Official Review: British Guinness by David Xavier

shayna · Post by **shayna** » 27 Apr 2014, 22:04

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "British Guinness" by David Xavier.]

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British Guinness by David Xavier provides readers with a fresh account of a man's global travels. Giving firsthand, unbiased accounts, Xavier describes his travels and observations with a distinct style. His clear, decisive accounts are infused with good laughs. Xavier's novel is not portrayed with the starry-eyed idealism readers often find in pieces regarding worldly travels, but rather through a hilarious piece littered with pessimism, sarcasm, and brutal honesty. Lacking the cheesy travel pamphlet atmosphere, Xavier's novel is exciting and riveting.

Xavier's style is simple, yet elegant. He excels in using his voice to drive the story forward, while supplementing the plot, not overshadowing it. He does not break his writing up into chapters with text blocks, but rather brief paragraphs. Structurally, the plot is presented fairly chronologically, with intermittent flashbacks to provide contextual information and the like. This format provides fluidity as the piece effortlessly moves between plot points.

Though short, the piece does not feel rushed, as Xavier selects details and omissions carefully, never deterring from the point.There are a variety of puzzle pieces presented, and the author succeeds in ensuring that they all fit together very neatly. There is never any confusion and all text is straightforward. Perhaps Xavier's greatest triumph is doing a lot with a little. Though the novel is short and concise, the diction is very developed and benefits the story. Xavier uses antiphrasis frequently, a rhetorical device in which the sarcasm or irony is emphasized in a single word. This adds to the biting wit presented in British Guinness. Xavier also uses an accelerated vocabulary that in part ensures the credibility of the literary piece.

Due to the brevity of the book, one might assume that it is simplistic or lacking a compelling plot. However, it is the vocabulary and structure that actually drives the story forward. This is where other writers falter; they may have an incredible plot yet fail to allow it to take shape. Xavier's story is not one that can write itself; in the hands of the wrong writer it could fail tremendously. Yet Xavier's delivery should be highly praised, as he accomplishes the challenging feet of making a story that could feel mundane impeccably relatable yet phenomenal. One great asset is the implementation of strong character personalities. Without overdoing it, Xavier adds a realistic element to his novel by describing his traveling companions as well as what he observes of the foreigners. His vivid imagery makes the reader laugh at the clearly presented image in ones mind.

Overall, the book was fantastic, and despite the sarcastic and pessimistic views of the author, the humor and realistic nature of the text inspires the reader to seek out their own adventure. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars! I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something from an entertaining read to a piece depicting cultures outside of the United States. It is for everyone from the adventure seeker, the literary critic, the bored, the busy, the pessimistic or the optimistic.

-Shayna

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