Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

In June we will be reading The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton for our War & Travel category - who's in?

I will try to read it.

I'm in, though not right away. Looking forward to it.

Managed to snag a copy from my local library, so count me in!

Yes.

It's on Internet Archive, so it's a yes from me (eventually)

This book is supposed to be funny, and sometimes the writing is quite wry, but the situation is dreary. I hope that eighty years later, the lineal descendant of Miss Enid Roach has a) more spine, b) fewer inhibitions, c) objectively, more chances at living an independent life, and d) real women friends.

This was an interesting read - I have read Hamilton before (Hangover Square and Twenty Thousand Streets) so it was good to reacquaint myself with his style in a title new to me. However this book does not show him off to best advantage. I wanted to know much more about the other residents, or at least more about La Roach. I felt we only scratched the surface despite 300+ pages. But perhaps that was the point? If we knew more about her would we cease to laugh at this rather pathetic lady?

I couldn't get attached to the story. I have marked it to try it again some other time.