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hg126's review against another edition
4.0
“Those of us without family - we rely too much on our friends, and we are always let down.”
The protagonist dismisses these words, but they have the ring of truth. This is a desperately sad, rich book. It’s hard to like the protagonist, Alan. He’s the kind of man who thinks his secretaries appreciate his ‘compliments’.
He says he likes women who need protecting and looking after, but he is also contemptuous of such women, and fails to protect them.
This is contrasted with his mother’s urbane new husband. Controlling, old fashioned, impatient with weakness; but unlike Alan he fulfils his end of the chivalric bargain, and extends wealth, kindness and protection to his new wife.
The object of his obsession, Sarah, is portrayed as being a psychopath - she is written as cold, unfeeling, almost possessed of some sort of personality disorder. She sells her mother’s house without her permission and steals the proceeds; takes a valuable clock from her enfeebled uncle; treats her family with cold contempt.
But really... the only crime she commits toward Alan is that she’s not that into him.
At several points he lambasts women for not being feminist enough; but admits he prefers women to be meek and submissive. He finds Sarah attractive for her supposed ‘equality’ with him; but is appalled by her lack of dependence on him.
He betrays his wife appallingly for the sake of an old and not very meaningful fling. When she miscarries and experiences depression he insists he cannot see any sign of it, while Angela won’t get out of bed, or eat; she displays classic symptoms.
Feeling judged, he evicts Jenny who was looking after his wife Angela, to the extent of ensuring the poor woman took her medication. He then fails to look after her properly himself; he tells her to remember to take her medication, then walks out. It is likely that at this point Angela stopped taking her pills. Her condition quickly worsens and three weeks later she takes her own life.
I found myself wondering if poor Angela were gay or asexual; perhaps traumatised. Alan admits she is frightened of men; that their lovemaking was ‘violent’; that she ‘claimed’ he had hurt her.
Alan is well aware she hates having sex with him. It never occurs to him to stop.
She even experienced her pregnancy as traumatic; she felt as though the baby were an incubus.
He somewhat atones in later life by taking care of Jenny and going on a quixotic, largely fictional search for Sarah.
It was beautifully written; made me feel uneasy and sad. There were many incredible, insightful moments, examining the psychology of the Alans, the Jennys, the Sarahs and Angelas of this world.
The protagonist dismisses these words, but they have the ring of truth. This is a desperately sad, rich book. It’s hard to like the protagonist, Alan. He’s the kind of man who thinks his secretaries appreciate his ‘compliments’.
He says he likes women who need protecting and looking after, but he is also contemptuous of such women, and fails to protect them.
This is contrasted with his mother’s urbane new husband. Controlling, old fashioned, impatient with weakness; but unlike Alan he fulfils his end of the chivalric bargain, and extends wealth, kindness and protection to his new wife.
The object of his obsession, Sarah, is portrayed as being a psychopath - she is written as cold, unfeeling, almost possessed of some sort of personality disorder. She sells her mother’s house without her permission and steals the proceeds; takes a valuable clock from her enfeebled uncle; treats her family with cold contempt.
But really... the only crime she commits toward Alan is that she’s not that into him.
At several points he lambasts women for not being feminist enough; but admits he prefers women to be meek and submissive. He finds Sarah attractive for her supposed ‘equality’ with him; but is appalled by her lack of dependence on him.
He betrays his wife appallingly for the sake of an old and not very meaningful fling. When she miscarries and experiences depression he insists he cannot see any sign of it, while Angela won’t get out of bed, or eat; she displays classic symptoms.
Feeling judged, he evicts Jenny who was looking after his wife Angela, to the extent of ensuring the poor woman took her medication. He then fails to look after her properly himself; he tells her to remember to take her medication, then walks out. It is likely that at this point Angela stopped taking her pills. Her condition quickly worsens and three weeks later she takes her own life.
I found myself wondering if poor Angela were gay or asexual; perhaps traumatised. Alan admits she is frightened of men; that their lovemaking was ‘violent’; that she ‘claimed’ he had hurt her.
Alan is well aware she hates having sex with him. It never occurs to him to stop.
She even experienced her pregnancy as traumatic; she felt as though the baby were an incubus.
He somewhat atones in later life by taking care of Jenny and going on a quixotic, largely fictional search for Sarah.
It was beautifully written; made me feel uneasy and sad. There were many incredible, insightful moments, examining the psychology of the Alans, the Jennys, the Sarahs and Angelas of this world.
happy_stomach's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wmhenrymorris's review against another edition
Devastating. Maybe funny?
I usually don't like unlikable characters, but then I'm not sure the characters hear aren't likable.
I usually don't like unlikable characters, but then I'm not sure the characters hear aren't likable.
