Standing on a railway platform in a Swiss resort town, sensibly clad in his Burberry raincoat and walking shoes, a man thinks he may be looking at ...
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Feb 09, 2012
If you know Brookner's work, you know what to expect: lonely, disappointed people leading materially comfortable but somehow diminished or uneventful lives.[return][return]This novel features a male central character and unlike many Brookner novels this one has a 'wow!' moment. After the double tragedy in Alan's life I had to put the book down, a little breathless. For this is a deeply sad story of a man beguiled by Sarah, a woman not so much cruel as neglectful, who is indifferent to Alan and t
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Dec 15, 2011
Ali
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This is one of Anita Brookner's novels written from a male perspective. Brookner's male voice is convincing and poignant. Anita Brookner creates beautiful English worlds, where nothing very dramatic happens, lives are quiet and dignified. Alan Sherwood is a solicitor who having once become obsessed by the beautiful, selfish, and deeply unpleasant Sarah, is unable to leave her behind. After a short liaison with her, his life is punctuated by a couple of fleeting glimpses and brief meetings which
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Sep 12, 2009
Larry
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It is rare for me to give up on a book but this one of those occurrences when the adage "Life is too short and there are so many good books to read". I really enjoyed Brookner's other books where her voice as the key female was interesting and multidimensional i.e. the key character “Hotel du Lac” etc., Her female view was unique and interesting to explore. In this novel she takes a male lead and it appears a mistake. Not only is he dull, in spite of travel and education, he falls
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Aug 26, 2009
Barbara
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Anita Brookner's prose is elegant, with vivid descriptive passages. She has the skill to analyze people and their motives for their actions with precision and clarity. However, at times she jumps around in time and unexpectedly we find ourselves in a new (or old) place.
"Altered States" is a book filled with lonely, flawed people, who are either seeking annoying validation and comfort from others, or are conte More...
"Altered States" is a book filled with lonely, flawed people, who are either seeking annoying validation and comfort from others, or are conte More...
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Jan 24, 2010
Lauren
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Brookner is brilliant at portraying human irrationality--her characters, like we ourselves, watch as they do things they know they shouldn't do, do things they know they will regret, as if watching a delinquent sibling. They feel passion for people they know will do them no good. They marry people they do not love. They hurt people who do not deserve to be hurt. Brookner sees all of this and portrays it with a wry affection for the human condition.
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Mar 29, 2009
Fredsky
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I hate to give Anita Brookner a 2, but this book literally fell out of my hands no fewer than 6 times as I dozed off. Probably , having just finished Cracks in the Foundation (by Erica Ferencik) I was in no mood to be morose. I might try it again later, if I think of it, the next time I feel hopeless and alone and no better than I should feel.
Sep 27, 2011
Labmom
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Sparse and exquisite story of a man whose devastating obsession with the wrong woman causes him to retreat into himself and live an empty life. My first Anita Brookner, I'll defintely read more of her.
Jan 03, 2012
Elisabeth
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Maybe 1.5 stars. I've never disliked all the characters in a book before without finding some redeeming qualities. The writing itself was well composed but the story was a complete miss.
Dec 05, 2009
Kara
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Am surprised by all the negative reviews, I loved this book. I found the characters depressingly real and the tale albeit grim an intriguing one
Dec 28, 2009
Laura
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Never had heard of this author--picked it up when I heard one of her novels won the Booker Prize. I plan to read more of her works! Great writing- wonderful insight to characters- well worth the time.
Jan 23, 2008
Cassiel
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I am puzzled by Brookner's problem with timelines.
The protagonist had his 40th birthday the year following his wife's death, which occurred when he was 29.
At one point when he is in his mid-50s, he observes that a middle-aged woman couldn't be his long lost ex-love, because his lover would be almost his age. What??
It is never clear in what decades the novel takes place (maybe deliberate, but if so why?).
This seems petty, but it makes the entire novel feel sloppily writ
The protagonist had his 40th birthday the year following his wife's death, which occurred when he was 29.
At one point when he is in his mid-50s, he observes that a middle-aged woman couldn't be his long lost ex-love, because his lover would be almost his age. What??
It is never clear in what decades the novel takes place (maybe deliberate, but if so why?).
This seems petty, but it makes the entire novel feel sloppily writ
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