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160th out of 635 books
—
323 voters
No Night is Too Long
Tim thought he'd gotten away with it. For months after the murder off the Alaskan coast he'd heard not a word. No policeman at his door asking questions. Nothing. And then the letters began. At first they seemed almost innocuous accounts of historical events. But a common theme emerged quickly. It was particularly germane to Tim, and it related directly to murder.
In No Ni...more
In No Ni...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
January 1st 1996
by Penguin Canada
(first published January 1st 1995)
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When I first heard about No Night is Too LOng, I was sitting at home watching a clip of the movie, not knowing at that time that it was based on a book, UNTIL I saw the credits. Needless to say, I was impressed by the dark intensity of the film enough to make a trip to my local library and scavanger hunt the book down. Boy how lucky was I that I came across the last remaining copy in the library (and my district). I got home and opened it and started reading. From the first second I was hooked....more
I'll admit. The first thing I ever heard about this book was actually on YouTube, watching a video of the first kiss between Tim and Ivo from the movie version of this novel. After clicking around, and finally watching the whole movie, I decided that I couldn't get enough of the story, and high-tailed it to the library to check this book out.
I couldn't decide for whom I felt more sorry: Tim or Ivo. One of the coolest things I liked about the characterizations was their quirky-ness. Despite being...more
I couldn't decide for whom I felt more sorry: Tim or Ivo. One of the coolest things I liked about the characterizations was their quirky-ness. Despite being...more
Dec 23, 2012
Chelsea Machal-klapa
is currently reading it
It's a slow read, true, but worth it. If you can get past the narrator's selfishness, you will appreciate his torturous journey of self-improvement -- at the sacrifice of everyone else!
Frankly, I read the book AFTER I saw the film, and I think the film was a gem, leaving the audience with an unforgettable impression. The film maker resolved some of the vagueness in the characters, and there's no denying the casting in the film was genius.
If you loved the film, the book serves as a worthy compani...more
Frankly, I read the book AFTER I saw the film, and I think the film was a gem, leaving the audience with an unforgettable impression. The film maker resolved some of the vagueness in the characters, and there's no denying the casting in the film was genius.
If you loved the film, the book serves as a worthy compani...more
I, like many before me, first heard of the haunting Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell) novel No Night is Too Long via the BBC adaptation. The plot twist at the end of the film indeed takes it to a whole new level, as does the references (and musical quotes) to Strauss's opera Der Rosenkavalier. But I had no idea of the mind-blowing impression the book would have on me!
Isn't it great when we find these beautiful and intricate meanings in what we expected to be the most mundane of paperbacks?
Read the...more
Isn't it great when we find these beautiful and intricate meanings in what we expected to be the most mundane of paperbacks?
Read the...more
This was incredibly slow to start. I just didn't care about any of the characters or the direction of the storyline. All that N- and P- business....just bizarre. Then we arrived on the boat, and more characters arrived that I didn't care much about. I found it difficult to differentiate between them, and started counting how many pages to go until the end. Then what you might call the central event. It seemed a bit tame, somehow. The book picked up for me when it came to the knock at the door. P...more
aka Ruth Rendell. Writes the best psychological mysteries in my opinion
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I eventually skipped ahead to confirm my assumption of the major plot twist. The main character was tremendously petulant and self-absorbed, and as it was written in the first person, it was impossible to get out of his whiny head. I stuck with the book longer than I should have, because I respect Rendell/Vine's writing, but found it interminable. I can't recommend it.
I almost forgot - one of the minor characters is a professor of geology at UC Berkeley!
I almost forgot - one of the minor characters is a professor of geology at UC Berkeley!
I've read this book a total of 3 times with intervals of a few years, and listened to it on tape once, as well. I can only reiterate what the NY Times Book Review said about it . ."Exquisite . . . a marvel." It's a deeply disturbing, deeply mysterious story of love and sex, with such vivid characterization and wonderfully pictured landscapes, that one almost feels as though one is breathing the same breath as the characters in it.
Ruth Rendell simply is the best mystery writer alive. Her books tend more toward psychological studies than toward suspense, with subtle, devious clues throughout. Even the best sleuth will ask themselves, "How did I miss that?" And, she's an outstanding writer. Every now and then I say to myself, "I've earned another Ruth Rendell." Not just for mystery lovers.
