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andrew61's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
When an invitation to a waltz finished, Olivia returned from her 1st society dance on her 16th birthday full of life and having glimpsed the excitement of physical attraction and adults at their best and worst. Ten years later, we meet Olivia again as she jumps on a train to visit her father and family as her father appears to be at deaths door. On the train, she meets Rollo Spencer, oldest son of the local gentry, whose party she had attended in the last book. The attraction is obvious and quickly turns into an affair that tears both their lives apart.
This beautifully written book looks intensely at how an affair develops and slowly corrupts the joy of love. Rollo seems an attractive man with little perception of the damage that he causes as Olivia falls in love and sacrifices her happiness in the hope that Rollo will sacrifice his apparently loveless marriage.
The book peaks at the drama of an abortion, the depiction of which is dramatic and must have been an incredibly brave piece of writing at the time the book was written.
The dialogue crackles particularly as Olivias thoughts often follow her narrated words ,used to particularly brilliant effect in the exchange with Rollos mother the formidable Lady Spencer.
I loved this book, which captures time and place so well and leaves the reader desperate to know what happened to Olivia after you closed the final page.
This beautifully written book looks intensely at how an affair develops and slowly corrupts the joy of love. Rollo seems an attractive man with little perception of the damage that he causes as Olivia falls in love and sacrifices her happiness in the hope that Rollo will sacrifice his apparently loveless marriage.
The book peaks at the drama of an abortion, the depiction of which is dramatic and must have been an incredibly brave piece of writing at the time the book was written.
The dialogue crackles particularly as Olivias thoughts often follow her narrated words ,used to particularly brilliant effect in the exchange with Rollos mother the formidable Lady Spencer.
I loved this book, which captures time and place so well and leaves the reader desperate to know what happened to Olivia after you closed the final page.
tashfox's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
foggy_rosamund's review
4.0
Oh, I hate this book. It is set in 1930s Britain; the main character, Olivia, is a young, sensitive woman, recently separated from her husband. She falls in love with a married man. I hate the premise: that Olivia gives herself over so utterly to this man, that she is in his thrall, and that she forgives him everything. He talks to her patronisingly, dotingly, like she is his pet. I hate that when she becomes pregnant, she consider it to be solely her problem, and cannot ask his advice or help. I hate how utterly alone she is, how the affair makes her isolated and unloved. And I hate that Lehmann writes so well that I could't think of anything while I was reading this book other than Olivia's story and what would become of her. Olivia is an utterly real, believable character. Lehmann's prose is completely compelling: evocative, energetic, original. She uses very stylish, competent mid-century prose much of the time, but occasionally travels into modernist first-person narrative, and it's very effective. The reader feels surprised by the narrative, but is never thrown out of it. I was so upset while I was reading this, because I hate the awful subjugation Olivia faces, but I was also endlessly impressed by Lehmann's mastery of prose, her creation of character, and her convincing plot.
I don't know whether I'd recommend this or not, tbh. If you're like me, you'll be furious. Note: this is a sequel to Invitation to the Waltz, which I did not know when I began reading it, but didn't seem to have any impact on my enjoyment of the narrative.
I don't know whether I'd recommend this or not, tbh. If you're like me, you'll be furious. Note: this is a sequel to Invitation to the Waltz, which I did not know when I began reading it, but didn't seem to have any impact on my enjoyment of the narrative.
schopflin's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
My first Rosamond Lehmann and I probably should have read 'Invitation to the Waltz' first. Most of the book is an exquisitely-observed account of a love affair, featuring a hyper-vigilant self-aware heroine with an excellent line in mental asides. There are a lot of other characters which do seem real, but which are slightly distracting from the main story arc. I have yet to reflect on how the two parts mesh. The first part of the book is dominated by a dinner party scene worthy of the ball in Il Gattopardo (the film). It does go on a bit but it's brilliant. Anyway none of this detracts from an excellent novel, well worth reading.
kiri_johnston's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
msliz's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Abortion
booksinbedinthornhill'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
paula_s's review against another edition
5.0
Comparativamente hablando, este libro es mejor que el anterior. Lehmann, a través de su protagonista (ocasional uso de la primera persona), se ha deshecho de los restos de inocencia que mantenía en “Invitación al baile” aunque no consigue desproveerla de cierta ingenuidad. Olivia adulta observa un mundo hipócrita y bastante cínico, cruel, además de claramente machista. Pero Olivia, el personaje, no juzga ese mundo, se juzga a sí misma, se culpa, y se disculpa casi constantemente, aceptando a los demás, sin culparlos… sobre todo a él, a quien le perdona todo.
Sin embargo Rosamond Lehmann sí critica duramente la sociedad que le tocó vivir, gracias a este personaje femenino que carga con las culpas, utiliza la perspectiva de Olivia (que por dentro considera injusto tener que pedir perdón) y las perspectivas de otros personajes femeninos: Olivia, Kate y la señora Curtis en primera persona y el resto de ellas por referencias y conversaciones. Tenemos todo tipo de mujeres todas ellas sometidas a reglas y convencionalismos con los que no están de acuerdo. Pero Lehmann es tan sutil en su feminismo y su defensa de la mujer que nadie puede acusarla de nada.
kansass's review against another edition
5.0
Aunque se puede leer independientemente a [b:Invitación al baile|25642131|Invitación al baile|Rosamond Lehmann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433150273l/25642131._SY75_.jpg|1797808], primera incursión en el mundo de Olivia Curtis, lo recomendable no sólo es leerla como complemento a esa primera novela, sino además y a poder ser, leerla a continuación. Creo que se puede apreciar mejor en que mujer se ha convertido Olivia Curtis , tras diez años, despues de ese primer baile a los 17 años, ahora con 27 años es una mujer melancólica, más delgada y desde luego un poco descreida. Rosamond Lehmann es una maestra en este universo femenino intímo y personal, monólogos interiores donde tenemos el privilegio de penetrar y sintiéndonos muy cerca de ella, de sus ambiguas contradicciónes, de la nostalgia de un pasado todavia inocente.
Diez años después, Olivia Curtis no se ha convertido en una mujer perfecta y segura, sino que sigue siendo vulnerable, y sin embargo, su percepción de la realidad es completamente realista y aguda. Escrita en 1936, creo que es una novela muy moderna, tanto en su historia como en la forma de Rosamond Lehmann, su estilo elegante y la sútil ironia carcajeandose de los estereotipos tan rigidos ingleses de aquella epoca, la convierten para mi en una maestra.
Diez años después, Olivia Curtis no se ha convertido en una mujer perfecta y segura, sino que sigue siendo vulnerable, y sin embargo, su percepción de la realidad es completamente realista y aguda. Escrita en 1936, creo que es una novela muy moderna, tanto en su historia como en la forma de Rosamond Lehmann, su estilo elegante y la sútil ironia carcajeandose de los estereotipos tan rigidos ingleses de aquella epoca, la convierten para mi en una maestra.
rosyroo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0