This book took me a little while to get into. I liked the very beginning, when he was describing his military experience, because I could relate. But then when he started recalling his youth and first interactions with the Marchmain family, I got a little lost in the references to 20th century British culture. 
 And, to be honest, Charles' days of drinking with Sebastian were not very engaging to me. They seemed as empty and frivolous as they were. 
 I also kept thinking about how this book, while it lacked in the over-the-top excitement that characterizes much of the storytelling, TV shows, and movies of the current age, it excels in painting a picture of ordinary life. 
 The parts of the book where the characters were discussing the Catholic faith were particularly interesting and insightful, and I enjoyed them quite a bit.