On finishing the Patrick Melrose novels

I'm so glad that I read this series. I love St. Aubyn's crackling, sharp prose and this is perfect proof that the reader doesn't have to like the characters in order to engage with a novel. The series is populated with a host of unlikable characters, yet somehow they avoid becoming grotesque caricatures, probably through the way the narrator allows us to glimpse into their thought processes. 

You could compare the protagonist with the kind of anti-heroes found in the likes of Martin Amis, Coupland's latest novel (Worst.Person.Ever) or DeLillo's Cosmopolis in the way that he is portrayed in Bad News as being hooked on drugs and prostitutes, yet Patrick transcends this. Although he is not necessarily a character to like or admire, the reader can empathise with him.

The only minor flaw I found was the depiction of the children, particularly in Mother's Milk.I imagine the author had a difficult choice to make here as it really would not have suited the books to have young children baby talking and the reality of life with babies and five year olds. Instead of which the first part is narrated from the point of view of a baby in the womb and this is followed by the children talking as adults, even contributing philosophical ideas to conversations. I had no problem with the baby in the womb part (I've read stranger), but I found the boys annoying. Perhaps this was the whole point.

Anyway, I am embarking on Lost for Words which has so far proved both sharp and pretty funny. I feel like I am coming out of the fog of 'baby brain'. Okay, I will probably edit this review when I feel like I can do it more justice, but I have also started reading If On a Winter's Night a Traveler, which is boosting my confidence that one day I will be able to return to Proust and other crazy things I intend to read.