I was so excited to pick up, yup, a copy of The Colony. And, guess what, you , dear KD, helped me deal with my disappointment. Like you, the first few 50 pages were kind of fun, and then ... the paintings and so on and so on. OMG. Thank you, dear KD.
Was glad to find this review! I opened this book up with great expectations, but it barely scratched the surface of its ideas in the end. Such a shame. I'm still trying to forget the image of Lloyd's magnum opus that was conjured in my head. The marketing worked a wonder though, I guess, because critics and readers seem to love it.
The language stuff is really interesting. I found out my grandfather spoke Irish 30 years after he died, at my grandma's funeral. Met my great uncle Séamus for the first time and he told me. My passion is linguistics so I was like 'what you and grandad are Irish speakers?! Mum!' -me shouting across the room- 'Did you know grandad spoke Irish?' Mum's as surprised as me: 'No I didn't?!' Séamus goes: 'ah well, there ye' are so.' He also said the Irish they teach in schools is a compromise between northern and southern Irish and he can't understand them. He was really sad about the waining of Irish actually and said if things were different and his side and my side of the family had been in touch more he'd have happily taught me and my cousins. But none of us had met him before and he must be in his 90s now so
I enjoyed the self portrait parts, I thought she wrote in such a visual way, I could see the parts of each painting assembled, capturing moments, but then I'm a fan of quiet contemplative writing, thanks for your view
I watched this review when you posted it, then the book was longlisted and I thought I would read it, and then it didn’t get shortlisted so I shelved it, and then the audiobook was on sale for £3 so I got it, and now I’ve read it. I didn’t like it 😂
So far I'm enjoying it on audiobook. The conversations between James and Mr Lloyd remind me of those sketches in The Fast Show between the landowner and his gardener.....and the short factual inserts about the people killed have an Old Testament vibe from the book of Kings
So you chose violence today 🤣 I actually loved the self-portrait asides but can see how they could be irritating. I think I also kind of agree that the exploration of the politics felt a bit surface level and obvious but I was still enamored by Magee's characterisation and prose. I can definitely see this one winning if it were to be longlisted for the Booker.
Your mate's dad, oh my! I had my hands in my teeth for him. We were on a peace pact about some weeks ago. It seems this book might inspire our own The Troubles, you and I. 😂😭😂😭 It did a lot for me this book, its resolution, yes unsatisfactory but I think it kept true with its form and its neocolonialism blah blah stuff like the exploitation of James/Seamus and his possible bright future, and of the people on the island generally leaving them in some interesting interpersonal conflict with one another like how most of British colonial legacy have been across the world which one of it is an unsatisfactory end (like the story itself). It is more than a 2, come on mate.
oof.... I don't disagree with anything you said, but I think the pros were stronger for me and the cons less strong, if that makes sense 😂 I also, liked the "self portraits" but I did get bored by the descriptions of painting especially further into the book.
@@KDbooks I can imagine this scenario happened to many people, it's just the retelling was oddly similar. Thanks for this review BTW, You have saved me a lot of money recently, I often need a steady hand to help me off the hype train.
Harsh to compare it (or any book) to Piranesi. I enjoyed it more than you but I agree it doesn't live up to the hype. I think this will win the Booker, I don't want it to win the Booker, but...
Ok so you didn’t like the book. Did you have to make us in N.Ireland into aggressive monsters?? At the beginning of your rant I was so offended I was about to unsubscribe. Then you pulled me back with the sympathy for the loss of native language. Speaking Irish is a very controversial act here in N.Ireland. DUP are opposing the Irish language act. In Wales and Scotland your right to speak your native language is protected. Here there’s uproar if signposts are in Irish & English. It’s a very sensitive & political subject here.
I was so excited to pick up, yup, a copy of The Colony. And, guess what, you , dear KD, helped me deal with my disappointment. Like you, the first few 50 pages were kind of fun, and then ... the paintings and so on and so on. OMG. Thank you, dear KD.
I’m here for the singing.
Thank you 😆
aren't we all
😘 Kieran! love you! 📚💕
♥️♥️♥️😊
Was glad to find this review! I opened this book up with great expectations, but it barely scratched the surface of its ideas in the end. Such a shame. I'm still trying to forget the image of Lloyd's magnum opus that was conjured in my head. The marketing worked a wonder though, I guess, because critics and readers seem to love it.
The language stuff is really interesting. I found out my grandfather spoke Irish 30 years after he died, at my grandma's funeral. Met my great uncle Séamus for the first time and he told me. My passion is linguistics so I was like 'what you and grandad are Irish speakers?! Mum!' -me shouting across the room- 'Did you know grandad spoke Irish?'
