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A review by jacki_f
Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd
4.0
This is an intriguing spy novel set in Vienna, London and Geneva between 1913-1915. The hero, Lysander Rief, is an English actor who travels to pre-war Austria for the purpose of undertaking the fledging business of psychotherapy. Despite having a fiancee at home in London, he embarks on an affair in Vienna. The fallout from this will have long-lasting repercussions in his life. I'm not going to describe any more of the plot than that, because it's the kind of book that you'll enjoy more if you don't know where it's taking you.
Lysander is an interesting character. He doesn't control much of what happens to him over the course of the book, but he meets challenges with an actor's flair for improvisation. At one point he comments that he feels like "invisible strings were being pulled by a person or persons unknown and that (he) was attached to their ends". The title of the book, "Waiting for Sunrise", refers both to literally waiting for the arrival of a new day (as he does on several occasions), but also to waiting for the clarity that comes when light is shone on things. Somewhat ironically, Lysander turns to psychotherapy in a bid to understand his problems but the solution will come from obfuscating real events. Later, when he needs to identify someone who is betraying their country, he must also do so through deception. Towards the end of the book Lysander believes that he has learned to live with uncertainty, but whether he actually has is in question. To add to the general theme of confusion, there is a huge amount of betrayal that takes place over the novel - both by Lysander and to Lysander. Only a couple of key characters maintain true to themselves for the entire book.
As always, Boyd's writing is rich in detail, bringing this time in history to life. As in Any Human Heart, he integrates some real life individuals into the story. It's a fascinating, twisting story that I liked very much.
Lysander is an interesting character. He doesn't control much of what happens to him over the course of the book, but he meets challenges with an actor's flair for improvisation. At one point he comments that he feels like "invisible strings were being pulled by a person or persons unknown and that (he) was attached to their ends". The title of the book, "Waiting for Sunrise", refers both to literally waiting for the arrival of a new day (as he does on several occasions), but also to waiting for the clarity that comes when light is shone on things. Somewhat ironically, Lysander turns to psychotherapy in a bid to understand his problems but the solution will come from obfuscating real events. Later, when he needs to identify someone who is betraying their country, he must also do so through deception. Towards the end of the book Lysander believes that he has learned to live with uncertainty, but whether he actually has is in question. To add to the general theme of confusion, there is a huge amount of betrayal that takes place over the novel - both by Lysander and to Lysander. Only a couple of key characters maintain true to themselves for the entire book.
As always, Boyd's writing is rich in detail, bringing this time in history to life. As in Any Human Heart, he integrates some real life individuals into the story. It's a fascinating, twisting story that I liked very much.