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
3.0
bdietrich's review against another edition
1.0
Read for Brit Lit II
Totally hated it. The characters were way too self-centered for my liking.
Totally hated it. The characters were way too self-centered for my liking.
hga's review against another edition
4.0
“Those of us without family - we rely too much on our friends, and we are always let down.”
The protagonist dismisses these words, but they have the ring of truth. This is a desperately sad, rich book. It’s hard to like the protagonist, Alan. He’s the kind of man who thinks his secretaries appreciate his ‘compliments’.
He says he likes women who need protecting and looking after, but he is also contemptuous of such women, and fails to protect them.
This is contrasted with his mother’s urbane new husband. Controlling, old fashioned, impatient with weakness; but unlike Alan he fulfils his end of the chivalric bargain, and extends wealth, kindness and protection to his new wife.
The object of his obsession, Sarah, is portrayed as being a psychopath - she is written as cold, unfeeling, almost possessed of some sort of personality disorder. She sells her mother’s house without her permission and steals the proceeds; takes a valuable clock from her enfeebled uncle; treats her family with cold contempt.
But really... the only crime she commits toward Alan is that she’s not that into him.
At several points he lambasts women for not being feminist enough; but admits he prefers women to be meek and submissive. He finds Sarah attractive for her supposed ‘equality’ with him; but is appalled by her lack of dependence on him.
He betrays his wife appallingly for the sake of an old and not very meaningful fling. When she miscarries and experiences depression he insists he cannot see any sign of it, while Angela won’t get out of bed, or eat; she displays classic symptoms.
Feeling judged, he evicts Jenny who was looking after his wife Angela, to the extent of ensuring the poor woman took her medication. He then fails to look after her properly himself; he tells her to remember to take her medication, then walks out. It is likely that at this point Angela stopped taking her pills. Her condition quickly worsens and three weeks later she takes her own life.
I found myself wondering if poor Angela were gay or asexual; perhaps traumatised. Alan admits she is frightened of men; that their lovemaking was ‘violent’; that she ‘claimed’ he had hurt her.
Alan is well aware she hates having sex with him. It never occurs to him to stop.
She even experienced her pregnancy as traumatic; she felt as though the baby were an incubus.
He somewhat atones in later life by taking care of Jenny and going on a quixotic, largely fictional search for Sarah.
It was beautifully written; made me feel uneasy and sad. There were many incredible, insightful moments, examining the psychology of the Alans, the Jennys, the Sarahs and Angelas of this world.
The protagonist dismisses these words, but they have the ring of truth. This is a desperately sad, rich book. It’s hard to like the protagonist, Alan. He’s the kind of man who thinks his secretaries appreciate his ‘compliments’.
He says he likes women who need protecting and looking after, but he is also contemptuous of such women, and fails to protect them.
This is contrasted with his mother’s urbane new husband. Controlling, old fashioned, impatient with weakness; but unlike Alan he fulfils his end of the chivalric bargain, and extends wealth, kindness and protection to his new wife.
The object of his obsession, Sarah, is portrayed as being a psychopath - she is written as cold, unfeeling, almost possessed of some sort of personality disorder. She sells her mother’s house without her permission and steals the proceeds; takes a valuable clock from her enfeebled uncle; treats her family with cold contempt.
But really... the only crime she commits toward Alan is that she’s not that into him.
At several points he lambasts women for not being feminist enough; but admits he prefers women to be meek and submissive. He finds Sarah attractive for her supposed ‘equality’ with him; but is appalled by her lack of dependence on him.
He betrays his wife appallingly for the sake of an old and not very meaningful fling. When she miscarries and experiences depression he insists he cannot see any sign of it, while Angela won’t get out of bed, or eat; she displays classic symptoms.
Feeling judged, he evicts Jenny who was looking after his wife Angela, to the extent of ensuring the poor woman took her medication. He then fails to look after her properly himself; he tells her to remember to take her medication, then walks out. It is likely that at this point Angela stopped taking her pills. Her condition quickly worsens and three weeks later she takes her own life.
I found myself wondering if poor Angela were gay or asexual; perhaps traumatised. Alan admits she is frightened of men; that their lovemaking was ‘violent’; that she ‘claimed’ he had hurt her.
Alan is well aware she hates having sex with him. It never occurs to him to stop.
She even experienced her pregnancy as traumatic; she felt as though the baby were an incubus.
He somewhat atones in later life by taking care of Jenny and going on a quixotic, largely fictional search for Sarah.
It was beautifully written; made me feel uneasy and sad. There were many incredible, insightful moments, examining the psychology of the Alans, the Jennys, the Sarahs and Angelas of this world.
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