Leaning toward 4.5 stars.

This was a bit difficult to get through at first, not so much because of the subject matter (which was horrifying and traumatic, but tempered with that amazing dry British humor), but because of the language. It was beautifully written, but... man, it's not something you breeze through easily. It was clearly written by and about the British upper class, and I'd often forget it took place in the twentieth and twenty-first century, because the vocabulary and tone was so similar to classic British novels from hundreds of years ago.

St. Aubyn's prose reminds me of Ian McEwan, in that he delves into the very depths of his protagonist's mind (as well of the minds of other characters in other sections of the book). Understandable, since this is heavily based on the author's own life, but the level of insight is still incredible. The streams of consciousness were often dreamlike, flowing easily from one subject to the next, with slight interjections of opinions and observations. You learn how each character thinks. It's amazing.

I was extremely attached to Patrick, despite all his bad behavior. He is the central character of each book, and you just want him to be happy and healthy. We see him grow from an abused, helpless little boy to a lost young man self-destructing with drugs, to a lost adult (temporarily) sober and adrift, to a(n unfaithful) husband and father terrified of repeating the mistakes of his family's past, all the while craving the love of his parents while simultaneously resenting them for their abuse and neglect.

I also found myself laughing at odd moments in the book, which I believe is a coping mechanism the author uses for himself and for the audience because of the dark subject matter. How do you laugh at a story that's based on the worst kind of childhood abuse? But St. Aubyn makes it possible, without the reader feeling awful for doing so.

I stayed up late last night to finish the book, and I was so relieved to feel the catharsis of the ending, right along with Patrick. It's definitely a bleak series, but the ending is hopeful. For all the terrible things that happen throughout the books, and for all the demons Patrick fights, I considered this ending to be happy, and when I finally closed the book after finishing, I fell asleep relieved and lighter.

I highly recommend this book, but warn against the subject matter. It is beautifully, poetically written as it deals with childhood sexual abuse and childhood physical abuse, parental alcoholism and neglect, suicide, and heavy drug usage.

With a dash of dry British humor to soften the blow. ( )

Very dark, so if you can't handle that, beware. Personally, I loved this book. The writing is phenomenal. ( )

I didn't find this set of 5 novels as good as they were cracked out to be. Each book is a vignette on the Patrick's life at a certain point in time. Interestingly, towards the end of the book I thought it was as much a book about Patrick's mum as it was about Patrick. There were also some strong Buddhist references. I only noticed them in the last book, but maybe there was an undercurrent there. I particularly liked the way it finished - with Patrick deciding to change his mind... literally. ( )

This collection makes for a very guilty pleasure - but not because it's bad. Rather, St Aubyn ruminates on serious subjects like child abuse and drug addiction, then plays them for laughs a few paragraphs later. Similarly, the more grotesque the characters, the more likeable they can seem - with even the despicable David maintaining a hold over the reader long after he departs. The writing is often very funny, but my favourite passage was the start of Mother's Milk, which provided a hyper-eloquent baby's beautiful account of being born. The tone across the collection veers rather wildly from seriousness to farce, but I'd heartily recommend it - it may be a five-book bundle, but at fewer than 900 pages it's not too forbidding. ( )

Having read these novels over a 3 week period, and not as they were published my reaction might be different to those of other readers. Whilst I enjoyed the series, two books really stand out; the second "Bad News" and the fourth, "Mothers Milk". Its not difficult to see why Mothers Milk was nominated for a Booker - its easily the most literary of the quintet, and is the best able to stand on its own, with limited previous knowledge of the series needed. The first book, "Never Mind" is probably the funniest, even though something very shocking happens in it. It is the nearest to both Waugh and Wodehouse in style; i mention this because reviewers seem obsessed with comparing St Aubyn with these two authors; in my mind there is precious little comparison to be had - the nearest comparison I think of is to John Lanchester's The Debt to Pleasure.

The third and fifth books "Some Hope" and "At Last" are ultimately forgettable, attempts to wrap up the trilogy and then the quintet. In Some Hope St Aubyn seems to spend a lot of time lampooning Princess Margaret, for reasons unknown. In At Last he seems determined to see most of the major characters into their graves, in case he should have to write of them again

But its "Bad News" that is the work of genius. The young drug addicted Patrick Melrose spends a weekend in New York attempting to descend into hell and not quite managing it. As a description of the simultaneous thrill, horror and sheer thrawl of advanced drug addiction its a classic. A truly remarkable piece of writing ( )