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Truth or Fiction
Desmond Fitzmaurice is famous, ancient and mysterious: a literary giant of the thirties whom no one has seen for years. And Caroline, a London journalist, hasn't the faintest interest in going to Dublin to interview him; what are the chances, after all, that his life story will feature 'lots of sex and some violence', as the old man claims? She'll stay for a couple of nights, extract what she can and try to make his life sound interesting, if at all possible. But in Desmond's quiet house, his quiet life, Caroline finds much, much more than she bargained for.
139 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Jennifer Johnston
40 books100 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Jennifer Johnston was an Irish novelist. She won a number of awards, including the Whitbread Book Award for The Old Jest in 1979 and a Lifetime Achievement from the Irish Book Awards (2012). The Old Jest, a novel about the Irish War of Independence, was later made into a film called The Dawning, starring Anthony Hopkins, produced by Sarah Lawson and directed by Robert Knights.
Jennifer Johnston was an Irish novelist. She won a number of awards, including the Whitbread Book Award for The Old Jest in 1979 and a Lifetime Achievement from the Irish Book Awards (2012). The Old Jest, a novel about the Irish War of Independence, was later made into a film called The Dawning, starring Anthony Hopkins, produced by Sarah Lawson and directed by Robert Knights.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 15, 2014
This book was the weirdest book I've read this year.
The story is really simple, at first: it starts with a journalist named Caroline, not completely satisfied with her life, wondering how it would have been if Herbert (her partner) had asked her to get married. They've been partners for long, they've lived together for more than ten years and she doesn't get why he didn't ask her. On top of that,'she who must be obeyed' asks her to go to Ireland and work on some articles about an old author called Mr Desmond Fitzmaurice - a thing she's not really willing to do but hey, it's work.
When she gets home, coincidentally, Herbert asks her to get married, although she now thinks it's too late. However - after going berserk for a while, that is - she says she will think about it while she's in Ireland interviewing this not-so-famous author (he's so famous that everyone believes him to be dead).
Things get weirder when she meets said author: he has two wives, there's a third love (is there? Is it Truth or Fiction?) and his memories are recorded on tapes. Caroline seems to be the only one allowed to listen to these taped. Are they real memories or things the author made up? Can she really trust this man? It seems for like fiction than reality.
Even though I was quite skeptical at first, I did enjoy this book: it was absolutely strange and weird, but it had some nice bits. For the first 50 pages I was absolutely sure she was going to fall in love with the author. That's not what happened at all and whatever happened in the end, I didn't see that coming.
However, I think it could have been better: the characters were quite dull, Pamela (Desmond's first wife) was annoyingly fake and Desmond was a terrible man. I wanted to know more about this Annie (Desmond's daughter) everyone kept talking about and my wish was not granted, unfortunately.
I'm torn: I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it's something light to read. It's not really long (it took me a few hours to read it and English is not my first language) and if you like weird stories, this one's for you.
The story is really simple, at first: it starts with a journalist named Caroline, not completely satisfied with her life, wondering how it would have been if Herbert (her partner) had asked her to get married. They've been partners for long, they've lived together for more than ten years and she doesn't get why he didn't ask her. On top of that,'she who must be obeyed' asks her to go to Ireland and work on some articles about an old author called Mr Desmond Fitzmaurice - a thing she's not really willing to do but hey, it's work.
When she gets home, coincidentally, Herbert asks her to get married, although she now thinks it's too late. However - after going berserk for a while, that is - she says she will think about it while she's in Ireland interviewing this not-so-famous author (he's so famous that everyone believes him to be dead).
Things get weirder when she meets said author: he has two wives, there's a third love (is there? Is it Truth or Fiction?) and his memories are recorded on tapes. Caroline seems to be the only one allowed to listen to these taped. Are they real memories or things the author made up? Can she really trust this man? It seems for like fiction than reality.
Even though I was quite skeptical at first, I did enjoy this book: it was absolutely strange and weird, but it had some nice bits. For the first 50 pages I was absolutely sure she was going to fall in love with the author. That's not what happened at all and whatever happened in the end, I didn't see that coming.
However, I think it could have been better: the characters were quite dull, Pamela (Desmond's first wife) was annoyingly fake and Desmond was a terrible man. I wanted to know more about this Annie (Desmond's daughter) everyone kept talking about and my wish was not granted, unfortunately.
I'm torn: I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it's something light to read. It's not really long (it took me a few hours to read it and English is not my first language) and if you like weird stories, this one's for you.
March 26, 2020
Strange is the word I would use to describe this one. A journalist off to meet an elderly writer to see if there is anything interesting to write about him. None of the characters are endearing, indeed most display unattractive levels of manipulation. The first section leads you to believe that the journalist may form sort of relationship with the author, towards the end you think this is now a murder-mystery. A book which deals with ageing, relationships and ultimately what one’s life was all about on reflection. Weird but very enjoyable. Short and a very easy read.
