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susysstories's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
It just didn’t work for me... Aunt Rosamund leaves a couple of tapes, telling her history, her niece/blood sister Beatrix’s and Imogen’s using photographs which she describes in detail. Reading it however I don’t hear Rosamund’s voice but the writer’s. I just don’t feel that the words used are hers, it’s the writer telling a story, they’re HIS words. I don’t know if this is the reason why, but I just didn’t feel any connection to or sympathy for the characters, Rosamund in particular (even though I do acknowledge the transgenerational problems). I even rolled my eyes a couple of times. It was only in the last chapter that I felt something (although I wouldn’t call it shocking and gripping, only in comparison to the rest maybe).
It just didn’t work for me... Aunt Rosamund leaves a couple of tapes, telling her history, her niece/blood sister Beatrix’s and Imogen’s using photographs which she describes in detail. Reading it however I don’t hear Rosamund’s voice but the writer’s. I just don’t feel that the words used are hers, it’s the writer telling a story, they’re HIS words. I don’t know if this is the reason why, but I just didn’t feel any connection to or sympathy for the characters, Rosamund in particular (even though I do acknowledge the transgenerational problems). I even rolled my eyes a couple of times. It was only in the last chapter that I felt something (although I wouldn’t call it shocking and gripping, only in comparison to the rest maybe).
kruimels's review against another edition
3.0
Een familiegeschiedenis wordt op een wel heel bijzondere manier verteld aan de lezer. Het boeide, het hele boek door maar op het einde bleef ik toch wat op mijn honger zitten.
madda_lena's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mycouscous's review against another edition
4.0
Rosamund has just passed away, and her neice finds a series of casettes that were apparently home-recorded. For the most part, Rosamund narrates this story via these tapes. Each chapter is based around a different photograph she is trying to describe for the benefit of a blind girl she long ago lost contact with. The story is propelled forward by the chronology of these photos, uncovering an untold family history of cruelty and tragedy. Coe's use of the descriptions of photographs serves as a technique that provides in-depth and evocative descriptions, successfully creating a sense of atmostphere and place. Well-written and recommended.
bookworms_closet's review against another edition
3.0
An unusual Coe-novel. A nice story, but perhaps it lacked the humour of his other works.
christinawanderlust's review against another edition
4.0
Ένα από τα ωραιότερα βιβλία που διάβασα τελευταία. Το συνιστώ.
mgeryk's review against another edition
3.0
It's perhaps unfair to judge Coe against himself, because even as unimpressive generally as I found this book, I still believe him to be among the best novelists writing today. So maybe it is fair after all, because I think this could have been a lot better than it was.
bettiepathway's review against another edition
3.0
Aunque me costó arrancar con la lectura y estuve pensando en abandonarlo, finalmente pude con él, y sin sufrir :P. Una historia de dramas familiares que acaba mereciendo la pena.
Más, aquí: http://cuadernoderetales.blogspot.com.es/2016/05/libro-la-lluvia-antes-de-caer-de.html
Más, aquí: http://cuadernoderetales.blogspot.com.es/2016/05/libro-la-lluvia-antes-de-caer-de.html
thebobsphere's review against another edition
5.0
Eight books in and I haven’t gotten bored of my Jonathan Coe marathon. If anything, I’m my respect for him as an author has increased. The Rain Before it Falls has got to be one of his more interesting novels.
The main premise for this book is how a series of pictures can tell a life story. Not only that Coe takes the plot to another level because the pictures themselves cannot be seen. Sounds confusing?
Gill finds her aunt Rosamond dead and when examining her house she discovers four cassette tapes recorded for Imogen, a blind girl who Gill met once long ago. When Gill and her family cannot find her, Gill decides to play the tapes, which contain descriptions of 20 photographs.
Each of these pictures focus on a scene in Rose’s life, which tell the life stories of Rose, Imogen’s grandmother, mother and Imogen. Through a series of concluding events the reader is brought up to present about Imogen.
This could have been a book about family secrets but it’s much more. Although Coe strays away from politics this time, the theme of love and loneliness feature. This time, though it’s same sex relationships, which is a first. It’s also about how the passing of time can affect memory and the repetitive nature of history. Past, present and future are entwined in Rose’s life and all if it stems from 20 pieces of photographic evidence.
Needless to say that the writing is fantastic, especially toward the end where Coe displays his prowess in full effect. I never knew that Coe could be sentimental but he manages in The Rain Before it Falls and I won’t be surprised if the book’s conclusion will cause a tear or two to fall.
If the constant barrage of politics from the last two Coe books were tiring, The Rain Before it Falls serves as a sort of breather. It also is one of Coe’s best books in the process.
The main premise for this book is how a series of pictures can tell a life story. Not only that Coe takes the plot to another level because the pictures themselves cannot be seen. Sounds confusing?
Gill finds her aunt Rosamond dead and when examining her house she discovers four cassette tapes recorded for Imogen, a blind girl who Gill met once long ago. When Gill and her family cannot find her, Gill decides to play the tapes, which contain descriptions of 20 photographs.
Each of these pictures focus on a scene in Rose’s life, which tell the life stories of Rose, Imogen’s grandmother, mother and Imogen. Through a series of concluding events the reader is brought up to present about Imogen.
This could have been a book about family secrets but it’s much more. Although Coe strays away from politics this time, the theme of love and loneliness feature. This time, though it’s same sex relationships, which is a first. It’s also about how the passing of time can affect memory and the repetitive nature of history. Past, present and future are entwined in Rose’s life and all if it stems from 20 pieces of photographic evidence.
Needless to say that the writing is fantastic, especially toward the end where Coe displays his prowess in full effect. I never knew that Coe could be sentimental but he manages in The Rain Before it Falls and I won’t be surprised if the book’s conclusion will cause a tear or two to fall.
If the constant barrage of politics from the last two Coe books were tiring, The Rain Before it Falls serves as a sort of breather. It also is one of Coe’s best books in the process.