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Doug's Reviews > My Policeman
My Policeman
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New review, 11/22:
Rating upped to a full 5 stars.
Even though I only read this a year ago, I wanted to reread it after seeing the terrific film adaptation. I needn't have worried about my final query in the original review - the film more than does the book justice, and in fact, might be one of those rare cases when the film is slightly even better. Oddly, the film follows the story rather closely, but there are only a few scenes taken verbatim from the book. What's missing from the film is the dual perspectives of the two narrators, but that is more than made up for by the uniformly excellent characterizations by virtually the entire cast (yes, even Mr. Styles), in particular Gina McKee as the older Marion. Now that I've reread the book, I'll have to go back and watch the film again also!
Original review, 11/21
4.5, rounded up.
Yes, I only become aware of this due to its 'Soon to be a Major Motion Picture' status [sidenote: has any book ever claimed it was soon to be a MINOR m.p.?], but it was the plotline that drew me in, NOT Mr. Styles (who I don't think I have ever seen perform - if I HAVE, he was totally forgettable). Regardless, I found the book to be an extremely well-done character study - with just the precise amount of period detail and psychological acuity. The book alternates between sections narrated by the two paramours of the titular character - his wife Marion and his male lover Patrick, and Roberts does an excellent job of providing two entirely different styles for each - something that seems to elude most authors who try that methodology. I was invested from the start, and must admit to getting a bit misty eyed at the ending, sentimental fool that I am. Hope the film does it justice.
Rating upped to a full 5 stars.
Even though I only read this a year ago, I wanted to reread it after seeing the terrific film adaptation. I needn't have worried about my final query in the original review - the film more than does the book justice, and in fact, might be one of those rare cases when the film is slightly even better. Oddly, the film follows the story rather closely, but there are only a few scenes taken verbatim from the book. What's missing from the film is the dual perspectives of the two narrators, but that is more than made up for by the uniformly excellent characterizations by virtually the entire cast (yes, even Mr. Styles), in particular Gina McKee as the older Marion. Now that I've reread the book, I'll have to go back and watch the film again also!
Original review, 11/21
4.5, rounded up.
Yes, I only become aware of this due to its 'Soon to be a Major Motion Picture' status [sidenote: has any book ever claimed it was soon to be a MINOR m.p.?], but it was the plotline that drew me in, NOT Mr. Styles (who I don't think I have ever seen perform - if I HAVE, he was totally forgettable). Regardless, I found the book to be an extremely well-done character study - with just the precise amount of period detail and psychological acuity. The book alternates between sections narrated by the two paramours of the titular character - his wife Marion and his male lover Patrick, and Roberts does an excellent job of providing two entirely different styles for each - something that seems to elude most authors who try that methodology. I was invested from the start, and must admit to getting a bit misty eyed at the ending, sentimental fool that I am. Hope the film does it justice.
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Reading Progress
May 26, 2021
– Shelved
May 26, 2021
– Shelved as:
lgbt-tbr
October 27, 2021
–
Started Reading
November 2, 2021
–
Finished Reading
November 6, 2022
–
Started Reading
November 9, 2022
–
Finished Reading
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message 1:
by
Andrew
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Nov 03, 2021 02:48AM
Hello Doug. How interesting to see the American bookcover. That speaks a volume in itself. Sexy. The English bookcover is incredibly reserved -- as befits the 1950s, in England, when being homosexual was a a secretive practice. "... just the precise amount of period detail" is where the problems start. An English reader is going to have certain things wired into them -- class, Oxford, working class versus upper middle class, even antagonism towards Patrick. What serves as "just enough" shifts as the novel crosses the Atlantic. The Philpot error is minor, but it does show how little research Roberts did into gay art history -- damning when you are trying to write a believable art curator. Then again, My Policeman is not going to find an audience among the gay art world in the UK. The novel is biased towards heterosexuality. And that makes the casting of Harry Styles clever. He has a strong gay following -- The Pink News adores him. Implicitly, he will widen the appeal of the story (an appeal that the novel does not have).
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Andrew wrote: "Hello Doug. How interesting to see the American bookcover. That speaks a volume in itself. Sexy. The English bookcover is incredibly reserved -- as befits the 1950s, in England, when being homosexu..."Thanx as always for your astute observations - although I think Marion comes off much more sympathetically than Patrick (which, given the circumstances, and the author's own gender, is inevitable), I didn't think the book slighted homosexuality in favor of heteronormative standards. Marion's sexuality is flawed also, which is probably why she is drawn to Tom in the first place. I thought the somewhat ambiguous nature of Julia was also intriguing - and given the time period the book covers, the reality of how homosexuality was viewed back then is fairly accurate.
I just saw the film- and as you said, was an extremely well done character study. Made me want to read the book and I appreciate your review.
Olivia wrote: "I just saw the film- and as you said, was an extremely well done character study. Made me want to read the book and I appreciate your review."Thanx - much appreciated! I hope you like the book as well!
