Ok, I started out loving the writing – it was wry and witty, tending towards dark. However, this is a style over substance novel and just not enough happened to keep me invested. There was an almost dystopian feel to the beginning with the MC locked away in prison, and then as details crept in, you got a sense of uneasy unreality. Maybe sliding between timelines. But aside from that, the characters just stopped being engaging and not much really happened. This just wasn’t for me.

This book was written in such a poetic style. The descriptions were outstanding. The characters, the settings and the emotions - all spring out of the story because of the writers elegant style. It’s not a beautiful tale, but it is told beautifully.

Thank You, NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The fact is I found it hard to understand The Singularities by John Banville.

The writing is good and perhaps this shouldn't have been the book I started with but somehow it failed to make an impression on me.

Thanks.

Format: ebook & audiobook ~ Narrator: Nicholas Guy Smith

After his release from prison, a man drives to the house where he grew up. Now, the Godley family lives there - the descendants of the late Adam Godley, the famous scientist - Godley’s demented wife, Adam Godley Jr., and his wife. The family takes the stranger in. Later, Adam Godley’s autobiographer joins them and moves in with the family, too.

Later, I found out that a few characters appeared also in other Banville's novels, and I didn’t read those. I think this is one reason I couldn’t connect with the characters and didn’t enjoy the novel.

Barnes uses such beautiful language. But reading this novel, I sometimes had a feeling that the author tried too hard. Maybe I would advise you to read this novel with the help of the dictionary. But unfortunately, it loses all the meaning and fun this way.

I started reading the book but later realized that it was much easier to read it with the help of the audiobook. For the first part of the novel, I listened along with the book but later continued with only the audiobook. This novel is one of those that is easier to finish in audio format. But compared to reading, comprehension may not be as thorough.

2.5 rounded to 3. I wanted to give this novel more stars. The writing was beautiful, but I think it was exaggerated. The plot didn’t move me at all. I was often confused, and the reasons for this are many, I suppose.

Narration by Nicholas Guy Smith was very good.

Thanks to Bolinda Audio for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

'The Singularities' is a novel that appears as a loose sequel to a number of unrelated earlier books, and as such it's probably one for the Banville fans rather than readers without much knowledge of his other work. It is a very wordy story where a lot of text covers up the fact that very little happens. Some people won't mind that - some readers prioritise the way things are said over the content of the story. It's what I consider a 'Booker prize' kind of novel - i.e. written in a style that often makes award shortlists, but that personally I don't necessarily enjoy much.

There are two main point of view characters. One is Felix, a man released from prison on parole after serving a long sentence for murder. He returns to his childhood home, a grand country house, now inhabited by the family of Adam Godley, a very famous and now dead mathematician. Felix inveigles his way into the family and home. The other character is Jabey, a writer hired to produce a biographer of Godley, who is staying in the house. Jabey also appears to be a Greek God (possibly Apollo). Why that is the case and what relevance it has to the story is never clear to me.

The story is set in the future, a future altered forever by the discovers of Godley - much talked about but not really understood by me (or many people within the story). This is one of the many things in the book (like the godhood of Jabey) that I imagine might have been explained in detail in a previous novel - but may not have been. The characters are not very likeable - most of them are thoroughly unpleasant or very dull. I did quite like Jabey-the-God, but not enough to really care about him or indeed why he appeared to be a deity masquerading as a not-very-good biographer.

I was glad that I choose to listen to an audiobook rather than read, because it has a significant audiobook benefit. By being restful and not very exciting, it helped me get to sleep despite my insomnia. Whilst that sounds like a real insult, it is genuinely meant as a positive comment. Lots of people have trouble sleeping and resort to audiobooks if they find they need something to keep their mind off other things. But if the story is too gripping and fast paced it can prevent sleepiness. 'The Singularities' is not gripping or fast paced. Some readers will still find it enjoyable despite that, even if I personally did not.

As I did not like the book much myself I can't recommend it except to readers who have read and enjoyed the majority of Banville's other novels and will therefore know the recurring characters and presumably be familiar enough with his style to know they'll like it here. It's not one for people who want a plot driven book lacking in pretension, or with a gripping storyline or likeable characters.

This was something different, I sped through it in 2 days because I really enjoyed the narrator and also the plot, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the book so much as it’s not my normal genre but it was great, will listen to more by this author

“Yes, he has finished his sentence, but does that mean he has nothing more to say?”

I sure hoped he did. This is a book that I never could get into, despite the fact that I loved the author's The Sea. After finishing the book, i realised he has collided worlds from his two earlier trilogies - I wish I had known and passed it, but then the book still works as a standalone book.

