Sunday, February 01, 2009

Wetlands review - best reference to Musil ever

Cloud just texted me about a review in the Observer for Charlotte Roche's novel Wetlands.

Sophie Hannah's review provides this hilarious line about the book's protagonist:

But mostly, she thinks, in the great German tradition. Where Musil had a Man Without Qualities, Roche brings us a Woman without Pants.
Worth reading the review, even if the book may not be quite as brilliant.

3 comments:

Marie said...

That is such a great review. Pearl trunk? *Really*?

J.J said...

A mobile phone photograph of a dildo shaped like an aubergine. as surgically removed by the doctor ??????

I have obviously led a very sheltered life!

Anonymous said...

Where Musil had a Man Without Qualities, Roche brings us a Woman without Pants.

The line is meaningless - it tells you nothing about the book or about Musil. Just tells you the reviewer is so desperate to sound clever and well-read that she'll toss out glib references in the hope of impressing someone.