Reviews

A Closed Eye by Anita Brookner

wrentheblurry's review against another edition

I only made it to page 15 (3rd Chapter)before I decided to give up on this one. The writing style felt dull, I didn't care about any of the characters, and I was not intrigued by the plot or setting.

graywacke's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

4.5

The first time I've read a novel by Brookner. So clean and polished and easy and perfect. She touches depths and it feels effortless. She maybe doesn't have a clear sense of humor here. But this was an easy easy book to read, and get lost in, without knowing why...and getting moved without entirely knowing why. 

vasa_bee's review against another edition

3.0

A very sad story, written beautifully.
I'm not sure I understood part of the final, but it probably doesn't matter.

kathbow's review against another edition

4.0

I love Anita Brookner's writing; she is a master of language. Her books are typically a little depressing, and this was no exception...but the prose is so lovely you have to keep reading!

schopflin's review against another edition

4.0

Beautifully written but very, very depressing. A couple of monstrous characters conveyed in a very low-key manner.

hardcoverhearts's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

squil's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A beautiful book. When I started, the chronology of time was confusing but the order of the story made the end more poignant. The book is slow paced, but it reflects the pace at which Harriet feels her life moves. When Harriet feels her life is slow, the book is as well. When Harriet has a moment of excitement in her life, the speed of the book increases even if it is just for a page. 

I reread the letter at the beginning after finishing the book. The letter contains mention of much of Harriet’s life in some way or another. My first impression of Harriet through the letter was not the true Harriet which I found throughout the book. In a second read of the letter, I noticed that Harriet mentions her husband only to explain the place in which she lives. This is the way Freddie is described throughout the whole book actually. 
I think Imogen and Lizzie paralleled with Jack and Harriet, respectively. (Imogen was difficult for me to understand.) Lizzie and Harriet paired well. They shared similar qualities, but Harriet was too distracted by Imogen to see this when Lizzie was younger. 
My biggest question of the book was Imogen. I couldn’t fully understand her. I am not good with reading between the lines and the encounter Lizzie and Imogen had when the cardigan was given confuses me. Was Imogen happy? 
The questions I am left with are: Who is happy? What is happy? What does it mean? Is a happy life a good life or does something else create a well lived life?

balancinghistorybooks's review against another edition

4.0

I found A Closed Eye far more engaging than I have done the majority of Brookner's novels to date. Very few of the characters are likeable, but they all have believable backstories, and are composed of both complexities and depth. It felt as though there was more plot to A Closed Eye than a lot of Brookner's other books, and whilst similar tropes were present, it felt as though a slightly different, and therefore less predictable, approach was taken. A thoughtful novel, which is packed with emotion.

alexclare's review against another edition

3.0

This took a lot of time for nothing to happen, though it was beautifully written.