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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This book started out slowly, got interesting, became a real page turner, and the let me down at the end. It goes from being a story about 2 main characters (Charles and Sarah) to being a story about writing a story. The author interjects more and more, even writing himself into a scence at one point. Then at the end, he decides to give 2 endings. I want to know what "really" happened, not the author's options....I know those - I read to the end to see which the author chooses. Somewhat frustrating. But I have to say I am somewhat intriegued by the style and might try another of the author's books. So, I guess he did get me in the end.
Do not base this book on the film. It is brilliant and moving.
This does a great job of aping the style of a Victorian novel, but unfortunately it apes one that doesn't really do it for me. The final quarter managed to finally pull me in, but the preceding 3/4 of the book were a bit dull for my tastes.
I was really surprised by this book, really surprised and furthermore, I was so impressed. I loved it and wasn't expecting to at all. I delved into it, and was immediately taken aback by how honest and candid the language and narrative voice was. There was something almost conversational about the story, while with a deep existential theme, an immediate repoire with the reader was developed from the very first pages. To see:
"An easterly is the most disagreeable wind in Lyme Bay - Lyme Bay being that largest bite from the underside of England's outstretched southwestern leg - and a person of curiosity could at once have deduced several strong probabilities about the pair who began to walk down the quay at Lyme Regis"
Bam, there you have it. The story doesn't seem to be so overly complicated but then, Charles makes it complicated, he makes it convoluted. He makes a mountain out of a mole hile, and it's both hilarious at his absurdity and sad. Although he's disagreeable himself, you almost pity him, for his lack of empathy, his lack of understanding where he thinks he understands, and his lofty idea of masculine omnipotence.
The novel switches back and forth, between perspectives, by casting a very candid light on the players of his tale, of giving them distinct personalities that mesh, that clash, that judge, that condescend, each one doesn't quite act in the way you want them to, but I found that was what made this story so great. These characters grate against one another in various ways. Sarah with her manipulations , in order to understand and free herself. Charles with his gentleman's ideals, with his desire to possess women but yet also worship them, Ernestina with her schooled naviete and selfishness just longing to be loved and adored, and even Grogan, the Irishman desperately trying to fit into a society that shuns him.
And this book takes no presumptions to be anything other than what it is. A story. There is a sentience to the narration, that peaks through here and there, through the vale of words and to the reader. A series of coincidences have been laid before us and we are to believe the story goes as follows while also understanding it is nothing but a story, yet these characters still remain alive and real in a certain sense. It was brilliant.
"Death is not in the nature of things; it is the nature of things"
I think this line encompasses this book rather well. This book was written with a beginning knowing full well it has an ending, it is written knowing it's lifespan will be a specific amount of pages in which to detail a very specific point in the lives of these characters. Death is the nature of a story. It will end. Between those two points, where will we go? What will we do as readers? What will we grasp in turn? Masterly written, poignant, and at times so tender and heartfelt, then at times, it was not. It takes to task both a modern and Victorian view of masculinity, emotion, and the relationship between lust/love and the slippery slope into idealized obsession. Charles, being our main male character, criticizes his valet's relationship with Mary and warns him away from his supposed amorous ways, while all the while becoming slowing obsessed with Sarah Woodruff, while also condemning her and her 'licentious' ways. From the moment he saw Sarah, he became both repulsed and obsessed with her, until he even abandons his vows to Ernestina, creating himself into a self righteous martyr by admitting his lust for someone else but acknowledging his sin, as if that redeems him of them. It is only once his status as a gentleman comes into question and is publicly defamed that he begins to question his actions, but then once again deludes himself by saying he is in love and sacrifices must be made. Charles lives with his notion that because of who he is, his laziness, his life will always turn out that better for it, and at times he even justifies his actions because of his station as a gentleman, of noble birth, that Darwin's theory of evolution helped him to get to his current place. The ultimately dissatisfactory conclusion with Sarah at the very end, when she comes to know herself, and dismisses him and his offer of love finally shoves him out of his own spiral of delusion and obsession.
