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A review by thebobsphere
The Rain Before it Falls by Jonathan Coe
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.