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Title: Great writing......about not much at all
Review: There is no doubt that Banville can write. But good writing in and of itself does not necessarily equal a good read. Even appreciating Banville's expert turn of phrase, I still found reading this novel somewhat of a chore. The novel is narrated by way of the thoughts of an elderly(?) man recalling significant events in his life. Unfortunately for the reader, neither the man nor his life are particularly compelling or even interesting. If a book captures my interest then I naturally want to pick it up at every opportunity and immerse myself in the story. My sole reason for continuing to pick up this book (over too long a period of time considering its length) was to finish it so I could start a new book that I would acutally enjoy.
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