From the witty author of Nice Work comes a story of a group of British tourists whose trip to Hawaii isn't quite what anyone bargained for. "Wonder...
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Jun 17, 2010
Tony
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Lodge, David. PARADISE NEWS. (1991). ****. Other than a slight drag in the middle of this story, it is an almost perfect novel. Lodge is a craftsman at marging the comic novel with an exploration of one or more of life’s serious concerns. In this novel, we meet Bernard Walsh, a part-time teacher of Theology at a small school in Rummidge, England. He gets word one day that his aunt, his father’s sister, is dying of cancer and would like to see family before she passes. She lives in Hawaii
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Sep 29, 2011
Julia
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I LOVE David Lodge. When Jack Hall first turned me on to Lodge's work, I very quickly ate through what seemed like most of his fiction--Nice Work (1988), Changing Places (1975), and Small World (1984)--with the greatest delight and voracity. Since then, I've been pecking away--The British Museum Is Falling Down (1965), Thinks (2001, which includes an autistic character), How Far Can You Go? (1980), Deaf Sentence (2008)--finding his novels second hand whenever I can, but since I seem to see the s
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Apr 25, 2010
Fran
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I picked up this book because the story takes place in Hawaii. It tells of a journey a group of people take from England all the way to Oahu. Bernard is the main character and he along with his not so willing father are taking this trip not for pleasure but to grant a dying wish for Ursula, his aunt. Ursuala and "Daddy" (or Jack as he is rarely called) have been estranged for years, and she wants to reconnect with her brother before she succumbs to the cancer that is riddled through
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Dec 02, 2009
marg
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The thing with Lodge is that I have a sort of love hate thing going as I read more and more of his work. He is sharp, witty and does clever things with narrative, and the while I am thinking, this is sharp, witty etc and yet so completely irritating. I guess at a certain point it feels like slapstick.
In this story he covers several (too many for me to keep track of or care about and therefore a lot of the humor got lost) people on holiday in Hawaii - I definitely got the feel for the place More...
In this story he covers several (too many for me to keep track of or care about and therefore a lot of the humor got lost) people on holiday in Hawaii - I definitely got the feel for the place More...
Nov 07, 2011
Brenda
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A favorite novel of mine. In fact it has the same plot arc as many a romance novel: in which the protagonist starts out in a state of loneliness and dysfunction and, while traveling to an exciting new place, falls into disasters that somehow turn out well and end in love and happiness. Only, instead of a Regency heroine at her first London ball, the hero is an aging theology professor in modern Honolulu.
One of the skilfullnesses of this book is the way almost all the characters are well- More...
One of the skilfullnesses of this book is the way almost all the characters are well- More...
Feb 20, 2010
Emilia
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This book was at once quite surprising and not surprising at all.
It was a surprising mix of topics: really theological, life in Hawaii (though not capturing the spirit of the place entirely, doing a pretty good job of capturing the spirit of visiting and traveling), reflections on family, and finally a very late bloom into the wonders/dangers/importance of romantic love+sex.
It was not surprising because my dad gave it to me to read. After a visit to Hawai'i! Unfortunately, my More...
It was a surprising mix of topics: really theological, life in Hawaii (though not capturing the spirit of the place entirely, doing a pretty good job of capturing the spirit of visiting and traveling), reflections on family, and finally a very late bloom into the wonders/dangers/importance of romantic love+sex.
It was not surprising because my dad gave it to me to read. After a visit to Hawai'i! Unfortunately, my More...
Aug 22, 2010
Lorenzo
rated it:
What did I learn from Paradise News?
Several things.
Now I can nonchalantly use terms like "lei", "pupu" and "moo-moo" in any conversation about Hawaii. Not that I had or will have many.
Apropos, don't you have the impression that Hawaii are out of fashion? Personally I don't know anyone who went there. And even the fact of being the accidental birthplace of Barack Obama is not helping as much as it could.
Why don't I s More...
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Jan 12, 2012
Ron
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I've read several Lodge novels recently and this is the weakest, in part because the main character is so frustratingly half human, a man who is condemned by his own foolish choices and the best wishes of well meaning family to live only half a life. I knew that this was adding up to a story of a mid-life awakening, and I was rooting for him, but I could not sympathize with him much, and that made the novel drag a bit. But the last third of the book, with its redemptive love story, and its focus
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Aug 01, 2011
I had never read David Lodge - never heard of him, but there was about 25 of his books for sale at the Vic College book sale, so I figured he must have a following. How can you not like Bernard Walsh, an agnostic theologian whose life is so boring and lonely that he grasps the chance of change by promising his aunt to bring his reluctant father all the way to Hawaii to visit her before she dies. While giving us an in-depth character study of Bernard, Lodge also lets us peek into the lives of o
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Aug 16, 2010
Sandra
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Actually I would like to give this book 3 1/2 stars (and the highest rating I have given so far is 4 stars). Very easy read, very funny characters ("quarreling honeymooners, girls looking for Mr Right, a freeloading anthropologist and assorted tourists all determinedly pursuing their humdrum visions of paradise") But the book also has a more serious side and I even shed a few tears. The author is British.
