Reviews

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

amelie5m's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

sarahanne8382's review against another edition

5.0

I've been avoiding quality literature lately because I haven't had the time or desire to appreciate it fully. Despite the short length of this one, it took forever to read, mostly because I wanted to savor every moment.

This is the story of Maurice Bendrix and his affair with Sarah, wife of successful civil servant Henry told mostly in flashbacks when chance brings Sarah and Henry back into his life again. If you loved tortured literary love affairs (and I do), this is right up your alley. I also found it interesting how religion was a theme woven throughout the story. An exquisitely well-written book.

dick_murph's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Feels like im reading an autobiography

chaosmavin's review against another edition

5.0

I chose to listen to the audio book of this Graham Greene novel because it was read by Colin Firth. I was not disappointed. He was amazing and sexy and perfect for this book. Bendrix could have been a post WWII Mr. Darcey. This is the first Graham Greene book I have read and it will not be the last. He is an amazing writer. The emotions in this book are so real and so raw I found myself at times having to turn it off to just sit with it. It wasn't at all about the characters being likable or familiar as much as it was about how human they were...how very sad and flawed and human they were. There are apparently several movie adaptations which I am not all that excited about because i find it hard to believe you could act out the emotional intensity of the internal dialogues that are at the core of the novel. This is not a book I would recommend to read for the fun of it...it is very sobering and emotionally charged...I would say I felt a little beat up by the end. Which is odd because I didn't even particularly like the character of Bendrix and yet his pain is so universal to anyone who has a loved and lost you can't help but feel something for him...maybe compassion...I'm not sure. I will need to read some critics of this book to help me sort out the whys of all the feelings I had around it. I probably should have done that before this review...

lamom77's review against another edition

3.0

I can see why people love this and hate this (it is one of the themes of the book), but it was fine for me. I really liked parts of it and found other parts very slow and tedious.

srufe's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

decadesparrow's review against another edition

4.0

If you can call it great, a great exploration of the tension between self-hatred and love within religion. So glad these characters don’t exist, because I am devastated by their fiction.

jolinsdell's review against another edition

3.0

This book is an example of when the first person P.O.V works. Greene tells a story of love, friendship, jealousy, grief, and belief, that will leave you thinking.

capnthrash's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

rmarcin's review against another edition

3.5

Simply heartbreaking book of a man, Maurice Bendrix, in love with a married woman, Sarah Miles. She is in love with him as well, but because she wishes to become Catholic, she is told by a priest that she can't divorce Harry to be with him. They carry on an affair during WWII, but when Maurice is hurt during a bombing of his building, Sarah makes a deal with God that if Maurice lives, she will stay away from him. She breaks it off, and Maurice can't handle it. He then goes to a PI, who gives him evidence of an affair. He is angry, and claims he hates Sarah. Devastating news follows. 
In this short novel, which is semi-autobiographical, is very sad, and leaves you emotionally drained.