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claire_fuller_writer's review against another edition
4.0
The Long View is the story of Antonia and her marriage to Conrad, structured with a reverse chronology. Starting in 1950 and jumping back five times, it ends in 1926 when Antonia is 19 and has her eyes opened to the truth of her parents' marriage, following her first disasterous love affair. Rather than teaching her anything, it propels her forward into her own unhappy marriage. Don't read it if you're looking for something uplifting but do read it for character, detail, poignancy and superb writing.
katielister's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
annegreen's review against another edition
5.0
From one of my favourite authors, this is a brilliantly written and insightful study of one woman's marriage. Beginning at the end of the marriage, the story moves back in increments to the couple's first meeting. Ultimately, it's a dismaying portrait of an unhappy woman who seems to have had the odds stacked against her from the start, in terms of being able to enjoy a truly loving relationship. Sad but unfortunately all too realistic depiction of two people set on making themselves miserable. Howard's prose is so subtle, perceptive and perfectly modulated, it's hard to understand why this novel didn't enjoy far more acclaim than it did.
rachel_cwtch's review against another edition
0.25
It's rare. I give up on a book and don't finish reading it..... But this book failed to grip me from page 1. I had read the intro that had explained the dramatic devise of telling the end first and then working backwards. The intro also explained how the characters are only faintly outlined at first and are fleshed out as the book goes on.
So, having not enjoyed the first couple of pages, I wondered if reading it in reverse would help. I thought the more developed characters might be more interesting. (The book is divided into sub books. Latest first, earliest last). I turned to the last book and tried again, but after 2 pages I just didn't care enough about any character in the story and stopped reading. Not recommended at all!!
So, having not enjoyed the first couple of pages, I wondered if reading it in reverse would help. I thought the more developed characters might be more interesting. (The book is divided into sub books. Latest first, earliest last). I turned to the last book and tried again, but after 2 pages I just didn't care enough about any character in the story and stopped reading. Not recommended at all!!
franklekens's review against another edition
4.0
An illusionless novel about the loss of illusions (and their interminable allure). Terribly well-written, if rather depressing, this long view. The backwards narrative, taking you further into the main characters' past with each episode, is put to very good effect here. That way the dreary ‘end’ of the story the novel starts with suffuses any more cheerful episodes (by then long in the past) that will follow. And of course that dreary ‘end’ is in a sense more of a middle, since the main character is only in her early forties then; but as her life has in a way come full circle – she having now to deal with two barely grown-up children who are starting out in life and marriage, much like she is at the end of the book, which is the beginning of the story – the starting point is extremely well chosen.
veronicafrance's review against another edition
4.0
More forensic examination of male-female relationships from EJH, who specialises in dysfunctional ones. This is a far cry from the surface cosiness of the Cazalet novels -- nothing about this marriage is cosy. A wonderfully skilled reverse unpicking, but it took me longer to read than most EJH novels -- just a bit too depressing, and I even got a bit bored in the middle. Conrad is such a narcissistic/sociopathic man. You wonder how Antonia ended up with him, and although you can see why by the end of the novel (or beginning, depending on how you look at it), the fact that she's stuck with him and doesn't want him to leave is a bit unbearable. It makes you thank your lucky stars for feminism.
deesdav's review against another edition
5.0
Six stars if I could! A brilliant observation of misunderstandings, mistakes and lost dreams, and so very beautifully written
pllylzbth's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Toxic relationship