I nearly gave this up after about a third of the book but had to keep going. Unusual and not quite as gripping as the other ones I have read.Tim Cornish encounters Ivo and a steamy relationship develops. He goes on a journey to Alaska with him and while there falls in love with a woman. The twists in the plot after that are compelling.
Barbara Vine is another name for Ruth Rendell. As usual she gets inside the people's heads. In this one, it was divided into 3 parts, each for a person concerned in the story and how they thought and felt. Made it interesting to see only one side at a time. Also as usual, their are unexpected developments.
I was a bit disappointed by this. I love Barbara Vine (the nasty side of Ruth Rendell), but although I finished this last night, I had to look up the title because I had forgotten it. It's as well written as her other books and I was always happy to get back to it but ...
This book came highly recommended but I didn't last more than 30 pages. At that point I was gritting my teeth. I can't abide reading about detached passive people in the first person. I understand she has a new one out, Birthday Present and it got good reviews I might try it.
I first read this book after watching the BBC film adaption of it. It's a nice story of love and friendship and the human psyche. Although many people have read it, I like to think of this book as a little treasure only I have found. I really miss the characters when I finish it.
I must admit I did prefer the ending of the film to the book, though ;)
I must admit I did prefer the ending of the film to the book, though ;)
It's been a really long time since I read this, but I do remember that I really loved it. Probably my favorite Rendell/Vine novel. I plan to read it again sometime soon.
This book was too long or felt that way. None of the characters are likeable and to spend most of the time in the head of the principal whiny character is too much like work.
I think I'll stick to Ruth Rendell and avoid the Barbara Vine books.
I think I'll stick to Ruth Rendell and avoid the Barbara Vine books.
I prefer the television adaptation of this story because I found the dialogue to be a bit formal and stilted. Mysteries are not generally my genre though.
having read it four times, I find it one of her most compelling, a dive into the depths of the human mind and soul.
Told through journals and letters, this is a strange story of love affairs, betrayals, castaways, and a ghost.
What a brilliant piece! Okay, I didn't hate either of them by the end. I thought I would hate them both.
A bit drawn out, but then most of the Vine novels are. The setting and scenario are arresting.
Love this author! She's got a knack for weaving intricate stories and has you guessing all the way through!
A terrific mystery; interesting development of personalities.
Listened to a tape of this. Didn't like the narrator very much, but there is a nice twist to the story at the end. I thought that I had it all worked out and the end did surprise me.
Jul 19, 2012
Vera VB
added it
Very disappointing, slow, extremely slow plot.
Sep 08, 2011
Melanie Judah
added it
a strange dip into the mind of a gay man.
Incrível. O livro é ótimo e a história surpreendente. A minha maior dificuldade, e provavelmente por isso eu demorei tanto é que não encontrei exemplares em português. Mas mesmo assim o livro me prendeu. Agora verei o filme... ansioso para reviver a história.
Ps: O filme, como a maior parte dos filmes que retratam uma história em que o sexo é uma parte essencial, passam a parecer muito mais com pornografia disfarçada, principalmente onde a relação de destaque é homoafetiva.
Ps: O filme, como a maior parte dos filmes que retratam uma história em que o sexo é uma parte essencial, passam a parecer muito mais com pornografia disfarçada, principalmente onde a relação de destaque é homoafetiva.
Interesting and fun to read. Nice twist to the story.
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Pseudonym of Ruth Rendell.
Rendell created a third strand of writing with the publication of A Dark Adapted Eye under her pseudonym Barbara Vine in 1986. Books such as King Solomon's Carpet, A Fatal Inversion and Anna's Book (original UK title Asta's Book) inhabit the same territory as her psychological crime novels while they further develop themes of family misunderstandings and the side effects...more
More about Barbara Vine...
Rendell created a third strand of writing with the publication of A Dark Adapted Eye under her pseudonym Barbara Vine in 1986. Books such as King Solomon's Carpet, A Fatal Inversion and Anna's Book (original UK title Asta's Book) inhabit the same territory as her psychological crime novels while they further develop themes of family misunderstandings and the side effects...more
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“Without me, without me,
Everyday's misery.
But with me - am I wrong?
No night is too long!”
—
11 people liked it
More quotes…
Everyday's misery.
But with me - am I wrong?
No night is too long!”