A violent criminal finishes his sentence and comes to his place of crime. He finds the house occupied by a scientist's family and persuades them to let him live there. Adam Godly, the proponent of Brahma theory on multiverses , is no more. but his demented wife, son and daughter in-law with a maid are living there. The son calls for his father's biography to be written and he commissions William Jaybee (John Banville?) who is to live with them under the same roof.

There are a lot of elements like Felix Morduant's past or his lecherous stares that I could not understand the meaning of. I could not care for any of the characters - not even the clueless biographer who is wondering if quantum mechanics is at the back of his presence here. "Meanwhile" as a concept is lost and I struggled to finish this one.

Did not work for me. And some warning would have helped!

Couldn't really get into it. I listened to the audiobook.
I really liked the narrator, very soothing voice, but I think it would have been better to try a physical book.

The style of this one wasn’t for me. I’m sure the writing is absolute top-notch, but although it sounded lovely (I listened to the audiobook), there were too many words I needed to look up in close proximity, which doesn’t make for a smooth and effortless experience. The constant alliteration was clever and admirable, and although it made the rhythm of the read like listening to a song at times, it was also distracting.
I almost DNF’d straight away, and would have, if the descriptions hadn’t been so beautiful and conjured such distinctive and, at times, emotive scenes.
In the end I quit at 30%. It did feel a bit like enduring something for a school assignment (and it’s been a long time since I’ve had to do that).
There was too much time spent inside the protagonists’ minds for me, their meandering reflections distracting from what was actually happening in the scene, so much so that I had to consciously remind myself what was going on. It also meant it took an absolute age for anything to actually happen. (I’m not even sure that it did?)I like a little more action and drama in my stories, and there was no compunction to read on at any point.
And in all honesty, to have more than one character thinking in such a protracted and random style was a stretch; I would have liked a bigger contrast between them.
No doubt it’s a writing master class, but these days, I prefer something that doesn’t require a literary degree to appreciate in full.
I’ll give it three stars for the superb writing, but if there was a point to it other than to showcase excellent literary skills, I lacked the motivation and engagement to find it. I haven’t read any Banville previously, but I suspect from the blurb that if I had, I might recognise a few of the characters, so maybe it’s a nostalgic read for long-term fans of the author?
The narrator did an excellent job.
With thanks to Bolinda audio for chance to listen an ARC.

The Singularities
by John Banville

I attempted to read this book a few month ago but struggled with it's meaning. On a word and sentence level it was fine, but I spent so much time asking myself what Banville was trying to tell me that I soon grew reluctant to pick the book back up and it fell to the bottom of the pile. I was delighted to spot the audiobook on Netgalley recently and when I was approved I promised myself to give it my full attention, hoping that allowing it to wash over me would stop me breaking my stride and allow some progression.

Thankfully the narrator does an excellent job of performing this story, to the extent that I could glimpse the wit and intelligence promised, however I remained in a state of perplexity throughout. The experience was rather like earwigging on an adult conversation when you are much to young to catch the subtleties and nuances that are required to comprehend or participate. It made me feel dumb. And I'm not dumb, but this makes me conclude that Banville is either out of touch with today's reader, or deliberately curating an audience from the superior echelons of the literary intelligentsia. Hah, not for me then. But at least I rescued it from DNFdom.

Audio publication date: 1st March 2024
Thanks to #Netgalley and #BolindaAudio for the ALC

I discovered John Banville since I joined the world of reviewer and loved each book i read or listened to.
Excellent storytelling and style of writing, fascinating stories.
This is the audiobook and appreciated how the voice of the narrator made the more engaging and fascinating.
I loved this book and it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

John Banville’s novel The Singularities is a complex beast, not just for its different character viewpoints, its quantum physics (the discoveries of physicist Adam Godley have irrevocably changed the world that we know), but also the fact that it references much of Banville’s other work (for example, a central character of this novel, Freddie Montgomery now renamed Felix Mordaunt was a protagonist in other novels). I didn’t know the references to the other novels, but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment. Most of the characters were pretty unpleasant although Felix, the worst of them, was the most entertaining. I liked the narration by Nicholas Guy Smith although I thought it would be more Irish, with Irish voices for at least some of the characters. I think I may have struggled with some sections had I been reading the book, but listening to it was a real pleasure.

I’m ploughing through this title and to be honest, I’m finding it quite a challenge. The narration is excellent as is the writing. There’s a lot of lyricism and the prose just seems to flow along. But I’ve no idea what’s going on and I’m struggling to find the point if the story at all.

