators. This is interesting in that I’ve rated the two so differently. Neither the narration nor the translation is the cause of my lower rating though. The plotline and character portrayal please me less in this, the second book of the duology. Carroll’s relationships with women are not my cup of tea. Cronin’s portrayal of kids is better than that of adults.

*******************

Standalones:
*The Stars Look Down 5 stars
*The Citadel 4 stars
*The Judas Tree 4 stars
*The Spanish Gardener TBR
*The Keys of the Kingdom TBR

Duologies:
1. The Green Years 5 stars
2.Shannon's Way 3 stars
1.A Song of Sixpence 5 stars
2.Pocketful of Rye 3 stars

[Tittirossa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgia delle letture adolescenziali (mia zia li aveva tutti, e io ne leggevo un paio ogni estate). E' facile, avvincente, col giusto grado di sentimento*, nè troppo lungo, nè troppo corto, e il bene trionfa sempre ma non il lieto fine.

*Cronin mostra empatia soprattutto e soltanto per i protagonisti maschi, che della vita interiore delle femmine non sembra proprio curarsi!

[Dorcas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Cronin. Following on the heels of "A Song of Sixpence", it's disappointing to see what a jerk our hero has become. That there seems to be some hope of a turnaround by the end of the novel simply isn't enough to restore him in my mind. A pity. The world deserves better than Dr. Laurence Carroll.

[Mark Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book anyway, but it hit home quite hard for me. The story of a man that has to come to grips with how he has lived his life, own up to what he has done, whether intentionally or not, and where to go from there. I really identified with the character, and this book was instrumental in me finally making a move to address some of the issues in my life, not the least being the search for some sort of meaning.

A powerful read personally, a good book overall.

[Rohini Murugan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book, when I started reading it, I believed was a classic. But found no signs to testify that. It was a usual witty hero and a wild-saucy heroine tale but with a tinge of humanity to it. And since I saw the ending coming, it bears only three stars here.

[lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

me encantó!! necesito leer el primero de los libros

[Bea Alden · Rating 4 out of 5]

AJ Cronin is a wonderful storyteller, and a best-seller in his day (1930s thru 1960s). This particular book is "the intensely moving story of a doctor fighting to cure the sickness in his own soul."

First read in 1988 - just re-read and enjoyed once more. The protagonist is essentially an anti-hero; a not-very-nice man who learns against his will to become a better person.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

started last night, finished today. great pacing.

i enjoyed following laurie's evolution and appreciative of the ending. i think it tied up perfectly! i think i'll search online for other books by cronin & glad this one was recommended to me.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the very entertaining sequel to a Song of Sixpence that I just finished yesterday. Laurence Carroll has become a physician: older, more worldly and jaded in the years since we left him at the end of Sixpence. Even as the first person narrator in this novel, he was quite an obnoxious and arrogant, sexist jerk which was undoubtedly the author’s intent. His work as a doctor at a small Swiss care home for sick and underprivileged British children was a relatively cushy job, until he encounters an old flame, Cathy, newly widowed, whose 7 yr old son is ill. Subsequently the reader gets filled in about the missing gaps in Carroll’s story, and see how the chain of events in his life led him to where, how and why he is the way he is now. I enjoyed this book, and found it hard to put down. It was written in an easier to read voice, more modern I thought, almost as though it had been written by someone else.

[Gea Bersano · Rating 5 out of 5]

La votazione è data per il tipo di romanzo che è: leggero, semplice, una lettura scorrevole. Si legge in molto poco, nonostante i temi non siano facili. È una storia di redenzione, un uomo narcisista e capace di pensare solo a sé - spesso al costo di manipolare la verità - che (ri)conosce l’amore, pur non volendo, e sceglie di essere migliore di ciò a cui si era costretto. Costruendo una fitta rete di inganni, ottiene in cambio devozione e onestà, e rivede se stesso prima che il cinismo della vita mangiasse la parte buona del suo animo.
Se dovessimo definirla con dei termini utilizzati ora sarebbe un enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers. Si aggiunge la storia di una paternità mancata che può essere però recuperata, legame che ha suscitato in me sentimenti che servivano a curare la scoperta della malattia del bambino. Questo romanzo insegna che non è mai troppo tardi per qualsiasi tipo di cambiamento e redenzione, sebbene la vita resti cruda, e non ci sia il lieto fine per tutti.

[Luisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5☆

"Anche questo è squisito, come miele raffinato. Buon per noi che la direttrice non lo vede Dr. Laurence".
"Perché non lasci perdere il 'dottore'", suggerii. "Di' semplicemente 'Laurence'".
Smise di mangiare.
"Quale onore!"
"Per me o per te?"
"Per me, naturalmente." E alzando lo sguardo, mi fece un sorriso caldo e timido al tempo stesso. Mi colpì, quel sorriso, come un diretto in piena faccia. Dove l'avevo visto prima? In qualche vecchia e spiegazzata istantanea, o riflesso debolmente in un passato da tempo dimenticato. Sorridi ora, caro, e guarda l'obiettivo. Oppure mentre ridevo davanti allo specchio, ammirando il nuovo berretto studentesco. Il mio sorriso, prima che se ne offuscasse la luminosità infantile.

