Dublinesque

As a reader of literary fiction, I chose this because of the great reviews, but was hugely underwhelmed. It just felt like hard work, it never gained any momentum and the character of Samuel Riba did nothing at all for me. I wouldn't bother.

There's a shockingly natural reflection of the way readers think in this very clever and experimental work of fiction.'Dublinesque' is very post-modern and you wouldn't get much out of it if you'd never read James Joyce's 'Ulysses', but like Beckett, or some of Shakespeare's soliloquies, it feels strikingly universal. A joy to read.

Sometimes one just wants to be stroked, tantalised, warmed and enchanted by a twinkling original - here is one's chance. Treat yourself to a delicious diversion with deep rewards.

I was misled by the literary reviews. The book turned out to be a ponderous, self-absorbed novel weighed down by a host of literary references. There are a few scenes and lines of thought that encouraged me to read further, but most of it was turgid.

An unputupable turgid novel of repeated observation, clunky ponderous musings and oh-so-ironic references than fall so flat they barely bother. A book for people who want to appear oh so cultured.