Ken’s review of Flesh > Likes and Comments
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I’d give this a try, Ken (I like bullet-trains, although I also like change), but I have a copy of All that Man Is waiting for me. I’ve never read this author before, had you?
Yes, I read this because I enjoyed All That Man Is, so if you have that, cue it up!
Great, thanks for the encouragement 😊
"I like protagonists who change as they age. You know. Inside as well as outside. "
Agreed. It makes the character seem much fuller.
Jennifer wrote: "Great, thanks for the encouragement 😊"
It's All That Encouragement Is, is all.
Fionnuala wrote: "Very funny last paragraph!"
Lightly amusing, I'd say. "Very" funny is a bit beyond me....
path wrote: ""I like protagonists who change as they age. You know. Inside as well as outside. "
Agreed. It makes the character seem much fuller."
Let's hear it for full (a.k.a. "well-rounded") characters!
Sounds like this one was a bite or two of the apple despite that book cover. I'm glad to know that you previously enjoyed All That Man Is. I'll check that one out.
Lisa wrote: "Sounds like this one was a bite or two of the apple despite that book cover. I'm glad to know that you previously enjoyed All That Man Is. I'll check that one out."
Thanks, Lisa. I noted yesterday that the estimable NYTIMES listed Flesh as one of their Best Books of 2025 (So Far). That's all the opinion fit to print, I guess.
Ken, you say you like protagonists who change as they age? And you still need to tackle Proust? What are you waiting for! 😉
David wrote: "I love that last paragraph Ken!"
Thank you, David. Adam & Eve are frequently on my mind. They both skipped out on the Navel Academy.
Jeroen wrote: "Ken, you say you like protagonists who change as they age? And you still need to tackle Proust? What are you waiting for! 😉"
I do have the first of Proust's Remembrances, Jeroen, but my next big classic is the Magic in a certain German Mountain. At least I assume it's German.
I appreciate your measured review, Ken. Love your closing thoughts too.
I loved your thoughts on the book, Ken, your sympathies for the readers, irrespective of their thoughts on the book, your concern for Edgar, Allen, and Poe, and of course the closing lines.
Mark wrote: "Great, enticing, review Ken!"
Thanks, Mark, for stopping by!
Laysee wrote: "I appreciate your measured review, Ken. Love your closing thoughts too."
Merci, Laysee. I got out the ruler to keep it more measured than not.
;-)
Vishakha wrote: "I loved your thoughts on the book, Ken, your sympathies for the readers, irrespective of their thoughts on the book, your concern for Edgar, Allen, and Poe, and of course the closing lines."
Thanks Vishakha. When reviewing, even briefly as here, I try to keep an eye out for readers and, of course, Poe, who is forever getting off task and writing these killer protagonists.
Well if it’s set in Switserland, there is a debate to be had about whether it can be called German. Don’t let that distract you though as it is truly one of the greatest novels I have come across.
Jeroen wrote: "Well if it’s set in Switserland, there is a debate to be had about whether it can be called German. Don’t let that distract you though as it is truly one of the greatest novels I have come across."
Those words will put wind in my Swiss sails. Thank you!
I'm on the Love it side. I see it was just long listed for the Booker prize.
Jay wrote: "I'm on the Love it side. I see it was just long listed for the Booker prize."
Glad you enjoyed it, Jay.
The exact same thing happened to me when “Prophet Song” won - I literally couldn’t (still can’t) believe that was the best book some people read that year. Poor things!! 🤣
Pedro wrote: "The exact same thing happened to me when “Prophet Song” won - I literally couldn’t (still can’t) believe that was the best book some people read that year. Poor things!! 🤣"
Ah, yes. Prophet Song. I steered clear of that one. Sometimes the description of a book is enough! As for this one, it's difficult to resist temptations of the flesh. Prophets are a boring lot. Flesh? Well, now. That depends.
I agree completely.. from fuck to fuck the world around István changes but we never are let to know his deep essence. Good to read anyway.
Candido wrote: "I agree completely.. from fuck to fuck the world around István changes but we never are let to know his deep essence. Good to read anyway."
Maybe he has no deep essence? I suppose the author could argue that's true of many people, so why not his protagonist?
That said, like you, I had objections and mostly enjoyed it despite those objections. Weird.
