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amysteele's review against another edition
4.0
Her simple elegant writing style carried me from page to page with crisp sentences and dense descriptions. It’s a lovely portrait of a relationship between an artist and a mathematician. Opposites connected by disparate characteristics. Making it work despite what might seem contrary. Both attracted to culture. To France. Spent every summer there. Nina sits by Philip’s dead body and reflects on the nuances and details of their marriage. She wonders if he truly loved her. If he absolutely loved her. If he was always faithful to her. She tries to remember the best moments during their decades together. It’s a lovely novel that flips back and forth through time.
melissariggs's review against another edition
4.0
A very sweet story told in snippets of memories when a wife finds her husband has gone upstairs to rest, but died instead. A quick read.
“His hand is growing cold, still she holds it” is how this novel that tells the story of a marriage begins. The tale unfolds over a single night as Nina sits at the bedside of her husband, Philip, whose sudden and unexpected death is the reason for her lonely vigil. Still too shocked to grieve, she lets herself remember the defining moments of their long union, beginning with their meeting in Paris. She is an artist, he a highly accomplished mathematician—a collision of two different worlds that merged to form an intricate and passionate love. As we move through select memories—real and imagined—Tuck reveals the most private intimacies, dark secrets, and overwhelming joys that defined Nina and Philip's life together."
“His hand is growing cold, still she holds it” is how this novel that tells the story of a marriage begins. The tale unfolds over a single night as Nina sits at the bedside of her husband, Philip, whose sudden and unexpected death is the reason for her lonely vigil. Still too shocked to grieve, she lets herself remember the defining moments of their long union, beginning with their meeting in Paris. She is an artist, he a highly accomplished mathematician—a collision of two different worlds that merged to form an intricate and passionate love. As we move through select memories—real and imagined—Tuck reveals the most private intimacies, dark secrets, and overwhelming joys that defined Nina and Philip's life together."
ladyksplanetbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Sad but romantic, realistic and an easy read.
alysev's review against another edition
4.0
A woman reflects on her married life after discovering her husband has unexpectedly died. No linear plot, much jumping around the timeline of the marriage in short bits; it works in the context of a sleepless night of grieving. The characters aren't idealized, and there are questions left unanswered about fidelity and just what has made the relationship work, but again, it's effective in the context of the story. It's meandering, and dream-like, and sad in a good way.
lethinamirk's review against another edition
2.0
A writing style that I'm not used to, and didn't particularly like...
cmyersreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
cbatstone27's review against another edition
4.0
Very skillful transitions throughout the whole book. I liked Philip's probability stories. I don't understand why Nina did some of the things she did, like allow Didier to do what he did. She confused me. But overall, very good.
bethweisberger's review against another edition
4.0
Thought provoking, almost real feeling look at a life lived and a life shared. Chance, circumstance.
(Edited later) The next day I watched the documentary, Searching for Sugarman, which is about this Mexican-American singer song writer that became super famous (without his knowing about it) in 70s South Africa. It felt weird parallel to this book. The ideas of chance, probability, fate, choices, as well as Schroedinger’s Cat (being alive and dead at the same time), etc. The movie was great, but having just read this book it felt like it came full circle, and I got more out of both of them.
(Edited later) The next day I watched the documentary, Searching for Sugarman, which is about this Mexican-American singer song writer that became super famous (without his knowing about it) in 70s South Africa. It felt weird parallel to this book. The ideas of chance, probability, fate, choices, as well as Schroedinger’s Cat (being alive and dead at the same time), etc. The movie was great, but having just read this book it felt like it came full circle, and I got more out of both of them.
tiffany_do_re_mi's review against another edition
4.0
What I liked the most about this book was the style. And that is something coming from me - I tend to be drawn to well-drawn characters and interesting plots. But in this one, it was the form that really held my attention. It flows so well that I wanted to read it in one sitting. I probably would have if my daughter hadn't started crying in the middle of the night. The book doesn't have any chapters. Instead it is set up in a stream-of-conscious type of form, with short excerpts separated set off by a few blank lines. I found it well-executed, as it was just enough of a challenge to be engaging, trying to figure out where the latest tidbit fit into the overall narrative -- however, if you kept reading, it soon became clear -- not nearly as frustrating as Faulkner. I thought it was an accessible but creative use of the style. I really enjoyed it.
Though the style took center stage, that is not to dismiss the characters, however. Also thoroughly enjoyable. I don't read enough literary fiction written by women, and this is one of the books where I felt a real difference between how men write a main female character and how is able to. Obviously, I am not a critic and I can't really articulate that thought any further. Anyway, I appreciated the insight and the depth of the main character.
And I really thought that the ending was a nice touch. Unexpected but pleasant; it felt refreshing.
Would have enjoyed this even more if I had been to France, or knew French, though. Lily Tuck, why must you taunt me and my lack of culture!
Though the style took center stage, that is not to dismiss the characters, however. Also thoroughly enjoyable. I don't read enough literary fiction written by women, and this is one of the books where I felt a real difference between how men write a main female character and how is able to. Obviously, I am not a critic and I can't really articulate that thought any further. Anyway, I appreciated the insight and the depth of the main character.
And I really thought that the ending was a nice touch. Unexpected but pleasant; it felt refreshing.
Would have enjoyed this even more if I had been to France, or knew French, though. Lily Tuck, why must you taunt me and my lack of culture!