Following release from prison for murder, the central character sets out on his new life of freedom. He calls in a favour, borrows a car and ends up at his old home. It’s an estate now occupied by the Godleys, descendants of a scientist who had a weird theory of existence and multiverses. So far, very slow and not wildly entertaining. Then the story moves to a more cerebral phase where characters from previous stories interact. And at this point I’m lost. I’m tackling this in small bites because I’m not finding it engaging. In fact, I think it’s a title better suited to physical copy as I suspect there are numerous literary allusions and that the author is playing a game with the reader. That’s clever, but perhaps a little too clever if you’re looking for a relaxing read. However, I’m finding it very relaxing because the narration is comforting, lilting and the language is nectar. I’m going to buy a hard copy and complete this with a written version I can easily reference when needed.

Totally disappointing.

I have read several books by John Banville and was looking forward to reading this. From the start I struggled. I didn’t like the main character and found it difficult to be interested in him. Then he met a women who let this dodgy stranger into her life and then into the lives of her family!

It may have worked out well but I don’t know as I stopped reading. I just don’t have time to read uninteresting books. Sorry.

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publishers.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The Singularities
John Banville

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Ok, I'm giving this 4* because I can spot an intelligently, complex but well written book when I see / hear one - but ask me if I understood it - then I'd have to admit that I have no clue what I just read!

Having read (part!) of the blurb - and maybe herein lies the error of my choosing of books! - I was expecting something a little different to my usual read, but still with that hint of mystery and maybe even a murder or two.
How I misjudged this one!

If I nip back slightly - I chose this book because I love to challenge my reading and shift away from my usual genres, every so often. Having seen this in some list somewhere - I think maybe a booker nomination? - I was keen to expand my reading and try an author whose name I recognised, but had never read.

For about the first third, I was really quite enjoying this. There was a lot of inner monologue, which I absolutely don't mind as it really gave us an insight into the characters - all of whom seemed perfect for exploring and developing through the book.
Then I totally lost my way with this. I had no clue what was going on, who was who and how they related to each other any more, if they ever did, and what the storyline was aiming for.

At this point, I looked up what others had thought about it (and whether it was just beyond my level of comprehension!)
I was absolutely over the moon to see many of the same thoughts and comments coming out in the other reviews - but the main thing was, that this book essentially takes individual characters from Banville's previous novels and has them encounter each other here - and the further development and exploration makes total sense having already known the characters and previous books.

Now I'm devastated that I didn't spot this little mention in the blurb - because I would have got so, so much more from this read, had I explored the previous novels first!!

So overall, I'm a little bit mad that I made this error - both for the time I gave up to listening to all 13 hours of this - but also that I can't now give this the glowing review it obviously deserves.
The whole concept of this really appeals to me and I really quite enjoyed the writing style and the overall development.

Maybe one day - I'll go back and start my John Banville discovery again, from the beginning! - but for now..... I'm in need of some much lighter reads to boost my February stats 🫣




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Listened to the audio version of this book. Great narrator, well suited to the story. Good plot and kept me engaged throughout a long commute. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I had expected to like the latest offering by John Banville who here returns to a character in The Book of Evidence, but I have to admit to finding it a challenging book to engage with. I listened to this on audio in the hope that I might enjoy this more, but whilst it was ably narrated, approximately 13 hours long, it did not manage to make the story more palatable or more engaging unfortunately. Here Freddy Montgomery/Felix Mordaunt is being released after serving a sentence for murder at the Anvil and then a open prison. He picks up a car provided by Billy, whom he met at the Anvil, and sets off with a new name for a new life, but can you really leave your past behind? This story of life, death, quantum theory and time, draws on gods and Greek mythology. Initially I found the rather flowery prose acceptable and even witty, but before long I was losing patience with the over the top verbose language and becoming frustrated. I suspect if I had found the narrative and characters more gripping I would have been more forgiving, but alas this was not to be.

Mordaunt goes back to the place he grew up in, Coolgrange, but its changed hands more than once since and is now Arden House where Adam Godley lives with his beautiful wife, Helen, finding himself taken on as driver. Adam asks Professor Jaybey to write a biography of his father, Adam Godley Senior, known for his theory, but as Jaybey is to discover little of his life is as it seems. With a slew of unreliable and dislikable characters that lack authenticity, Banville reveals their interactions and relationships which made little sense to me, but perhaps that was the point. This is not a book for me, but no doubt there will be other readers who will love it more. I suggest readers read other far more positive reviews of the novel prior to making the decision to read this. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC and Bolinda Audio for the ALC.