The Good Terrorist (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) - Doris May Lessing

Pity there's no option for zero stars

I don't think that Lessing's erstwhile commitment to political activism somehow excuses this execrable and shabbily propagandist work. It fails as art - it is almost the epitome of artlessness - and is an example of a particular kind of retraction of commitment that comes from formerly left-leaning intellectuals high on disillusionment and self abnegation.

Incidentally, does anyone remember her paean to the Afghan Mujahadeen in 'The Wind Blows Away Our Words'? It was an example of the sort of Western liberal catastrophe tourism that Lessing would have denounced in either of her equally unconvincing guises as Marxist revolutionary or mystical snake-oil purveyor.

The Good Terrorist

Excellent up to the end, especially for those who have been part of organized leftist groups. Yet, the ending leaves you with the feeling that the writer didn't know how to finish the story.

reality

This books description of children of the middleclass and their struggle with trying to be revolusionaries is excellent, it rings true for any child of the 60's who argued late into the night about policitics! the main character Alice is so disturbingly normal yet essentric that you almost want to reach in and help her!, a great insightful look at the lives of thoes who choose not to conform, as with other Doris lessing books a joy to read.

Stunning

I am stunned that this book was short-listed for the Booker prize. Poorly written, implausible, out-of-touch, conservative dross whose only appeal could be for Telegraph readers of her own generation. Political Mills & Boon.

Highly realistic

This is a highly realistic novel about a Communist gang that turns to terrorism in 80s London. Lessing describes with great detail the process of rebuilding a squat and holding a radical conference there. I would be very interested to know how she managed to research such an accurate picture of this underground process. The main characters live a blinkered existence that may infuriate the reader as much as it does the characters' much-abused families! However, there are such characters in existence. The political scenes also contain many debates that also continue to divide the left, such as support for the IRA or genetic debates. Like any volunteer organisation, the "CCU" in this book relies on one or two hard-working people to support a number of essentially selfish individuals. My only quibble is with the ending - would the KGB really continue to keep in contact with the CCU after such a clumsy attempt at terrorism?

Pity there's no option for zero stars

I don't think that Lessing's erstwhile commitment to political activism somehow excuses this execrable and shabbily propagandist work. It fails as art - it is almost the epitome of artlessness - and is an example of a particular kind of retraction of commitment that comes from formerly left-leaning intellectuals high on disillusionment and self abnegation.

Incidentally, does anyone remember her paean to the Afghan Mujahadeen in 'The Wind Blows Away Our Words'? It was an example of the sort of Western liberal catastrophe tourism that Lessing would have denounced in either of her equally unconvincing guises as Marxist revolutionary or mystical snake-oil purveyor.

The Good Terrorist

Excellent up to the end, especially for those who have been part of organized leftist groups. Yet, the ending leaves you with the feeling that the writer didn't know how to finish the story.

reality

This books description of children of the middleclass and their struggle with trying to be revolusionaries is excellent, it rings true for any child of the 60's who argued late into the night about policitics! the main character Alice is so disturbingly normal yet essentric that you almost want to reach in and help her!, a great insightful look at the lives of thoes who choose not to conform, as with other Doris lessing books a joy to read.

Stunning

I am stunned that this book was short-listed for the Booker prize. Poorly written, implausible, out-of-touch, conservative dross whose only appeal could be for Telegraph readers of her own generation. Political Mills & Boon.

Highly realistic

This is a highly realistic novel about a Communist gang that turns to terrorism in 80s London. Lessing describes with great detail the process of rebuilding a squat and holding a radical conference there. I would be very interested to know how she managed to research such an accurate picture of this underground process. The main characters live a blinkered existence that may infuriate the reader as much as it does the characters' much-abused families! However, there are such characters in existence. The political scenes also contain many debates that also continue to divide the left, such as support for the IRA or genetic debates. Like any volunteer organisation, the "CCU" in this book relies on one or two hard-working people to support a number of essentially selfish individuals. My only quibble is with the ending - would the KGB really continue to keep in contact with the CCU after such a clumsy attempt at terrorism?

Pity there's no option for zero stars

I don't think that Lessing's erstwhile commitment to political activism somehow excuses this execrable and shabbily propagandist work. It fails as art - it is almost the epitome of artlessness - and is an example of a particular kind of retraction of commitment that comes from formerly left-leaning intellectuals high on disillusionment and self abnegation.

Incidentally, does anyone remember her paean to the Afghan Mujahadeen in 'The Wind Blows Away Our Words'? It was an example of the sort of Western liberal catastrophe tourism that Lessing would have denounced in either of her equally unconvincing guises as Marxist revolutionary or mystical snake-oil purveyor.

The Good Terrorist

Excellent up to the end, especially for those who have been part of organized leftist groups. Yet, the ending leaves you with the feeling that the writer didn't know how to finish the story.

reality

This books description of children of the middleclass and their struggle with trying to be revolusionaries is excellent, it rings true for any child of the 60's who argued late into the night about policitics! the main character Alice is so disturbingly normal yet essentric that you almost want to reach in and help her!, a great insightful look at the lives of thoes who choose not to conform, as with other Doris lessing books a joy to read.

Stunning

I am stunned that this book was short-listed for the Booker prize. Poorly written, implausible, out-of-touch, conservative dross whose only appeal could be for Telegraph readers of her own generation. Political Mills & Boon.

Highly realistic

This is a highly realistic novel about a Communist gang that turns to terrorism in 80s London. Lessing describes with great detail the process of rebuilding a squat and holding a radical conference there. I would be very interested to know how she managed to research such an accurate picture of this underground process. The main characters live a blinkered existence that may infuriate the reader as much as it does the characters' much-abused families! However, there are such characters in existence. The political scenes also contain many debates that also continue to divide the left, such as support for the IRA or genetic debates. Like any volunteer organisation, the "CCU" in this book relies on one or two hard-working people to support a number of essentially selfish individuals. My only quibble is with the ending - would the KGB really continue to keep in contact with the CCU after such a clumsy attempt at terrorism?