August 6, 2011
I feel like I've just gotten off of a crammed bus ride sat next to an old biddy wittering on for the last 3 hours and my walkman was broken. Where to start with this dismal book? The horrible characters, all of whom are dislikable, boring and annoying? The plot, which is invisible? The story, which is barely there?
Here's the story: a journalist goes to interview an aged and forgotten writer about their long out of print work. That's it. This is merely a framework for Johnston to write about an obnoxious old man staring out of windows and droning on about his dull life. The so called secrets of his life involved affairs with one woman or another, all of whom are one dimensional dullards like him. There isn't a moment when the storyline is expanded upon and all you get are endless tea parties where everyone is saying "darling" far too often and always, always, the incessant dullness of a non story told by non characters by an author who seems to have no idea what she's doing.
This is easily the worst novel I've read that's been published this year. Do yourself a favour and stare at the wall for 3 hours instead. It's more entertaining than reading this drivel.
Here's the story: a journalist goes to interview an aged and forgotten writer about their long out of print work. That's it. This is merely a framework for Johnston to write about an obnoxious old man staring out of windows and droning on about his dull life. The so called secrets of his life involved affairs with one woman or another, all of whom are one dimensional dullards like him. There isn't a moment when the storyline is expanded upon and all you get are endless tea parties where everyone is saying "darling" far too often and always, always, the incessant dullness of a non story told by non characters by an author who seems to have no idea what she's doing.
This is easily the worst novel I've read that's been published this year. Do yourself a favour and stare at the wall for 3 hours instead. It's more entertaining than reading this drivel.
Read
August 18, 2010This was hugely disappointing. I am a big fan of Johnston but this story was weak, the characters were 2 dimensional and the plot was feeble. I never felt at any point they I knew or cared about anyone of them.
August 4, 2018
Really enjoyed this, read in one glorious sunny session!!!!!!
December 20, 2021
A short book – more a novella. Caroline, a UK journalist, is given an assignment in an item she has absolutely no interest in. To go to Ireland to interview a formerly famous writer in his 90s – a bit of a ‘yesterdays man’ whose work has gone out of fashion. The purpose of the piece is to breathe new interest in his work.
Desmond lives in Dalkey, an upmarket village, just outside Dublin and spends a lot of his time looking out at the view from the window of his old house, reminiscing about his past life. His marriage to his first wife, the flamboyant Pamela, who wasn’t prepared to put his life ahead of her own, references to their estranged (from him) daughter Ellie, his grumpy, cantankerous second wife Anna, an actress of sorts, with whom he lives, had two sons and who looks after him like a slave, and then there was, what he feels, his one true love – Abby.
There wasn’t a likeable character in the book, but somehow it intrigued. He came across as a selfish character, who throughout his life, always suited himself. Anna has a fall one night and aware of it, he leaves her on the hall floor until the morning when he calls Caroline. She, irritated by his refusal to call the sons, is forced to take control. Ambulance arrives, but he doesn’t accompany his wife to hospital – completely detaches himself from the situation. She has to force him to contact the son, who arrives and steps into the breach while the old man continues to tell his stories to Caroline. He tells her of one horrific event where following WW2, he shot a man in the most cold-hearted way after hostilities had ceased,.
Question is, were these ramblings true or were they just the ramblings of an old man in his dotage?
Caroline’s own story, living for ten years with her partner and no sign of marriage, was of little interest as it was underdeveloped.
An easy read, didn’t really go anywhere, but somehow held my interest.
Desmond lives in Dalkey, an upmarket village, just outside Dublin and spends a lot of his time looking out at the view from the window of his old house, reminiscing about his past life. His marriage to his first wife, the flamboyant Pamela, who wasn’t prepared to put his life ahead of her own, references to their estranged (from him) daughter Ellie, his grumpy, cantankerous second wife Anna, an actress of sorts, with whom he lives, had two sons and who looks after him like a slave, and then there was, what he feels, his one true love – Abby.
There wasn’t a likeable character in the book, but somehow it intrigued. He came across as a selfish character, who throughout his life, always suited himself. Anna has a fall one night and aware of it, he leaves her on the hall floor until the morning when he calls Caroline. She, irritated by his refusal to call the sons, is forced to take control. Ambulance arrives, but he doesn’t accompany his wife to hospital – completely detaches himself from the situation. She has to force him to contact the son, who arrives and steps into the breach while the old man continues to tell his stories to Caroline. He tells her of one horrific event where following WW2, he shot a man in the most cold-hearted way after hostilities had ceased,.
Question is, were these ramblings true or were they just the ramblings of an old man in his dotage?