Mi sentii vuoto, sconvolto, senza forze. Era proprio il momento della verità.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like the fifth time I read this book. It speaks to me, I'm not sure why. I can tell that Laurie is sick of himself and what he's become, until it all comes to a climax in a brilliant scene where he talks to God in a church - and God talks back. The story with Cathy is sad, and his realization comes late, but it does come, and he redeems himself in the end. I hope Daniel is cured, but at that time, probably not. The characters are well-drawn; the Matron, Cathy, Lotte, and most of all, Canon Dingwall. (Odd name; does it mean something in the UK?) He is the conscience of the piece.

It's a very quick, easy read. Was there ever a sequel? Does anyone know?

[Abril Lef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Resulta que el puntapié inicial de "un médico finge hablar un idioma extranjero para conseguir un mejor trabajo" es interesante. El libro logra bien la cuestión de dejarte en claro que el protagonista está algo harto de sí mismo, aunque al mismo tiempo desea seguir siendo el villano que se divierte.
No hay golpes bajos, incluso cuando la trama tiene cosas increíblemente tristes ¡Y es asombroso!
Sí, tiene una motivación de propaganda religiosa, no hay que negarlo y es útil saberlo si vas a leerlo.
¡Lamento enterarme que tiene un libro antes! Debería buscarlo, pero realmente se puede leer sin problemas este de manera independiente.

[Alessandra Ale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dallo stile classico ma con il contenuto moderno, per una certa "sfrontatezza" di linguaggio e di argomenti, non usuale per l'epoca. Una storia "strana", di un uomo che vive senza pensare agli altri, costruendo menzogne senza vergognarsi molto ed il suo riscatto finale, con la speranza di riuscirci. Un uomo dipinto con i suoi difetti, senza condiscendenza né condanna; una donna on le sue debolezze e meschinità; un bambino malato ma senza compiacimento della tragedia. In tutti il dolore della loro condizione che si rivela ad un certo punto della storia. Insomma un quadro realistico dei sentimenti umani, tracciato con lucidità e grande capacità narrativa.

[Peggy Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read some of AJ Cronin's books years ago and remember them with fondness. I started to read this book, I expected a similar story. It was not. However it did feature a doctor, he chose to practice medicine in a small clinic in Switzerland. He treated the children in the clinic with indifference, until he encountered a woman from his past with her young son. They had a variety of difficult encounters. A stern and cold matron managed the clinic along with the doctor. These individuals comprise the main characters of the story, along with the pocketful of rye.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's such a great feeling when you read a book and just KNOW you've found a new favorite author. Cronin's writing is so sharp, witty, and with a perfect blend of humor and drama. Perhaps he could be compared to Salinger, but a little more intelligent. I found this a breeze to get through and also laughed out loud at certain bits. Great story about a reckoning that felt quite real, though borderline too corny, but the right amount of heart.

[M Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my Grandmother. At first I wasn't sure I would like it, and Carroll seemed like a harsh character. But as the book went on I found the plot interesting and found Carroll an increasingly relatable/understandable character. I'm not sure I was 100% a fan of the ending but I enjoyed the read.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1969, this book is fiction about a doctor at a post in Zurich. He and staff care for sick children at a clinic. There is some history of the doctor's prior life and one day, his first love comes to the clinic with an ailing young son. Thus begins the story of this couple and the other characters in the clinic and around the doctor.

[Sara G · Rating 3 out of 5]

In good conscience, I cannot give this book a better rating after what it did to my lovely boy Laurence. However, I will say that, if this had been a completely separate book, it would have probably been a 4-4.5 star read because Cronin, as always, builds characters cleverly and pulls you in masterfully.

[Wesley Azzopardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The follow-up from its prequel, "A Song of Sixpence", to me at least, could have been a lot better. The coming-of-age element is still kept and has been manifested well in this sequel, but personally I don't consider this as one of Cronin's finest quality of writing. I did like the plot that emerges at the end, but in all, it had room for a much bigger purpose.

[Ace McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning to my glory days of 12th grade, I Picked up and quickly read this sequel to AJ Cronin’s Song of Sixpence, a book included in my “author study”.
Easy to read. The reader is quickly involved with the protagonist. Good story. Why did It feel so simple?

[Lector45 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de los mejores libros que he leído en mi vida. Cronin es un gran escritor y todas sus obras son buenas. Sin embargo en este libro, realmente nos presenta una historia conmovedora y profundamente humana. Magnífico, realmente muy recomendable.

[Peony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character was awful, but I was surprised how openly the book talks about adult content.
The end could have been written better, like the climatic scene was SO good and then it just ended too quickly.

[Ace McGee]

Fast read. Reader quickly becomes involved with protagonist. Feels very simple.

[Tiina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Time has passed by this book. Its setup and ideas are alien to a today's person. All the same, it was easy enough to read.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Странна, цинична, книга, но като обикновено на финала Кронин не ме разочарова.

[L B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. The main Character had a round about way of getting himself together. Interesting read.

[Kate Donnelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Laurence Collier achieved his ideal life. And then his past catches up with him. No longer can his selfishness work for him..

[Joan Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

first read in 2003

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of the power of conscience and the possibility of redemption. Books like this have fallen out of fashion but remain heart warming.