Jan 23, 2010
Mlle. Светлана
rated it:
A mindless, pleasurable read. Although the plot is rather predictable and the characters seem bland, Lodge’s book managed to capture my attention enough for me to read it in one sitting. Definitely not a novel I would go back to and re-read, though – it lacks the je ne sais quoi that turns a entertaining but forgettable book to a masterpiece.
Nov 25, 2011
Eric
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Not quite up to the standard of Thinks or Therapy, but solid. A bit more on the domestic comedy side, but still insightful and funny. Those avidly seeking further evidence of Lodge's sexism will probably find something here. But it's not the sort of sexism that most feminists write home about, I don't imagine.
Oct 31, 2009
Kate
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Lodge does what he always does so well-- toss together individuals from different cultures and mindsets, and let them affect each other. "Paradise News" also touches family relationships and religious doubts.
My own FAVORITE Lodge is "Thinks." Recommended, esp. for lit majors and computerphiles.
My own FAVORITE Lodge is "Thinks." Recommended, esp. for lit majors and computerphiles.
Aug 03, 2011
Joolee
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I think this is my favourite David Lodge book. It is sweeter and more optimistic than his other works. Yet it tackles all the big issues - love, life, death and beyond. I've re-read it a gajillion times and it's always fresh.
Aug 10, 2011
Much less annoying than other offerings by Lodge and much more touching and entertaining. I'm usually weary when it comes to stories of sexual healing, but this one is a definite success.
Jun 18, 2009
Lynn
rated it:
He's such a good writer, and so hilarious in his depiction of English "types" I forgive him his occasional lapse into sentimentality. A very good read, as always.
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Jun 06, 2010
Ann
rated it:
Gets four stars for being read on the beach in Kauai, but the humor (v British) sort of teetered between too subtle to too slapstick to too not funny.
Dec 03, 2010
Didier_warzee
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I enjoyed it less than other novels by David Lodge because I could not buy the main character. However, some minor characters (including a nod to Nice Work) and the depaysemment and interesting reflection on mass tourism, made me appreciate this book.
Nov 25, 2010
Fran
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This is Lodge’s ninth novel. Bernard Walsh is an ex-priest who seems to have lost his religious faith. When he and his father head to Hawaii to visit an ill relative, they have a series of comic adventures and meet a variety of odd characters. Lodge has many interesting observations about religion and tourism. Definitely recommended.
Oct 27, 2011
Roussie
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more lighthearted than some of his other work though pretty heavy on theology. how did he manage that!?!
Aug 12, 2011
Bev
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My absolute favorite David Lodge (so far). I love his take on the academic world.
Sep 27, 2007
Trin
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Another delightful David Lodge book. The paradise of the title is two-fold: the tropical, Hawaiian variety, and the kind where you get to meet the man upstairs. I think I’ve run out of ways to express how Lodge is such a funny, interesting, dynamic writer. If you like books containing academic humor or featuring somewhat sorry smart people, you should just read him. This book is a nice stand-alone; I can’t decide if it’s a better entry point to his work than Changing Places or not. Oh, whatever
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Jul 12, 2011
A nice middle aged book in which a Priest comes to terms with his loss of faith and succedes in finding love and a flavour to life.
Apr 18, 2007
Sacha
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Nobody can render the pathos and charm of being British like David Lodge, especially when said islanders are transported to a very different island, Hawaii. This is probably one of the last books of his that I haven't read. They are somewhat guilty pleasures, since they melt in your hands, but my friend Greg assures me they are nothing fluffy since Lodge write theory and all. OK.
Sep 15, 2011
Naomi
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I originally wrote this book because it was set in Hawaii. I thought it was ok. The story had moments of humor, but wasn't a fantastic laugh out loud continuously.
Oct 12, 2008
Shermi
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i adore Lodge for his good sense of humor and the good ability of observing people and their lifes. i enjoyed rading his books a lot
Feb 18, 2008
Erelin
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Lodge is funny and light. Perfect beach read - light and easy yet still great literature instead of some awful romance novel :)
Feb 09, 2008
BillyBlog
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