Mum's as surprised as me: 'No I didn't?!'
Séamus goes: 'ah well, there ye' are so.'
He also said the Irish they teach in schools is a compromise between northern and southern Irish and he can't understand them. He was really sad about the waining of Irish actually and said if things were different and his side and my side of the family had been in touch more he'd have happily taught me and my cousins. But none of us had met him before and he must be in his 90s now so
I loved this book, will for sure make the shortlist. Wonderful depictions of the English and French as cultural colonizers. And James.
I enjoyed the self portrait parts, I thought she wrote in such a visual way, I could see the parts of each painting assembled, capturing moments, but then I'm a fan of quiet contemplative writing, thanks for your view
I watched this review when you posted it, then the book was longlisted and I thought I would read it, and then it didn’t get shortlisted so I shelved it, and then the audiobook was on sale for £3 so I got it, and now I’ve read it.
I didn’t like it 😂
you just earned urself a new sub!!
If a more indepth history of Irish language and it's decline interests you, a book '32 words for field ' by Machan Magan is a great read.
Off to the bookstore NOW
Really enjoyed your honest review and the song was awesome
Thank you 🙏
When is your single coming to Spotify?
Love the review; still really want to read it.
It’s in the pipeline
So far I'm enjoying it on audiobook. The conversations between James and Mr Lloyd remind me of those sketches in The Fast Show between the landowner and his gardener.....and the short factual inserts about the people killed have an Old Testament vibe from the book of Kings
Do you think your experience of the book would have been better if you had absolutely no expectations?
Doubt it
I won’t be reading this, I think. 🤣but the song was a treat! 👌🏼
😂😂😂
I’ll continue to sing in Irish it seems 😛
You should read it, it is excellent.
So you chose violence today 🤣 I actually loved the self-portrait asides but can see how they could be irritating. I think I also kind of agree that the exploration of the politics felt a bit surface level and obvious but I was still enamored by Magee's characterisation and prose. I can definitely see this one winning if it were to be longlisted for the Booker.
Always coming with the hot takes me 😂 I wish I could lie… but alas
WHATTTTT?????!!!!!
@ me
Your mate's dad, oh my! I had my hands in my teeth for him.
We were on a peace pact about some weeks ago. It seems this book might inspire our own The Troubles, you and I. 😂😭😂😭
It did a lot for me this book, its resolution, yes unsatisfactory but I think it kept true with its form and its neocolonialism blah blah stuff like the exploitation of James/Seamus and his possible bright future, and of the people on the island generally leaving them in some interesting interpersonal conflict with one another like how most of British colonial legacy have been across the world which one of it is an unsatisfactory end (like the story itself).
It is more than a 2, come on mate.
Victor… I chose violence and chaos. I accept the grilling and the ribbing 😂
@@KDbooks oh my! You are going to get it with all of my full military might.
I wouldn’t have it any other way mate 😂
oof.... I don't disagree with anything you said, but I think the pros were stronger for me and the cons less strong, if that makes sense 😂 I also, liked the "self portraits" but I did get bored by the descriptions of painting especially further into the book.
th-cam.com/video/sFsD4SqBbKY/w-d-xo.html - Found this... I thought I had heard that Jewish Atheist line before!!
Daaaaaaamn, this… This absolutely baffles me.
Did my mates dad lie to me 😂 I am legitimately confused
@@KDbooks I can imagine this scenario happened to many people, it's just the retelling was oddly similar. Thanks for this review BTW, You have saved me a lot of money recently, I often need a steady hand to help me off the hype train.
Always here to save people money 💰
I have no interest in knowing anything about this book, I just saw the thumbnail and came to watch you suffer.
Appreciate it 😂
Harsh to compare it (or any book) to Piranesi. I enjoyed it more than you but I agree it doesn't live up to the hype.
I think this will win the Booker, I don't want it to win the Booker, but...
Ok so you didn’t like the book. Did you have to make us in N.Ireland into aggressive monsters?? At the beginning of your rant I was so offended I was about to unsubscribe. Then you pulled me back with the sympathy for the loss of native language. Speaking Irish is a very controversial act here in N.Ireland. DUP are opposing the Irish language act. In Wales and Scotland your right to speak your native language is protected. Here there’s uproar if signposts are in Irish & English. It’s a very sensitive & political subject here.
When did I make N.Irelanders aggressive monsters in this review?
@@KDbooks 3:57 "how abhorrently violent the Irish were" that's what you said. Not true!!! I loved the book !
You’ve completely misunderstood the book. I’d hoped as a Welsh man would have had sympathy with
Happy for you to tell me where I went wrong. I understand the novel, I didn’t enjoy it.