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Posted

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Synopsis from Amazon:

A gang war is raging through the dark underworld of Brighton. Seventeen-year-old Pinkie, malign and ruthless, has killed a man. Believing he can escape retribution, he is unprepared for the courageous, life-embracing Ida Arnold. Greene's gripping thriller, exposes a world of loneliness and fear, of life lived on the 'dangerous edge of things'.

I picked up this book for part of my dissertation reading (the portrayal of Brighton in fiction) and wow, it certainly portrays life in the town in a dark, horrific way. Brighton Rock follows Pinkie, a heartless man as he tries to become a gang leader. He kills a journalist without any remorse. Just as he thinks this is the start of big things, he starts to be hunted down by Ida Arnold, who wants justice for Hale's death. As events unfold Pinkie takes all sorts of measures to remain safe and in control, including more death, but he may just have underestimated Ida...

 

I didn't know what to expect when starting this book, especially as the opening line is:

"Hale knew, before he had been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him."

 

I actually enjoyed this book. It was a slow read, and sometimes I got a little bored but overall it was exciting, with murder, fear, love and suspicion . The book shows a dark side of Brighton, with gang wars and dingy hide-outs. The ending was not what I expected either - and probably not how I would have written it, but a good way to end the book.

 

I liked Ida best. Pinkie was too arrogant and moody for me - he had lots of mood swings, which although fitting for his character, did annoy me somewhat after a while. Ida on the other hand, she was big and brave. She was clever and determined - and not easily scared. I think she was the most courageous character in the book.

 

Although written in the 1930s, this is a good crime novel, and just as exciting as modern-day thrillers. If you like suspense, and adventure, this book is worth reading.

 

8/10

Posted

A good review Kate, thank you! I will read this book next, I think. I've picked it out of Olympus Mons and balanced it precariously on the top...

 

(If anyone notices my absence for a while, can someone get Michelle to send help, as I'll probably be trapped underneath said mountain after it's inevitable collapse!)

 

:D

Posted

I thought this was a great book and very dark as you say. I also have the film on DVD (one of those freebies in a newspaper) - very stark it was too and starred a very young Richard Attenborough who was thoroughly nasty as Pinkie.

  • 5 months later...
Posted

I finished it last night and thought it was a great read. I'm fascinated by complicated characters like Pinkie. With all the things he had been through, (I doubt he ever felt happy for once in his life) it's no wonder how he ended up being so emotionally disturbed. I think that in the end,

when he dies, is more like a salvation, considering the way things have turned out.

 

It also shows how some things seem very wrong to someone and quite right to others. For instance, I thought what Ida did in the end wasn't quite fair, but she felt otherwise. Moreover,

Ida thinks that Rose will find comfort when she returns to her parents, but we know that this is not the case, since they basically sold her to Pinkie.

In addition, we can't possibly understand why Rose loves Pinkie and thinks he does too, but maybe it's because she hasn't known any better in her life.

To sum up, I believe it's worth giving it a try.:smile2:

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Hi Hip

 

Not sure what audition you are referring to. Just to be clear though, I see you are located in US and the Brighton referred to in Graham Greene's book is in Sussex, UK, rather than Brighton Beach at Coney Island.:)

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