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leahrenz's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Well-written but a sad and frustrating read (from the point of view of the plot). It's certainly a skill for the author to evoke these emotions in the reader, but all the same it makes in some ways for an unpleasant reading experience because you are rooting for a character (Richard) for whom things go from bad to worse, constantly.
The Betrayal, like The Go-Between, explores the psychological impact of a traumatic childhood event and, unlike The Go-Between, the focus is the effects of this event upon the person in question, several decades later. The reader is explicitly told that Richard has a tendency to blame himself rather than find fault in others, something which is portrayed well by Hartley in his rendering of Richard's thought-patterns upon encountering some bad action from someone else. The effects were well-shown, but I feel that the explanation for why the past event had this outworking in Richard might have been explored more; when it is explained, the reader is explicitly told that it is from certain of his mother's tendencies and the past event, rather than being shown. Then again, the novel is set in Richard's later years, when these patterns of thought have become habit, and thus explanation may not be the focus.
The invocation of a by-gone era, though not as strong as in The Go-Between, is also interesting, as are references to homosexuality and changing morals and religious beliefs. It's hard to tell exactly what the author believes (though he seems sympathetic to the plight of gay men in the 1950s) but the novel also felt to me like mostly a study in having empathy for this psychologically plagued character, as well as an advocating for the need for honesty, with oneself and others, and of the dangers of dishonest people.
I find it difficult to give a rating to this novel. I'm inclined towards 3/3.5 stars. My difficulty is that the sympathy and then frustration with the main character make this a read which you eventually yearn to be over, if only to relieve you from the sadness of following an old man being taken advantage of at almost every turn.Richard's death comes as somewhat of a relief.
Sidenote: I read The Betrayal before realising it is the sequel to The Brickfield. I believe it works well as a stand-alone.
The Betrayal, like The Go-Between, explores the psychological impact of a traumatic childhood event and, unlike The Go-Between, the focus is the effects of this event upon the person in question, several decades later. The reader is explicitly told that Richard has a tendency to blame himself rather than find fault in others, something which is portrayed well by Hartley in his rendering of Richard's thought-patterns upon encountering some bad action from someone else. The effects were well-shown, but I feel that the explanation for why the past event had this outworking in Richard might have been explored more; when it is explained, the reader is explicitly told that it is from certain of his mother's tendencies and the past event, rather than being shown. Then again, the novel is set in Richard's later years, when these patterns of thought have become habit, and thus explanation may not be the focus.
The invocation of a by-gone era, though not as strong as in The Go-Between, is also interesting, as are references to homosexuality and changing morals and religious beliefs. It's hard to tell exactly what the author believes (though he seems sympathetic to the plight of gay men in the 1950s) but the novel also felt to me like mostly a study in having empathy for this psychologically plagued character, as well as an advocating for the need for honesty, with oneself and others, and of the dangers of dishonest people.
I find it difficult to give a rating to this novel. I'm inclined towards 3/3.5 stars. My difficulty is that the sympathy and then frustration with the main character make this a read which you eventually yearn to be over, if only to relieve you from the sadness of following an old man being taken advantage of at almost every turn.
Sidenote: I read The Betrayal before realising it is the sequel to The Brickfield. I believe it works well as a stand-alone.
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