The Golden Notebook in Constant Reader

Oct 11, 2018 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read2018, reading-envy-readalong, theunreadshelfproject2018, own, nobel-prize

(Currently part of the Reading Envy readalong, with dicussion ongoing here) ...more

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Mar 05, 2008 Jim rated it it was ok

Shelves: literary

In spite of all the efforts to include issues like the development of the Communist Party in the UK and the liberation of Africa, this still feels like 636 pages of kvetching about men. The basic problem seems to be that married men keep going back to their wives and promiscuous, insensitive men are promiscuous and insensitive.

This book is interesting because it is the signature work of a Nobel Prize winner not because it provides a lot of pleasure. It starts with a successful investment banker ...more

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Dec 13, 2007 Sherry rated it liked it

Shelves: classicscorner

There are so many things to talk about in this book, that I almost have brain freeze and don't talk about anything. I have to say, though, that I've never read anything that I remember having so much to do with the idealistic beginnings of the Communist Party. It's almost like people were even afraid to write fiction about it or they would be blackballed.

There were two introductions in my edition, one from the seventies, and one from the nineties. I read them after I had finished and found them ...more

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Dec 27, 2007 Kecia rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books, england, nobel_laureates, times_100_best

Within a few hours of the announcement that Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize I put in my request at the library. Ten weeks later I got my turn. Started reading Christmas day...sneaking away from the family to read the two introductions...oh the brilliance recorded there!

The the disappointment. The first 100 - 150 pages did not engage me...but by about page 200 things began to click. The story began to emerge. The brilliance was suddenly golden. I found a novel dazzling in its scope.

Anna Wulf i ...more

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Jan 10, 2008 Gail rated it liked it

Shelves: 2008, classic-british

Well, I've finished the first section and am well into the first section involving the Notebooks. I have a dim, dim, dim memory of reading this when I was, maybe, 18 or 20. I liked it then; I love it now. At least so far. Yes, it may be navel gazing, but it's navel gazing of the highest order. And it's not nearly as difficult to read as I was led to believe by someone or two folks. Nice to find a classic read that's accessible, at least for me.
I like the ebb and flow of the narrative, across and ...more

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Oct 23, 2007 Dottie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics-corner, 1001-read, ocitylibrary, 2008

I have mixed feelings on this one though I liked it a great deal as I was churning along through most of the book I felt a bit let down afterward. Thing is that might actually mean it was as good as I believed -- and I'm just being too picky. Or it might mean bits of this hit too close to the bone for me at this point in my life. When I make up my mind -- I may adjust the number of stars. Till then -- this is powerful reading but not for faint hearts. ...more

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Oct 06, 2009 Yashoda Sampath rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: readandproudofit

Wow. Can't believe I finally finshed this monster (though there were sections I could not put down!) Will need time to digest before i can do a real review, but it's definitely got me thinking. ...more

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Sep 01, 2007 Joe Mossa rated it liked it · review of another edition

this book is on my list of 100 but i couldn t finish it. i have THE DORIS LESSING READER and i like the short stories. maybe, i ll go back to the GOLDEN NOTEBOOK sometime.

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