Group Classics Read (post 1900) - August 2014 - Down and Out in Paris and London - SPOILERS ALLOWED

[Paul]

The discussion thread is now open. Spoilers are allowed on this thread. Don't read on if you haven't finished the book. Can you also unclick the 'Add to my update feed' people don't see your comments in their home screen.

[Jason]

Not what I was expecting. Chapter 2. Blimey.

[Jason]

This is a fantastic book, I really like this subject, living rough trying to survive on no money.

This book is somewhere between Henry Miller and Charles Bukowski.

Only issue I have so far is the length of the book, one of the reasons nobody wanted to publish it is because it was so short. I wish Orwell had spent longer on some of the characters.

[Jason]

Yay, finished it. Really good book, having to control myself to not go and pick up another book of his.

He has some interesting ideas at the end on dealing with tramps, seems sensible but these ideas never get picked up.

[Sandy]

Jason wrote: "Yay, finished it. Really good book, having to control myself to not go and pick up another book of his.

He has some interesting ideas at the end on dealing with tramps, seems sensible but these ..."

It was really good wasn't it.

[Jason]

If anybody likes this then check out No Fixed Abode: A Journey Through Homelessness from Cornwall to London the author has been heavily influenced by down and out in paris and London. Well worth checking out.

[Cathy]

Finished today. Really enjoyed this - nice straightforward style and much of it still so relevant today. Maybe we don't see tramps so much anymore and the workhouses have disappeared but homelessness certainly hasn't gone away. Liked the comparison of Paris and London too - really interesting that as soon as he returned to London, issues of class came in and he didn't want to open his mouth in some situations because he knew he'd be judged. I went back and read the intro after I finished - had no idea he was an old Etonian. Fascinating stuff.

[Paul]

Finished late last night. Review here.

It makes for uncomfortable reading as he mixes with those at the very lowest of society. It is not a pleasant book to read, but I am glad that I have read it as Orwell is a fine writer indeed.

[Betty C.]

I'm a little behind, but this has been on my to-read list for ages, so the book group choice gave me a little nudge. I am almost finished and have loved the book for its detailed descriptions. The Parisian restaurant scenes really struck me. It is certainly brilliantly written.

The "plot" is a bit spotty and I feel like we never get to know the main character, but maybe that was a choice on Orwell's part.

And I don't mind the book being short as my reading time is limited!

[Jason]

I think you don't get much about the main character as the book is almost written like a diary. Maybe.

[Catherine]

There is no real plot to Down and out in Paris and London because they are memoirs of a sort. The authors' own experiences on the tramp in London and of his stay in Paris.
I hope the book gets better for you Betty, it's one of my favourites and we always want other people to like our favourites!!

[Catherine]

My mum's partner was an architect. He was working in the 50's and 60's and told me of a dosshouse they were transforming. There was a room with a rope stretched across fromm wall to wall and this is where the tramps when they stayed the night, would sleep. They'd hang on the rope (with the rope line under their armpits to keep them propped up), and sleep standing up like that at night. It was cheaper for them to sleep like that than lie on the floor. the extra space required for lying down meant that was a more expensive option.