The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce (Abridged) Audiobook

" My '1 star' rating does not refer to the quality of Torday's writing, which I actually quite enjoyed. In saying that, I didn't particularly relate to or care about the main character, Wilberforce, but perhaps that was intended. I gave the book such a low rating because I simply could not be bothered to finish it. The reverse narrative left no reason to continue - I already knew that anything Wilberforce was creating in the later chapters was pointless because of how his 'inheritance' destroys his life early on in the book, and there is something so depressing about that. I see what Torday was trying to do, but it just didn't work for me. "

" Once I realized that the timeline of this book was not linear, I kept reading it, and then I began to see it as a minor masterpiece. I saw traces of Thomas Hardy in it, as well as Italo Calvino and other authors. No spoilers here, but if they were allowed I would right quite a bit about this book. I highly recommend it for anybody interested in literature that is being written right now. "

" interesting approach telling the story of wilberforce's life backwards, like years in the life of a wine the tale went back from 2006 when his life imploded (ie when the wine was drunk) to 2002 when it started going wrong (ie when the wine was bottled. Although I did find my interest waning towards the end. It was also an insight into addictive personalities as wilberforce was addicted to so many things, alcohol just became one of them "

" Incredibly sad. Being told how it ends right at the start, and then working backwards through the events that led to this was an interesting idea. I hoped there would be more presented by explanation, but even the 'underlying reason' was little more than hinted at. Probably a very realistic tale of just how depressing alcoholism is, and I felt the author was writing the story of someone he knew. The storytelling became a little banal and repetitive at times, but then I think that was part of the author's point. Not an easy read, and not one to enjoy which is a surprise given the author's previous work. "

" A really great and thoughtprovoking book that is somber but also funny, about a man who drinking himself to death. It starts at the end of his life and moves backwards. Really makes me want to read the other books by this author. . . highly recommended! "

" Well written and compelling. The narrator is a true anti-hero -- brilliant, unlikable and egocentric. But there are bits of Wilberforce in all of us and it's impossible to look away as his story unfolds. "

" Very sad but ending disappointing. "

" Not as good as other one stopped half way "

" I couldn't warm to Wilberforce who ruined his own life so that spoiled my enjoyment of this book. "

" Darker than Torday's first book, and whilst his style is light and readable, particularly dealing with such issues of death by alcohol, for me it's not quite as successful as Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. "

" Enjoyable read. Odd structure as the book is told over 4 different years but in reverse order. "I began to imagine that my life was itself like an insoluble equation, and there was an 'x' in the middle of the equation that I had to understand and could not quantify." "

" A most interesting read about a sad kind of man who was looking for happiness, but although he found it, he lost it through alcoholism. For re-release soon... "

" Never has alcoholism been so thoughtfully explored with dry humor and subtlety, in a novel form. Tons of memoirs and self help book, of which this is neither, unless you want it to be. It provokes deep thought, especially when you know those trapped in their own struggle. "

" Absolutely brilliant, one of my all time fave's! "

" Made it about half way through, after which the somber mood and slow story line got the better of me and I gave up. "

" Wilberforce is an ordinary guy. He starts out with chain store chinese food and 'red' wine and moves onto exotic wines and cheeses. If this transition isn't enough, the book offers a dark satire that made me identify with the lead characters. A very touching story, but not for the easily saddened. "

" A strange book about a strange man totally obsessed with Bordeaux wine. The obsession was so bad, it was comical at times. Very weird, but fun to read. "

" I like the way Torday wrote his books. Always clever and witty and full of new information! In this amusing second novel of his, again Torday speaks about obsession. This time: red wine. The structure of this novel is also unusual which makes this book a real page turner. "

" Tried to like it but yuck... "

" Better than some of Torday's previous stuff. The format was interesting - the book was written in 4 parts, each one 2 years earlier so you read the end first. A bit depressing though and it made me look at my glass of wine in a different light. "

" Argh! What an annoying little story. So hopeless! I can't in good conscience recommend anyone read this. I know it's recommended for book clubs, but seriously, I'd rather read something a little less depressing. "

" Beautiful prose but I found Wilberforce had few redeeming qualities. Slogging through a book about an alcoholic wine connoisseur was not my idea of fun, I'm afraid. Brilliant writing but a rather dull plot. "

" Tried to like it but yuck... "

" A most interesting read about a sad kind of man who was looking for happiness, but although he found it, he lost it through alcoholism. For re-release soon... "

" Miserable but captivating. Excellent prose and bags of mood. Dropped a star for the structure which, whilst unusual, left the final section feeling a little redundant. Will read more of Torday's. "

" Never has alcoholism been so thoughtfully explored with dry humor and subtlety, in a novel form. Tons of memoirs and self help book, of which this is neither, unless you want it to be. It provokes deep thought, especially when you know those trapped in their own struggle. "

" A rollicking, funny story about one man's relationship with red wine! specifically French Bordeaux with attendant sad personal undertones. Cleverly structured, written in reverse, which does nothing to subtract from the story. This book roused my own personal interest in red wine! "

" Not as good as other one stopped half way "