Awesome

This is such a beautifully written, thought provoking book. It has pathos, humour, an exploration of vengeance and forgiveness in the face of evil acts, and the best and worst parts of masculinity. The narration is fantastic

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Excellent character study and attention to detail.

Some parts of the story were sad to read as the protagonist delved deeper and deeper into self destruction and addiction.It is undoubtedly a work of high intelligence and a succinct social commentary on the upper class society made without compromise or dilution.

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Posh Bores Meets Glimpse of Redemption

Reading was faultless. Drooped a little in the middle though perhaps necessary to get a truly rotten sense of Patrick's smelly drug habit. Seems there's no need to EVER be jealous of the mostly awful elite, their absurd hierarchies and incredibly empty lives, though the gossipy details were almost as addictive as P's attraction to heroin. Still, I wish they weren't so ... um ... in charge.

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Uncomfortable subject humorously delivered

Having watched the first tv episode of the book, I was intrigued to see if the book was any good. Cumberbatch is hilarious in his portrayal of the main character and I am pleased to say the narrator does equally well in his delivery. I have been laughing out loud at the descriptions offered. Its a sad subject but delivered in a manner that is cathartic and humorous. I read some reviews of people who said they just didn't understand what was going on at all. I am not sure what was so difficult to understand. The story is of a young man retelling his experiences as an addict and as a person who has experienced incest. Not pleasant subject matter but refreshingly told with humour and irony.

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Excellent

Disturbing, sad, enthralling and funny all at once. Excellent writing and a wonderful performance by Alex Jennings. The people who appear in this story are so deliciously appalling that a sort of addiction to listening sets in, which is somewhat ironic. I'm going straight on to the next volume.

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a fascinating insight into a privileged worl

it's quite a feat for the author to write such an engaging book when so many of the characters are dislikeable and unsympathetic. Apart from s few dodgy accents which made me wince I really enjoyed this book

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Different from the (wonderful) programme version

Amazing. Can't recommend enough.
This is told linearly, as opposed to the programme. Listen.

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Distressing Read

Distressing read, and populated entirely by awful people. The second and third books that I listened to improved, with dry humour. I shan't read the remaining books in the series.

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Exceptional writing

I'm late to party in reading these books. They are very cleverly written and fascinating. It really makes me glad I am not part of that class, thoroughly horrible people who are bitchy, 2 faced, self absorbed, mean spirited and above all very dull. Princess Margaret sounds like a real pain in the ass which is not a surprise. Ugh! awful snobs.

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Totally absorbing

Brilliant performance by Alex Jennings who brings to life characters who are at once repellent and fascinating!

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