Caroline’s own story, living for ten years with her partner and no sign of marriage, was of little interest as it was underdeveloped.
An easy read, didn’t really go anywhere, but somehow held my interest.
January 27, 2018
Generally I'm a fan of the author. This novella, though, is dull and inconsequential. The characters are flat, undeveloped, and not particularly likeable. One gets no sense of the 'forgotten literary giant' as an author, nor is the incident of the dead Nazi particularly credible. Dalkey and environs is nicely sketched, but is that enough?
July 1, 2025
Engaging study of 2 characters frustrated with their lives . The female writer , sent to interview an elderly literary figure . Neither are people you would want to spent time with , but fascinating at the same time , thanks to the beautiful writing of this author .
November 23, 2021
totally bored with this book.
January 24, 2012
This is the type of writing the keeps me away from writing groups. A writer writing about another writer who goes to interview a once well-known writer and comes away deciding its time to get on with her own life. Oops, should I have given that away?
The main image I had throughout this book was of Beckett’s play Krapp’s Last Tape. Luckily a few other characters played around the old fellow to provide a bit more life than that, but as they hardly had lives of their own it’s a bit of a wonder that there is a story here at all.
But that’s the whole point of it. Most of us don’t have lives of our own. We rely on some relentless force to push and cajole and entertain us, even though we hate it while it does. And then when we get hurt… somehow we become apologetic for it in our own lives while warning others not to enter.
If this is the closest we can get to truth in such a book I think I choose to live in some other life as well.
The main image I had throughout this book was of Beckett’s play Krapp’s Last Tape. Luckily a few other characters played around the old fellow to provide a bit more life than that, but as they hardly had lives of their own it’s a bit of a wonder that there is a story here at all.
But that’s the whole point of it. Most of us don’t have lives of our own. We rely on some relentless force to push and cajole and entertain us, even though we hate it while it does. And then when we get hurt… somehow we become apologetic for it in our own lives while warning others not to enter.
If this is the closest we can get to truth in such a book I think I choose to live in some other life as well.
June 6, 2011
I need to stop reading Jennifer Johnston books because they irritate me to no end! Like This is not a Novel this book was very short - more novella than novel. Again I found the main female character frustratingly incomplete and inconsistent. The characters were unlikeable, and rather than caring what they were talking about, I just wanted them to shut up, which they did very quickly because the book was over in approximately 150 pages.
I think what I find so frustrating about Johnston is that she writes so very well and the start of the books are completely engaging. It's just that they either go nowhere or you know exactly where they're going. However, she's a popular and much-awarded novelist, so obviously many readers will disagree with me.
I think what I find so frustrating about Johnston is that she writes so very well and the start of the books are completely engaging. It's just that they either go nowhere or you know exactly where they're going. However, she's a popular and much-awarded novelist, so obviously many readers will disagree with me.
October 18, 2012
I found this book completely strange. Nothing really seemed to happen and when I finished I was left really confused. The story follows journalist Caroline Wallace as she is asked to go to Dublin to meet Desmond Fitzmaurice, a literary giant of the thirties. She goes to interview Desmond and gets involved with his life slightly and then goes home. That's all. I found the flicking between times confusing and get a bit lost as to the relationships between the characters. I was pleased when I finished it because I was getting totally lost and I never found the point of the story. Perhaps I just missed something...
November 5, 2017
Summary:
A British journalist called Caroline goes to Ireland to visit the famous Irish author Desmond Fitzmaurice. He tells Caroline many stories about his life but Caroline finds him quite peculiar & has many doubts about his stories.
Can she get to the bottom of them & find out which story is real & which one isn’t?
My Thoughts:
I do like the idea for this novel but I found it really, really boring.
My Rating: *
A British journalist called Caroline goes to Ireland to visit the famous Irish author Desmond Fitzmaurice. He tells Caroline many stories about his life but Caroline finds him quite peculiar & has many doubts about his stories.
Can she get to the bottom of them & find out which story is real & which one isn’t?
My Thoughts:
I do like the idea for this novel but I found it really, really boring.
My Rating: *
July 22, 2011
This is not a taxing book to read by any means. A short story in effect charting a journalists meeting with eccentric writer. The novel centre's around the journalist trying to discover if the writer is telling the truth about his life or giving her a fictional account of events. An interesting quick read.
Read
September 5, 2011A clever little book which sets the reader up for some great mystery/coincidence to be revealed before the end. But the author knows that real life rarely goes in for spectacular endings. I liked it all.
March 28, 2011
A bit disappointed with this as a Jennifer Johnston fan. Weak compared with her earlier works especially. Neither characters nor story gripped me at all.
December 28, 2012
This book showed an insight in to human nature and growing old that I had not expected. An interesting read.
June 10, 2015
One of the driest books that I have ever read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews