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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
A single kiss. That's as physical as it gets in this World War II gay novel. Set in a military hospital and the small English town in which it sits, we follow the recovery of Laurie (Laurance) from a serious wound. He meets and falls for a conscientious objector, then a Navy Captain from an earlier period shows up. One a naive waif and the other a world-weary soldier, Laurie struggles to come to terms with his divided loyalty. How will it end? Lovingly no doubt.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Shout out to Cat Sebastian for writing We Could Be So Good, thereby introducing me to this amazing book. I honestly wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did, especially with how confused I was by the first few dozen pages (Renault’s writing style was a bit daunting at first, but I ended up loving it once I got the hang of it), but I’m so glad I didn’t give up on it. I now need to reread We Could Be So Good, and I would recommend both of these books wholeheartedly.
"You know I shall remember you all my life."
One of the most illustrative and inspired novels I have ever read.
Originally published in 1953, Mary Renault's The Charioteer remains a relevant, timeless exploration of heart and our own nature, of finding connection and purpose.
Renault's prose is as stirring and complex as her protagonist, Laurie Odell, who I found beautiful and beguiling (and deeply relatable).
Along the way, there is sweet Andrew, and sincere Ralph, a somewhat challenging mother, and a rainbow's spectrum of others.
I was grinning like a fool at its conclusion, which surprised me in two ways: I can't recall the last time a book's ending produced a reaction like that and I can't believe, as complicated as I felt about this novel's primary conflict, that Renault managed to stick such a satisfying landing.
A triumph, could not recommend more, especially for those seeking soaring, insightful and thoughtful LGBTQ dramas.
One of the most illustrative and inspired novels I have ever read.
Originally published in 1953, Mary Renault's The Charioteer remains a relevant, timeless exploration of heart and our own nature, of finding connection and purpose.
Renault's prose is as stirring and complex as her protagonist, Laurie Odell, who I found beautiful and beguiling (and deeply relatable).
Along the way, there is sweet Andrew, and sincere Ralph, a somewhat challenging mother, and a rainbow's spectrum of others.
I was grinning like a fool at its conclusion, which surprised me in two ways: I can't recall the last time a book's ending produced a reaction like that and I can't believe, as complicated as I felt about this novel's primary conflict, that Renault managed to stick such a satisfying landing.
A triumph, could not recommend more, especially for those seeking soaring, insightful and thoughtful LGBTQ dramas.
If you are deeply in love with someone but can't have them without them breaking with their own values, what do you owe yourself and them when there is someone else that loves you? This is the question Laurie wrestles with as he tries to be understand himself and how to be true to himself. For me this book read a lot like the recent and very popular Normal People except with English soldiers during World War II.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
those last 100 pages took me on several journeys but oh.... I'm moved... not as much in a modern context but if I was from the 1950s I'd be sobbing rn
Oh I loved this so much. All the characters are wonderfully drawn, sympathetic without being too worthy. Renault's powers of observation are second to none and she pulls out so much about human behaviour so that you feel as if she may have been observing you too on occasion - and not particularly complimentary either.
I loved how none of the relationships were over sentimentalised - mostly due to the characters not being so. Ralph's controlling nature continues to dominate their relationship even after Laurie realises he's the one with the power in the emotional sense. I loved the sense of inevitability and that Laurie tried to fight it.
I love that it ended at the beginning.
I loved how none of the relationships were over sentimentalised - mostly due to the characters not being so. Ralph's controlling nature continues to dominate their relationship even after Laurie realises he's the one with the power in the emotional sense. I loved the sense of inevitability and that Laurie tried to fight it.
I love that it ended at the beginning.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I listened to the audiobook this time and it was wonderful. The narrator has different tones for Andrew, Laurie and Ralph that all just hit the mark perfectly. There was so much nuance that just struck so softly and exquisitely.
Anyway, this book is such an honest-to-god masterpiece. So charged, so emotionally bruising, so full of small pieces of bravery.
Anyway, this book is such an honest-to-god masterpiece. So charged, so emotionally bruising, so full of small pieces of bravery.
Notes on a reread: This is absolutely one of the best books I've read. So much is revealed by paying attention and thinking about what is going on off-page. 5* every day.
Don't understand why I didn't leave a review the first time, unless I was too busy climbing the walls. Don't understand why I haven't reread this every December ever since.
(Apologies to anyone who has a million notifications about this, Goodreads and I were having a fight about editions. I appear to have won)
(No apologies to anyone getting my insane ramblings, you know who you are, and you deserve it because of what you did (picking Andrew))
Don't understand why I didn't leave a review the first time, unless I was too busy climbing the walls. Don't understand why I haven't reread this every December ever since.
(Apologies to anyone who has a million notifications about this, Goodreads and I were having a fight about editions. I appear to have won)
(No apologies to anyone getting my insane ramblings, you know who you are, and you deserve it because of what you did (picking Andrew))