I did not enjoy this at all, there were some funny moments though

After reading Barnes' masterful descriptions of Sir Jack's pretentions, I was very ready for this to be a rollicking ride of cutting satire and wit. Unfortunately, although the book was satirical throughout, I found it patchy in quality and often itself pretentious and superior.

The idea was fun, and had some interesting reflections on authenticity vs. inauthenticity, and certainly gives post-Brexit England pause for thought. Barnes' narrational style is very 'knowing', and leaves a lot to be inferred by reader. For me, this meant I annoyingly had to concentrate quite hard while reading bits of this, and often taxing paragraphs were really making very trivial points.

The story arc was clever I guess, but I certainly wasn't swept up in it, and didn't really care about any of the characters (though perhaps that's the point), even Martha whose vicissitudinous life we vaguely follow.

This book reminded me of modern French fiction, where it seems like the author hides behind a veil (or shield) of irony, which makes the reader feel foolish for trying to take anything seriously or at face value

Barnes is probably just too clever for my tastes, but I certainly can't say I enjoyed this one.

Brilliantly written and very clever novel epitomizing and satirizing everything that is quintessentially English. I’ll be looking for more by this author. My second hand copy from a Chicago bookstore is signed by the author to Aliceann.

This book starts incredibly promising with a sympathetic yet snarky protagonist, but thereafter loses it's lustre. It's well-written and asks some important questions about national myth and identity, the role of patriotism, historical and popular memory, and postmodernism. Parts I and III left me feeling stimulated and pensive, but Part II (the bulk of the book) left something to be desired. That being said, as a satirical work, I'm not entirely sure that wasn't Barnes' intention. England, England is one of those books you won't necessarily regret reading if only because it made you think, but that certainly doesn't mean you'll like it.

An interesting idea, but I'm not a huge fan of Barnes method of writing. I just felt like the Disneyification of England had a lot more potential than was exploited in this book. I think my largest issue was with the expectation that we were supposed to care about the main character while simultaneously accepting that she is a fairly worthless character, who is entirely consumed with self loathing. If there were more evidence of her not being an utter prat, it could have probably been pulled off, but alas, this was not the case. Additionally, the final third of the book seemed very rushed.

Too clever by half.

Julian Barnes makes perhaps the ultimate leap in claiming culture for entertainment in this novel where a small island off the coast of the United Kingdom is purchased simply for the sake of turning it into an amusement park--a miniature version of England, nonetheless--named England, England. There, any tourist can experience all that typifies English culture without having to deal with any of its flaws or unknowns. The place will be real to those who visit, as real to them as if they visited actual England. Because they'll never know the difference.

Told with somehow witty yet slapstick humor, this novel was particularly enjoyable for me, as I read it after spending time in the UK. Barnes deftly puts the reader in place as the highest judge of culture by creating men and women that are never totally knowable; it is up to you to make them accountable to the world they're creating, and in doing so, you see just how much appropriation goes on in generating perspectives on the world around us. A thought-provoking read, and funny as hell.

Rhapsodic and wholly felt.