Spies

Critics

• "My Father's Fortune": Memoir of a sneering youth

  With "My Father's Fortune: A Life," playwright, novelist, translator, journalist and screenwriter Michael Frayn adds memoirist to his attributes. Is this inspired mischief maker constitutionally suited to the task? Throughout his artistic career he h ... (read full critics)

  salon published on Thu, 24 Feb 2011

• "My Father's Fortune": Memoir of a sneering youth

  With "My Father's Fortune: A Life," playwright, novelist, translator, journalist and screenwriter Michael Frayn adds memoirist to his attributes. Is this inspired mischief maker constitutionally suited to the task? Throughout his artistic career he h ... (read full critics)

  salon published on Sun, 20 Feb 2011

1 Review

• 

  After reading the synopsis I was up for reading this book. Sadly I found it disappointing. It lacked action and was written in a passive context. Boys have a wonderful sense of adventure and imagination but this was not explored in the writing of this book. The German-ness of Stephen's father wa ... (continue)

  After reading the synopsis I was up for reading this book. Sadly I found it disappointing. It lacked action and was written in a passive context. Boys have a wonderful sense of adventure and imagination but this was not explored in the writing of this book. The German-ness of Stephen's father was brought out fairly early on and came as no surprise at the end. I could not feel any empathy for the characters, Keith brought up by a cold dismissive father and self absorbed Mother too intent on her own needs to be bothered with her son. Keith's behaviour towards Stephen was bullying and manipulative and the unfortunate friendless Stephen was too lonely and weak to do anything about it. I didn't even feel sorry for Stephen at all. His parents did show concern and love for him but he was too scared and too self absorbed to discuss his concerns with them.

  Is this helpful?

  Booketta said on Oct 20, 2010 | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
  (7)
  • 5 stars
  • 4 stars
  • 3 stars
  • 2 stars
  • 1 star
• English Books
• Paperback 272 Pages
• Edition: New Ed
• ISBN-10: 0571212964
• ISBN-13: 9780571212965
• Publisher: Faber and Faber
• Pub date: Jan 20, 2003
• Dimensions: 1290 mm x 839 mm Just how big is that?
• Also available as: Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette and Others

Groups with this in collection

• NY Times Notable Book Club (474)

Prices Change currency & sellers