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greensalbet's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a haunting story based on the discovery of a group photograph showing Kath - the character around whom the novel centers - and friends outdoors. Kath is holding the hand of her sister's husband in the group shot, and they are turned away from the photographer. Kath's husband Glyn finds the picture mixed in an old file of his deceased wife's belongings labeled Keep! The file contains checkbook stubs, letters from her mother when she was sixteen, a national savings certificate from her childhood, her birth certificate, O-level grade reports and her medical card. There is also an opaque envelope of photos from her in her twenties. Beneath this is a brown envelope that says, "DON"T OPEN - DESTROY."
When Glyn opens the folder, he finds a handwritten message on the back of the damning photo: "I can't resist sending you this. Negative destroyed, I'm told. Blessing, my love."
The rest of the book is about Glyn's obsessive search to find out who took the picture, when and where it occurred, and how long Kath betrayed him during this dalliance with her sister's husband. He also wants to know who was witness to the affair. He embarks on a maniacal mission to find the truth, and, in the process, upsetting the lives of many: Kath's sister Elaine, Kath's niece Polly, Elaine's husband Nick, and his former business partner, Oliver, who took the photo.
Kath is a stunning beauty who has been misunderstood most of her life. An enigma among her friends, few take the time to truly get to know her. Elains has been upstaged by Kath all her life. In return, she belittles and disdains Kath for never picking a career and sticking with it. Kath is a free spirit who pops in and out of Elaine's life with no advance notice and departs just as mysteriously. Elaines sees this behavior ridiculous, immature and irresponsibe.
Most of the men drawn to Kath during her short life saw her as a trophy they desires to possess. When Kath agrees to marry Glyn, she mistakes his passion and determination for true love. In the end, Kath learns Glyn is married to his profession - and she must fend for herself. She does this by flitting from one art project to another and spending time alone or with friends while Glyn is away on archaeological digs, teaching undergraduates and researching for his writing.
The only character who knows the true quality of Kath's heart, and the pains she endured, is potter Mary Packer, whom we meet in the last twenty pages of the novel.
When Glyn opens the folder, he finds a handwritten message on the back of the damning photo: "I can't resist sending you this. Negative destroyed, I'm told. Blessing, my love."
The rest of the book is about Glyn's obsessive search to find out who took the picture, when and where it occurred, and how long Kath betrayed him during this dalliance with her sister's husband. He also wants to know who was witness to the affair. He embarks on a maniacal mission to find the truth, and, in the process, upsetting the lives of many: Kath's sister Elaine, Kath's niece Polly, Elaine's husband Nick, and his former business partner, Oliver, who took the photo.
Kath is a stunning beauty who has been misunderstood most of her life. An enigma among her friends, few take the time to truly get to know her. Elains has been upstaged by Kath all her life. In return, she belittles and disdains Kath for never picking a career and sticking with it. Kath is a free spirit who pops in and out of Elaine's life with no advance notice and departs just as mysteriously. Elaines sees this behavior ridiculous, immature and irresponsibe.
Most of the men drawn to Kath during her short life saw her as a trophy they desires to possess. When Kath agrees to marry Glyn, she mistakes his passion and determination for true love. In the end, Kath learns Glyn is married to his profession - and she must fend for herself. She does this by flitting from one art project to another and spending time alone or with friends while Glyn is away on archaeological digs, teaching undergraduates and researching for his writing.
The only character who knows the true quality of Kath's heart, and the pains she endured, is potter Mary Packer, whom we meet in the last twenty pages of the novel.
saluda9's review
This wasn't bad - but I lost interest. Maybe I will pick it up later and try again
aoosterwyk's review
3.0
I loved the thoughtful writing and depth of ideas in this story. Penelope Lively uses words in a deeply meaningful way and the characters and story are just as rich and complicated as a poem.
kmcneil's review
2.0
This was a Today Book Club pick. Why? None of the characters were likeable. There was a moral to this story: "You are all so self-centered that you can't see beyond yourselves to people who are in pain." Trite, written in a haughty manner, and frustrating to read. Don't bother with this one.
hoserlauren's review
1.0
Got about 50 pages through this one before I gave up. While there were snippets of a story, it was all pieced together with a whole lot of rambling. The whole story sparks off with a picture of a guy's wife being held a bit too closely by his brother-in-law. But it seemed to be a bit neurotic. Not for me!
pattydsf's review
4.0
“A stone has been cast into the reliable immutable pond of the past, and as the ripples subside everything appears different. The reflections are quite other; everything has swung and shattered, it is all beyond recovery.”
When you look back on your past, how much does it change? When I think about certain instances in my life, say from my childhood or my children’s childhood, the memories seem fairly set. Sometimes they change because a family member tells me their version of our lives together, but most reminiscences are stable. They may not be the “truth,” but I accept them as true.
Now imagine that you found something that turned your memories totally upside down. It may be a photograph as in this novel or a letter or even a blog post. Whatever it is, now nothing seems sure. Would you try to figure out the actual truth of the matter?
In this novel, Glyn Peters happens upon a photograph of his wife that changes his view of the past. Probably because he is an historian, Peters feels obligated, compelled to revisit his life with Kath, his wife. The story moves from this beginning to places that I did not expect. However, Lively has always been able to tell a tale well. I read this novel fascinated by the reactions of the characters and awed by Lively’s skill. She makes me interested in and caring about people I wouldn’t ever want to meet.
If you have never read Lively’s stories, I would recommend Moon Tiger since she won the Book Prize for that book. However, if you liked that novel and you are looking for something else by Lively, look no further. She is a passionate observer of life and that is very clear in this tale.
When you look back on your past, how much does it change? When I think about certain instances in my life, say from my childhood or my children’s childhood, the memories seem fairly set. Sometimes they change because a family member tells me their version of our lives together, but most reminiscences are stable. They may not be the “truth,” but I accept them as true.
Now imagine that you found something that turned your memories totally upside down. It may be a photograph as in this novel or a letter or even a blog post. Whatever it is, now nothing seems sure. Would you try to figure out the actual truth of the matter?
In this novel, Glyn Peters happens upon a photograph of his wife that changes his view of the past. Probably because he is an historian, Peters feels obligated, compelled to revisit his life with Kath, his wife. The story moves from this beginning to places that I did not expect. However, Lively has always been able to tell a tale well. I read this novel fascinated by the reactions of the characters and awed by Lively’s skill. She makes me interested in and caring about people I wouldn’t ever want to meet.
If you have never read Lively’s stories, I would recommend Moon Tiger since she won the Book Prize for that book. However, if you liked that novel and you are looking for something else by Lively, look no further. She is a passionate observer of life and that is very clear in this tale.
kittykornerlibrarian's review
4.0
This is a book that poses the question of how well people really know one another, even in the most intimate of relationships. It's a purely character-driven story about a husband who finds a photo of his wife, Kath, after her death. It's in an envelope marked, in her handwriting "Do Not Open -- Destroy" but of course he cannot, and what he discovers causes relationship drama far and wide among the circle of Kath's acquaintance. I enjoyed this a lot because I love novels that explore people's thoughts behind what they say and do. I need to read more by this author.
dispositionpictures's review
2.0
I liked the concept although I feel the story didn’t flow as well as I would have liked. I had to turn back several times to make sure I knew what was happening to who.