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A review by anunande
The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve
Possibly my most favourite Shreve so far. It's about Linda and Thomas whose love story begins in Massachusetts in the 1960s, picks up again in Kenya in the 1970s and at a writer's conference in Toronto, they meet again for the first time in 26 years. The novel is in 3 sections - them at age 52 in Canada, at age 26 in Kenya and teenagers when they first meet. This format means that many things become clearer as the narrative moves along. A different perspective on certain issues as the backstory is revealed, and there's a fair amount of flipping back through the pages to confirm events and words and seemingly throwaway references.
The language is evocative in parts with beautiful details and vivid descriptions, the creation of scene is atmospheric, the characters, tormented and messed-up as they are, feel real, and their almost self-destructive need to be together despite life getting in the way feels real. But what I never saw coming was the end. With a few paragraphs, Shreve turns on its head everything that has gone on before, and leaves us with many questions we can only try to make sense of ourselves. I won't spoiler it, but if you have read it and want to discuss, please DM me!
This is a story about love and pain and regret and loss and the nature of memory and imagination. An immersive reading experience that I enjoyed. Thomas Janes features in her The Weight of Water and I'm keen to read that next for more insight into his character.
The language is evocative in parts with beautiful details and vivid descriptions, the creation of scene is atmospheric, the characters, tormented and messed-up as they are, feel real, and their almost self-destructive need to be together despite life getting in the way feels real. But what I never saw coming was the end. With a few paragraphs, Shreve turns on its head everything that has gone on before, and leaves us with many questions we can only try to make sense of ourselves. I won't spoiler it, but if you have read it and want to discuss, please DM me!
This is a story about love and pain and regret and loss and the nature of memory and imagination. An immersive reading experience that I enjoyed. Thomas Janes features in her The Weight of Water and I'm keen to read that next for more insight into his character.