What do You think about The Throwback (1997)?
A disappointing collection of sketches, contrived and without any depth of character. Actually most of Tom Sharpe's stories have similar properties but in most you get to care about a character, to empathise with them and so to wail, bemoan or cheer for them in their escapades. In the case of Lockhart Flawse I found I just couldn't care.There's no doubting the skill of Sharpe's writing, in particular his verse when it appears in Scots brogue. But that's all I can commend from this novel. It's Pulp fiction but would be better off as pulp.
—Malcolm Campbell
Ce livre m'a été conseillé par mon frère. C'est vraiment un régal. Je me suis fait plaisir en le découvrant. Dès les premières pages, on s'aperçoit du ton décalé de Tom Sharpe.J'ai vraiment adoré les personnages.Lockhart Flawse, le personnage principal, est vraiment spécial mais attachant. Les événements s'enchaînent, tous plus décalés les uns que les autres.Parfois je me suis demandé comment l'auteur pouvait inventer de tels délires.Si vous voulez lire des magouilles tordues pour faire fuir vos voisins ou encore pour rendre folle la nouvelle femme de votre grand-père, qui n'en veux qu'à son argent, vous trouverez tout dans ce roman.Seule tâche d'ombre, je n'ai pas compris la dernière phrase, qui nous révèle le nom du père de Lockhart (qu'il recherche depuis le début) car rien ne laissait penser à M Dodd.
—Katia
I didn't read Tom Sharpe when he was new published back in the 70s. I've finally caught up thanks to a collection of books cleared out of the library as too battered and worn! Pity I missed them the first time out. I shall look forward to reading the other titles. This one is hilarious.Sharpe has a keen ear and eye for the ridiculous. He takes the cliched situation and rewrites it as a really funny story. Here we have the castle in Scotland, the ancient lord of the manor, his bastard grandchild and how that grandson must make a life for himself. On the way through the story various govt and political bodies are sent up, and the unlawful activities of not just the bastard but everyone else make for hilarious reading.If you like writers who poke fun at the establishment and cliches then read Tom Sharpe.
—P.D.R. Lindsay
