What do you think?
Rate this book
Distance
Edward has lost his short term-memory. He hopes it will return when he sees the cottage in which he lives. He recognizes his overcoat on the hook, his books, the double bed. The mystery however, is Naomi. Edward has no recollection of who she is or why she has left him a love letter.With Thubron's customary clarity he draws a bleak, amnesiac world in which a young man must face again old griefs and linger 'like a coward, just this side of knowing'. On the other side, the memory of a destructive, obsessive relationship looms.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
5 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Colin Thubron
45 books431 followersColin Thubron, CBE FRSL is a Man Booker nominated British travel writer and novelist.
In 2008, The Times ranked him 45th on their list of the 50 greatest postwar British writers. He is a contributor to The New York Review of Books, The Times, The Times Literary Supplement and The New York Times. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Thubron was appointed a CBE in the 2007 New Year Honours. He is a Fellow and, as of 2010, President of the Royal Society of Literature.
In 2008, The Times ranked him 45th on their list of the 50 greatest postwar British writers. He is a contributor to The New York Review of Books, The Times, The Times Literary Supplement and The New York Times. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Thubron was appointed a CBE in the 2007 New Year Honours. He is a Fellow and, as of 2010, President of the Royal Society of Literature.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 15, 2021
Another sheer delight from my now old friend Mr. Thubron. This one works off a fairly simple and perhaps over-explored idea of the ole amnesia trick. But the thing is, Thubron just strings together the most beautiful sentences. And he really dives deeply into the psychological concepts that personally ring with truth. Now as usual there’s this burning tragic romance at it’s core, it’s a theme I’ve encountered in all of his books thus far and as a doomed-romantic myself, I find it quite charming. This one is one of his better ones, when it really untangles human longing, loss and location it does so with aplomb and wonder. I always enjoy a visit with him and I will certainly visit again.
May 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this when I read it two decades ago, and I know I have reread it since, but I feel like now I have aged a bit I might have a different view. Will add it to the 'reread' list.
October 12, 2011
Suppose I can't really judge it having not actually finished it... But here goes anyway.
I've read a couple of Thubron's travel books, and enjoyed them for the most part. In Siberia really impressed me; I was immersed in his dense and almost surreal description of the barren landscape that so few have bothered to write about in detail. I loved his depiction of setting, and while I found it a little too contemplative and melancholy in parts, I think of it as a bit of a landmark book in my love affair with travel writing.
Distance on the other hand, wasn't quite the tour de force I expected. I guess I shouldn't have held my breath too much, I got the book of the bargain shelf for $5. But there were numerous things which really irked me. Firstly, it didn't really seem that plausible—a guy loses all memory of his last two years; can't even remember his girlfriend—and I really didn't like the protagonist; he was strange, moody, and stupidly irrational—wouldn't any normal person in that situation just get some therapy? He's a bit of a bastard to the girlfriend (the one he forgot) and spends most of his time coveting some beautiful girl that he thinks he may have met (but he can't quite verify whether she is a product of reality or fantasy).
In general, this book had all the boring introspection and despondency that I was so averse to in In Siberia, but without the gritty, fascinating, and enlightening depiction of place. There was no beautifully strange landscape in which I felt immersed, and no jarring sense of reality that had made his travel books so appealing.
When I have some patience, one day, I may try to finish it, and see whether I really missed something big at the end. Until then, there are other, more important books to read.
I've read a couple of Thubron's travel books, and enjoyed them for the most part. In Siberia really impressed me; I was immersed in his dense and almost surreal description of the barren landscape that so few have bothered to write about in detail. I loved his depiction of setting, and while I found it a little too contemplative and melancholy in parts, I think of it as a bit of a landmark book in my love affair with travel writing.
Distance on the other hand, wasn't quite the tour de force I expected. I guess I shouldn't have held my breath too much, I got the book of the bargain shelf for $5. But there were numerous things which really irked me. Firstly, it didn't really seem that plausible—a guy loses all memory of his last two years; can't even remember his girlfriend—and I really didn't like the protagonist; he was strange, moody, and stupidly irrational—wouldn't any normal person in that situation just get some therapy? He's a bit of a bastard to the girlfriend (the one he forgot) and spends most of his time coveting some beautiful girl that he thinks he may have met (but he can't quite verify whether she is a product of reality or fantasy).
In general, this book had all the boring introspection and despondency that I was so averse to in In Siberia, but without the gritty, fascinating, and enlightening depiction of place. There was no beautifully strange landscape in which I felt immersed, and no jarring sense of reality that had made his travel books so appealing.
When I have some patience, one day, I may try to finish it, and see whether I really missed something big at the end. Until then, there are other, more important books to read.
September 17, 2010
Distance (1996) is about a man, Edward Sanders, who suddenly can’t remember what has happened the last two years. He lives with a woman he can’t remember (they only met one year ago). He is in love with the woman he was with 2 years ago.
However, his memory returns in steps during the next few days and he realizes why he is no longer in love with the woman he knew two years ago. He even, after about a week, falls in love again with the woman he knows kow, because he starts to remember how they met and what he loves about her.
What I thought:
It’s a great idea for a novel and in general, I liked the story. Some of it I found a little boring and long-winded, but that was because I didn’t know how it fitted in the story at the time. This was mainly about the old girlfriend he had two years ago. In further sections of the novel, it becomes clear how this is relevant.
What I also didn’t like, but that was really part of the story, was how Edward and his new girlfriend hardly talked to each other. She knew that he couldn’t remember her, and he found it odd to share a bed with this strange woman, but they didn’t really talk about it. Edward could have said how strange it was for him to share a bed rather than just say he needed some time alone and disappear to his father’s house.
It shows how important communication is between people! Anyway, as I didn’t like this lack of communication, it made me enjoy the book a little less. Still, it’s a great book, and probably great writing too. Unfortunately, I had a Dutch translation so I can’t be sure about the original writing.
However, his memory returns in steps during the next few days and he realizes why he is no longer in love with the woman he knew two years ago. He even, after about a week, falls in love again with the woman he knows kow, because he starts to remember how they met and what he loves about her.
What I thought:
It’s a great idea for a novel and in general, I liked the story. Some of it I found a little boring and long-winded, but that was because I didn’t know how it fitted in the story at the time. This was mainly about the old girlfriend he had two years ago. In further sections of the novel, it becomes clear how this is relevant.
What I also didn’t like, but that was really part of the story, was how Edward and his new girlfriend hardly talked to each other. She knew that he couldn’t remember her, and he found it odd to share a bed with this strange woman, but they didn’t really talk about it. Edward could have said how strange it was for him to share a bed rather than just say he needed some time alone and disappear to his father’s house.
It shows how important communication is between people! Anyway, as I didn’t like this lack of communication, it made me enjoy the book a little less. Still, it’s a great book, and probably great writing too. Unfortunately, I had a Dutch translation so I can’t be sure about the original writing.
January 8, 2011
I love how Thubron deals with time and memory. It's a common theme through many of his books be they fiction or travel writings.
Currently reading
May 30, 2011my new favorite author
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews