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A review by jennyyates
Falling Slowly by Anita Brookner
3.0
This is a slow-moving novel about two sisters living in London. The older, Beatrice, is a pianist who accompanies opera singers, while the younger, Miriam, translates novels into English.
They are both single. Although they have their chances at love, it doesn’t really work out for them. Beatrice is too romantic to settle for any ordinary man, although she enjoys their attentions. Miriam is more sensible, but unwilling to play a soft, feminine role, even when she marries. She falls in love only once, with a beautiful, confident married man, and is rather floored by the ease with which he discards her.
The writing is sometimes elegant, sometimes rather wordy, as it analyzes the inner worlds of these two sisters, and their slide into isolation, loneliness and acquiescence.
Some passages I liked:
< Home in fact was a concept, like the grail; in both cases instant recognition would be its own reward. This home would be bathed in sunshine, the golden sunshine of evening: there would be a garden, large irregular rooms, deep colours and a bedroom of such paradisial quiet that she could hear a late bird, or an owl, or the bell on the neck of a tame cat. >
< “You’re looking well,” they both lied. >
< Although her work was by all accounts excellent she always felt timid when handing it over, largely for some extraneous reason, such as a sudden realization that her skirt was too long or that her hair needed cutting. >
< Some time ago she had tried to substitute irony for longing, and had almost succeeded. >
They are both single. Although they have their chances at love, it doesn’t really work out for them. Beatrice is too romantic to settle for any ordinary man, although she enjoys their attentions. Miriam is more sensible, but unwilling to play a soft, feminine role, even when she marries. She falls in love only once, with a beautiful, confident married man, and is rather floored by the ease with which he discards her.
The writing is sometimes elegant, sometimes rather wordy, as it analyzes the inner worlds of these two sisters, and their slide into isolation, loneliness and acquiescence.
Some passages I liked:
< Home in fact was a concept, like the grail; in both cases instant recognition would be its own reward. This home would be bathed in sunshine, the golden sunshine of evening: there would be a garden, large irregular rooms, deep colours and a bedroom of such paradisial quiet that she could hear a late bird, or an owl, or the bell on the neck of a tame cat. >
< “You’re looking well,” they both lied. >
< Although her work was by all accounts excellent she always felt timid when handing it over, largely for some extraneous reason, such as a sudden realization that her skirt was too long or that her hair needed cutting. >
< Some time ago she had tried to substitute irony for longing, and had almost succeeded. >