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Jennifer
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Apr 29, 2025 02:31PM
I’d give this a try, Ken (I like bullet-trains, although I also like change), but I have a copy of All that Man Is waiting for me. I’ve never read this author before, had you?
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Yes, I read this because I enjoyed All That Man Is, so if you have that, cue it up!
Great, thanks for the encouragement 😊
"I like protagonists who change as they age. You know. Inside as well as outside. "Agreed. It makes the character seem much fuller.
Jennifer wrote: "Great, thanks for the encouragement 😊"It's All That Encouragement Is, is all.
Fionnuala wrote: "Very funny last paragraph!"Lightly amusing, I'd say. "Very" funny is a bit beyond me....
path wrote: ""I like protagonists who change as they age. You know. Inside as well as outside. "Agreed. It makes the character seem much fuller."
Let's hear it for full (a.k.a. "well-rounded") characters!
Sounds like this one was a bite or two of the apple despite that book cover. I'm glad to know that you previously enjoyed All That Man Is. I'll check that one out.
Lisa wrote: "Sounds like this one was a bite or two of the apple despite that book cover. I'm glad to know that you previously enjoyed All That Man Is. I'll check that one out."Thanks, Lisa. I noted yesterday that the estimable NYTIMES listed Flesh as one of their Best Books of 2025 (So Far). That's all the opinion fit to print, I guess.
Ken, you say you like protagonists who change as they age? And you still need to tackle Proust? What are you waiting for! 😉
David wrote: "I love that last paragraph Ken!"Thank you, David. Adam & Eve are frequently on my mind. They both skipped out on the Navel Academy.
Jeroen wrote: "Ken, you say you like protagonists who change as they age? And you still need to tackle Proust? What are you waiting for! 😉"I do have the first of Proust's Remembrances, Jeroen, but my next big classic is the Magic in a certain German Mountain. At least I assume it's German.
I appreciate your measured review, Ken. Love your closing thoughts too.
I loved your thoughts on the book, Ken, your sympathies for the readers, irrespective of their thoughts on the book, your concern for Edgar, Allen, and Poe, and of course the closing lines.
Mark wrote: "Great, enticing, review Ken!"Thanks, Mark, for stopping by!
Laysee wrote: "I appreciate your measured review, Ken. Love your closing thoughts too."Merci, Laysee. I got out the ruler to keep it more measured than not.
;-)
Vishakha wrote: "I loved your thoughts on the book, Ken, your sympathies for the readers, irrespective of their thoughts on the book, your concern for Edgar, Allen, and Poe, and of course the closing lines."Thanks Vishakha. When reviewing, even briefly as here, I try to keep an eye out for readers and, of course, Poe, who is forever getting off task and writing these killer protagonists.
Well if it’s set in Switserland, there is a debate to be had about whether it can be called German. Don’t let that distract you though as it is truly one of the greatest novels I have come across.
Jeroen wrote: "Well if it’s set in Switserland, there is a debate to be had about whether it can be called German. Don’t let that distract you though as it is truly one of the greatest novels I have come across."Those words will put wind in my Swiss sails. Thank you!
I'm on the Love it side. I see it was just long listed for the Booker prize.
Jay wrote: "I'm on the Love it side. I see it was just long listed for the Booker prize."Glad you enjoyed it, Jay.
The exact same thing happened to me when “Prophet Song” won - I literally couldn’t (still can’t) believe that was the best book some people read that year. Poor things!! 🤣
Pedro wrote: "The exact same thing happened to me when “Prophet Song” won - I literally couldn’t (still can’t) believe that was the best book some people read that year. Poor things!! 🤣"Ah, yes. Prophet Song. I steered clear of that one. Sometimes the description of a book is enough! As for this one, it's difficult to resist temptations of the flesh. Prophets are a boring lot. Flesh? Well, now. That depends.
I agree completely.. from fuck to fuck the world around István changes but we never are let to know his deep essence. Good to read anyway.
Candido wrote: "I agree completely.. from fuck to fuck the world around István changes but we never are let to know his deep essence. Good to read anyway."Maybe he has no deep essence? I suppose the author could argue that's true of many people, so why not his protagonist?
That said, like you, I had objections and mostly enjoyed it despite those objections. Weird.
