Reviews

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

jliu22's review against another edition

reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

tianabooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

“we are sometimes so happy, and never in our lives have we known more unhappiness. It’s as if we were working together on the same statue, cutting it out of each other’s misery. But I don’t even know the design.” 

Will most likely think about this book for the rest of my life. 

This book creates a complex canvas where love, obsession, hatred, faith feature in interconnected ways. The reality of human relationships and interactions, the questions plaguing our existence daily, the chemicals released when a person takes over your mind, the burden of feeling too much or the absence of any feelings at all. The denial of any connection, the rapid and unexpected twists life presents. Is there such a thing as a coincidence? Or are people meant to cross paths, leave an imprint, and embark on a different journey again. How do we interpret signs? How do we interrogate circumstances. 

sometimes unreliable yet undeniably truthful. 

brb, gathering thoughts and feelings. 🤍

minusfigures's review against another edition

4.0

"O God, You've done enough, You've robbed me of enough, I'm too tired and old to learn to love, leave me alone for ever."

erinmariebee's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

runningdobe's review against another edition

3.0

Interestingly, I can't say I enjoyed this highly regarded novel. First, I did not like nor could empathize with the main character. I found him detestable and unbelievable. I did not understand how others in the novel could put up with or even enjoy the company of this character. Second, I found the philosophical or religious soliloquy highly tedious and seriously lacking any depth. It felt like a charade. And third, the miracles? Seriously? What is Greene trying to evoke from his readers? Maybe it's me, and I'm missing the point. I don't know. Clearly, the book is highly regarded; I don't quite get it.

tyyne's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.25

This was something evergreen, both so new and outdated. Universal. But felt so long for such a short book.

kkdelrey'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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

6/5

donnaloubishop's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

fbroom's review against another edition

5 Stars for Colin Firth's Narration

amywong's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

Not sure this aged well or if this is just for a specific audience. This book, though a solid drama story, has a religious agenda. It paints everyone who isn't religious constantly going through little karmic retributions. The nonreligious characters are consistently shoved good happenings that are supposedly due to supernatural interventions through faith. Bendrix never got Sarah and is friends with Henry at the end and implied to be going into Catholicism. Sarah is dead and to the end struggled with her faith as she wanted to be with Bendrix but felt guilt for her religion and is found to have been baptized and officially Catholic. But she didn't get her funeral proceedings done the Catholic way due to bendrix. Again, like a reminder that her sins caused everything. The two main nonreligious characters are just punished to the end. Even the atheist who Sarah met up with is turned religious because his face scar is suddenly gone. I'm not the audience for this. If the religious notes were taken out, maybe this would be a good drama.