A review by kristinana
This Real Night by Rebecca West

3.0

As others have pointed out, the ending saves this novel. Although many (not all) of the earlier scenes are very well-written and vividly-rendered, they were almost like fragments or writing exercises--I didn't know why I was reading about these characters. Rose was not enough of a character overall until close to the end; it was like she was just describing what other people did. And one of my favorite things about The Fountain Overflows--the random appearance of the supernatural--was barely there. But once WWI arrives, the children find out what it really means to become adults. The ending is heartbreaking and describes certain things I thought were personal (to me) experiences or thoughts, which I think is the mark of an amazing writer. Luckily I was aware of the ending enough to read through to it; otherwise, short as the novel is, I probably would have abandoned it (as it is, I skimmed a lot).