As a modern woman, I understand Sarah's repression, loneliness, and never-ending frustration. At first I was displeased knowing she bore a child, but then realized that the ending of her storyline was perfect. She came to know peace in her own way, and discovered an independence hitherto unseen by her earlier on in the book.
Overall the complexities of the personalities and the relationships throughout the book are what make this as fantastic as it is. The setting is perfectly rendered and the observations of both Victorian society, their impact on the mentality of the Victorians themselves, and then even deeper into the emotions coursing through each of these characters. They are weak and selfish and vapid and wrapped so tightly, this was book was just a treasure to read.
"Seeing her was the need; like an intolerable thirst that had to be assuaged [...] it was to possess her, to melt into her, to burn, to burn, to burn to ashes on that body and in those eyes."
"An easterly is the most disagreeable wind in Lyme Bay - Lyme Bay being that largest bite from the underside of England's outstretched southwestern leg - and a person of curiosity could at once have deduced several strong probabilities about the pair who began to walk down the quay at Lyme Regis"
Bam, there you have it. The story doesn't seem to be so overly complicated but then, Charles makes it complicated, he makes it convoluted. He makes a mountain out of a mole hile, and it's both hilarious at his absurdity and sad. Although he's disagreeable himself, you almost pity him, for his lack of empathy, his lack of understanding where he thinks he understands, and his lofty idea of masculine omnipotence.
The novel switches back and forth, between perspectives, by casting a very candid light on the players of his tale, of giving them distinct personalities that mesh, that clash, that judge, that condescend, each one doesn't quite act in the way you want them to, but I found that was what made this story so great. These characters grate against one another in various ways. Sarah with her manipulations , in order to understand and free herself. Charles with his gentleman's ideals, with his desire to possess women but yet also worship them, Ernestina with her schooled naviete and selfishness just longing to be loved and adored, and even Grogan, the Irishman desperately trying to fit into a society that shuns him.
And this book takes no presumptions to be anything other than what it is. A story. There is a sentience to the narration, that peaks through here and there, through the vale of words and to the reader. A series of coincidences have been laid before us and we are to believe the story goes as follows while also understanding it is nothing but a story, yet these characters still remain alive and real in a certain sense. It was brilliant.
"Death is not in the nature of things; it is the nature of things"
I think this line encompasses this book rather well. This book was written with a beginning knowing full well it has an ending, it is written knowing it's lifespan will be a specific amount of pages in which to detail a very specific point in the lives of these characters. Death is the nature of a story. It will end. Between those two points, where will we go? What will we do as readers? What will we grasp in turn? Masterly written, poignant, and at times so tender and heartfelt, then at times, it was not. It takes to task both a modern and Victorian view of masculinity, emotion, and the relationship between lust/love and the slippery slope into idealized obsession. Charles, being our main male character, criticizes his valet's relationship with Mary and warns him away from his supposed amorous ways, while all the while becoming slowing obsessed with Sarah Woodruff, while also condemning her and her 'licentious' ways. From the moment he saw Sarah, he became both repulsed and obsessed with her, until he even abandons his vows to Ernestina, creating himself into a self righteous martyr by admitting his lust for someone else but acknowledging his sin, as if that redeems him of them. It is only once his status as a gentleman comes into question and is publicly defamed that he begins to question his actions, but then once again deludes himself by saying he is in love and sacrifices must be made. Charles lives with his notion that because of who he is, his laziness, his life will always turn out that better for it, and at times he even justifies his actions because of his station as a gentleman, of noble birth, that Darwin's theory of evolution helped him to get to his current place. The ultimately dissatisfactory conclusion with Sarah at the very end, when she comes to know herself, and dismisses him and his offer of love finally shoves him out of his own spiral of delusion and obsession.
As a modern woman, I understand Sarah's repression, loneliness, and never-ending frustration. At first I was displeased knowing she bore a child, but then realized that the ending of her storyline was perfect. She came to know peace in her own way, and discovered an independence hitherto unseen by her earlier on in the book.
Overall the complexities of the personalities and the relationships throughout the book are what make this as fantastic as it is. The setting is perfectly rendered and the observations of both Victorian society, their impact on the mentality of the Victorians themselves, and then even deeper into the emotions coursing through each of these characters. They are weak and selfish and vapid and wrapped so tightly, this was book was just a treasure to read.
"Seeing her was the need; like an intolerable thirst that had to be assuaged [...] it was to possess her, to melt into her, to burn, to burn, to burn to ashes on that body and in those eyes."
This was a quick read & Jeremy Irons was the narrator, so I definitely knew I would be engrossed.
I’ve never seen the movie based on the novel, but I always wanted to watch it because it was considered for many awards. But based on the book, I’m not so sure why it was considered award-worthy. To be honest, the novel seemed simple. So, I ‘googled’ the book and it helps explain why it was considered to be “notable”. Perhaps it was because it was the time period covered or publication?
Either way, I not sure if I agree but it could be just I’m too simple too. Good story nonetheless but not 5 stars for me.
I’ve never seen the movie based on the novel, but I always wanted to watch it because it was considered for many awards. But based on the book, I’m not so sure why it was considered award-worthy. To be honest, the novel seemed simple. So, I ‘googled’ the book and it helps explain why it was considered to be “notable”. Perhaps it was because it was the time period covered or publication?
Either way, I not sure if I agree but it could be just I’m too simple too. Good story nonetheless but not 5 stars for me.
This is one of the best books that I have ever read. It is an engaging story as well as an analysis on culture and society. I love that it is written as a modern day person looking at the past. Some of the references were absolutely amazing. I cannot praise this book enough. Any book lover needs to read this book.
"Δεν ξέρω. Αυτή η ιστορία που λέω είναι όλη φανταστική. Οι χαρακτήρες που δημιούργησα ποτέ δεν υπήρξαν έξω από τα όρια του δικού μου μυαλού. Αν προσποιήθηκα μέχρι τώρα πως γνωρίζω τη σκέψη των ηρώων μου και τα βαθύτερα αισθήματα είναι γιατί γράφω (ακριβώς όπως έχω χρησιμοποιήσει μέρος από το λεξιλόγιο και τη «φωνή» τους) σύμφωνα με το παγκόσμια αποδεκτό κατεστημένο της εποχής όπου διαδραματίζεται η ιστορία μου: ότι ο μυθιστορηματογράφος στέκεται πλάι στο ίδιο ύψος με τον Θεό. Μπορεί να μην γνωρίζει τα πάντα, ωστόσο προσπαθεί να προσποιείται ότι τα γνωρίζει. Όμως ζω στην εποχή του Αλαίν Ρομπ-Γκριγιέ και του Ρολάν Μπαρτ. Αν αυτό είναι μυθιστόρημα, δεν μπορεί να είναι μυθιστόρημα με τη μοντέρνα έννοια της λέξης"
Για μένα η Ερωμένη του Γάλλου υποπλοιάρχου είναι με διαφορά το καλύτερο βιβλίο του Fowles. Αυτή τη φορά επενδύει σε έναν δυναμό γυναικείο χαρακτήρα, διαφορετικό από αυτούς που μας έχει συνηθίσει, χωρίς όμως να αφήνει πίσω του την γνωστή μεταμοντέρνα πνοή της γραφής του. Εξαιρετικό έργο. Δύο λόγια παραπάνω στο Style Rive Gauche
Για μένα η Ερωμένη του Γάλλου υποπλοιάρχου είναι με διαφορά το καλύτερο βιβλίο του Fowles. Αυτή τη φορά επενδύει σε έναν δυναμό γυναικείο χαρακτήρα, διαφορετικό από αυτούς που μας έχει συνηθίσει, χωρίς όμως να αφήνει πίσω του την γνωστή μεταμοντέρνα πνοή της γραφής του. Εξαιρετικό έργο. Δύο λόγια παραπάνω στο Style Rive Gauche
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes