I read this one nearly six months ago. I was really intrigued in the early goings of this book. I really liked how the book started with an army officer returning to a place that he has a history with and was excited to learn what that history was. Then we're introduced to Sebastian who seems to be a fun, quirky character and everything was going well. After this great set-up, the remainder of the book was a disappointment as we're introduced to Brideshead and Sebastian's family. Just a bunch of unlikable characters sitting around not doing much, including the narrator. And then the Sebastian character himself became unlikable at that same time as his family brings out the worst in him. This is the kind of book that is written for book critics and literature professors who worship diving in to all of the flawed characters and what it says about society, etc. But that's never been my kind of book. Overall, just disappointed as there seemed to be some real potential for a very enjoyable book but it was squandered. Probably won't read any more from Waugh any time soon, but maybe I'll give him another try some day.
