I Think I'll Pass on Revisiting

Holy moly. The cover specifies an assertion by the New York Times that this is "Waugh's finest achievement." Thank you, New York Times for saving me from ever reading one of his other, lesser achievements. It's not that the guy can't write, because he's, you know, Evelyn Waugh. It's just that I didn't care about any of the characters. Not a one. And then there was the naming. Julia, Cordelia, Celia, Cara--I was alternately confused by them and dismissive of them, because none of them seemed at all plausible. Mix up lifetimes of selfishness with the occasional sprinkle of religious fervor, and there you have it. Sorry, Dude, just not feeling it.