Tom Bedlam
by George Hagen
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 58)
There were things I quite liked about this book - Tom's estranged parents, for instance, were a wonderfully drawn, as was the Limpkin family- but Tom's early life was a little too Horatio Alger for me. I'm not all that fond of the "mysterious benefactor lifts boy out of the slums" trope. Even if there is a solid reason behind the benefactor's generosity, it usually feels like simply a plot device to me.
Once past that,however, the story was well-built and well-written. Me being me,...more
Once past that,however, the story was well-built and well-written. Me being me,...more
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Read in December, 2007
I bought this book to read while confined to the sofa after knee surgery. It's hefty and described as "a thrill ride: bleak, deep, and hilarious" by the NY Times, which is as good a recommendation as any, don't you think?
It is bleak and it is hilarious. It's VERY Dickensian. A horde of characters, mostly exaggerated to caricature, populate a fictionally historical England and English Africa. It's well written. I can imagine it being adapted to an engrossing BBC miniseries. The thin...more
It is bleak and it is hilarious. It's VERY Dickensian. A horde of characters, mostly exaggerated to caricature, populate a fictionally historical England and English Africa. It's well written. I can imagine it being adapted to an engrossing BBC miniseries. The thin...more
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Read in March, 2008
Sometimes a good, fun romp with characters that are purposely larger than life. Other times, it drove me a little nuts because I was expected to forgive the protagonist his faults because, well, he tries to do the right thing. Having the best of intentions does not make you a good person or worth of people's sympathy, especially when those good intentions cause you to do the wrong thing -- in that case, having good intentions usually is just an indication that the person confuses what is best ...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!
Praise for the author George Hagen.
Tom Bedlam is his second novel.
His books have brought me a tremendous amount of joy.
I read Mr. Hagen's first novel The Laments at the suggestion of
a dear friend who has an uncanny ability to match people with books.
From page one I laughed and began to savor every word.
Tom Bedlam is a fun trip in Victorian London with Tom, his friend Audrey Limpkin
and the ever desirable Sissy Grimes. Strong characters that will lure you into their world.
...more
Tom Bedlam is his second novel.
His books have brought me a tremendous amount of joy.
I read Mr. Hagen's first novel The Laments at the suggestion of
a dear friend who has an uncanny ability to match people with books.
From page one I laughed and began to savor every word.
Tom Bedlam is a fun trip in Victorian London with Tom, his friend Audrey Limpkin
and the ever desirable Sissy Grimes. Strong characters that will lure you into their world.
...more
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Read in July, 2007
I really enjoyed this book by the author of The Laments (and not just because his wife is a good friend!) Hagen creates a rather Dickensian tale of orphaned boys, harsh boarding schools, child labor, and smoggy, dangerous London, then shows how the end stages of colonialism and the Great War ushered in the new complexities of the modern era. The book is intricately plotted, yet never feels confusing or loses sight of character, and even in the darkest settings, there are nuggets of humor, tender...more
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Read in December, 2007
Not as fab as "The Laments," this book tracks Tom from his youth as a London factory worker to his turns of fate that lead him to bullies at a boarding school, a scoundrel father, med school in Scotland, and married life in S. Africa with 4 children. Always looking backwards to avoid his own mistakes. Entertaining, probably too many coincidences.
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i just started reading this book, but have become quickly addicted. it is the story of a poor, british boy who is abandoned at a young age. As the reader you follow throughout his life to see how the small deeds in childhood can resonate for a lifetime.Highly recommended!
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Read in March, 2008
It wasn't life changing or anything. Even a bit predictable at times, but the characters are really well written. It's one of those inbetween books, although it's around 500ish pages, it's a light read. It's a bit heart breaking at times, and completely endearing.
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a la Charles Dickens. A taste of brutal 19th century British life for the lower class. A little too contrived that all the disparate characters connect, but nonetheless a good read.
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much too long to read... if I wanted to read a life story, I'd read Bill Clinton's... who cares this much about a fictional character... not interested...
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Read in January, 2008
Not quite as good as The Laments, but an entertaining epic following a similar family centric arch.
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