What do you think?
The Story of You
This book begins with snow, the story of you. It is a freezing room in a student house, a sagging mattress on the floor, and two people, one nineteen, the other twenty, kissing passionately, all night. It is to this scene that, twenty years later, Rosy, the narrator of Julie Myerson's astonishing new novel, returns obsessively. She has just lost a child in a terrible, careless accident, and Tom, her partner, has taken her to Paris to forget about things, to start again. It has snowed in the night and, waking at dawn, Rosy decides to go for a walk. At the hotel desk there's a note for her: 'I'm waiting for you X.' And he is, sitting in the corner of a cafe as she enters almost at random. They talk. He touches her. She turns away and when she looks again he is gone. Was he there? Had she dreamed him? And why, when he e-mails her out of the blue two days later, does he write as though they haven't met for twenty years? The Story of You is an account of a woman trying to get by as a mother, a wife, while falling in love with a man from a memory. As always Julie Myerson maps the vagaries of the human heart with extraordinary empathy and precision, while at the same time keeping the reader in breathless suspense and on the edge of tears.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Julie Myerson
26 books185 followersJulie Myerson is the author of nine novels, including the internationally bestselling Something Might Happen, and three works of nonfiction. As a critic and columnist, she has written for many newspapers including The Guardian, Financial Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and the New York Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 1, 2016
This was a really fascinating book. I'm not actually sure I enjoyed reading it, but the writing was so powerful (and at times, raw) that I felt it had to have five stars.
The story centres around one woman's grief (I won't spoil the plot) and how she essentially has a mental breakdown. I like the ambiguity of it all - I still wasn't sure at the end whether or not she was going slightly mad or experiencing something supernatural.
As a parent, certain scenes in this book were agonising to read - and it's testament to Myerson's literary ability that she made those scenes so powerful. I did actually cry a little bit at one part - which is highly unusual for me!
Only one weak area - the 'you' character (without giving too much away) was a bit irritating towards the end. Too many 'I love you baby's' for my liking! But that's only a small, nit-picky point.
Don't expect an easy ride when reading this book - it's painful, nostalgic, and at times, oddly drifting. But it certainly is worth reading, as it's moving, thought-provoking stuff.
The story centres around one woman's grief (I won't spoil the plot) and how she essentially has a mental breakdown. I like the ambiguity of it all - I still wasn't sure at the end whether or not she was going slightly mad or experiencing something supernatural.
As a parent, certain scenes in this book were agonising to read - and it's testament to Myerson's literary ability that she made those scenes so powerful. I did actually cry a little bit at one part - which is highly unusual for me!
Only one weak area - the 'you' character (without giving too much away) was a bit irritating towards the end. Too many 'I love you baby's' for my liking! But that's only a small, nit-picky point.
Don't expect an easy ride when reading this book - it's painful, nostalgic, and at times, oddly drifting. But it certainly is worth reading, as it's moving, thought-provoking stuff.
July 26, 2021
3.5 ⭐ for me... Quite good.
Oh boy, what an emotional read and one that I think very few will say that they 'enjoyed '.
No speech marks, so sometimes had to re-read to establish who was talking.
Very well written, almost poetic. A roller-coaster of "Is this reality or not." I'll leave you to read it to find out.
Oh boy, what an emotional read and one that I think very few will say that they 'enjoyed '.
No speech marks, so sometimes had to re-read to establish who was talking.
Very well written, almost poetic. A roller-coaster of "Is this reality or not." I'll leave you to read it to find out.
September 4, 2010
Myerson’s prose is almost poetic, and I found myself entranced from the very first paragraph. The story is beautifully written as Myerson weaves together memories of an encounter many years ago with the story of today.
Rosy, the central character and the voice of the novel is battling to keep her family life on track following the tragic death of her youngest daughter. When her husband takes her away to Paris she takes a walk in the snow at the crack of dawn and meets a man who was once the boy she spent the night with more than twenty years ago on that memorable night that continues to haunt her.
When she returns home she strikes up an email conversation with the man, who behaves as though they haven’t seen each other for twenty years.
Myerson weaves the past and the present together in such a way that the true account of her daughter’s tragic death isn’t made clear until more than half way through the novel. The relationship she has with Tom, her almost-husband, is a stark contrast to the affair she strikes up with “you”, the man who understands her in a way no one else ever has, and whose name the reader never learns.
I couldn’t put this book down as I wanted to know more about the events of the past, and whether Rosy’s lover really existed; I wondered whether he was real, a figment of her imagination, a ghost or even an hallucination.
The Story of You took my breath away, made my heart ache and made me think about the preciousness of love, relationships and the simple gestures and understandings that draw people together.
It’s been almost three days since I finished reading the book and I still find myself thinking about it, which is why I’ve decided to award The Story of You by Julie Myerson the elusive 6 star rating at Blue Archipelago Reviews!
Rosy, the central character and the voice of the novel is battling to keep her family life on track following the tragic death of her youngest daughter. When her husband takes her away to Paris she takes a walk in the snow at the crack of dawn and meets a man who was once the boy she spent the night with more than twenty years ago on that memorable night that continues to haunt her.
When she returns home she strikes up an email conversation with the man, who behaves as though they haven’t seen each other for twenty years.
Myerson weaves the past and the present together in such a way that the true account of her daughter’s tragic death isn’t made clear until more than half way through the novel. The relationship she has with Tom, her almost-husband, is a stark contrast to the affair she strikes up with “you”, the man who understands her in a way no one else ever has, and whose name the reader never learns.
I couldn’t put this book down as I wanted to know more about the events of the past, and whether Rosy’s lover really existed; I wondered whether he was real, a figment of her imagination, a ghost or even an hallucination.
The Story of You took my breath away, made my heart ache and made me think about the preciousness of love, relationships and the simple gestures and understandings that draw people together.
It’s been almost three days since I finished reading the book and I still find myself thinking about it, which is why I’ve decided to award The Story of You by Julie Myerson the elusive 6 star rating at Blue Archipelago Reviews!
November 28, 2013
Rating and review to come later.
The story of lovers Rosy and 'You', who, separated by years and tragedy meet again one winter, which is the season that connects their past with their present.
I liked this a great deal in the same way that i enjoyed Megan Harts Deeper. I am a great fan of first person pov and once I got over the lack of speech marks (which hints to the reader that something 'is not right') I flew through this. I liked Rosy/Nicky (not giving anything away there)she reacts to her tragedy much the same as many of us would, and her savior in the form of 'You' appears just when she needs him. Their story is not so much a romantic interlude as a coming together of souls to obtain closure; for both of them.
I liked the winter setting; the coolness and feeling of quiet and solitude that this evoked worked well for me, with the poetic writing adding to the ambiance. The scenes in the snow and warm cafes/hotels are particularly atmospheric. At the time I read this I found Rosy's day to day life a little flat, but in hindsight this was corner she had backed herself into and goes a long way to explain why her re-union with 'You' was so important.
A great read for those with imagination who like something different.
The story of lovers Rosy and 'You', who, separated by years and tragedy meet again one winter, which is the season that connects their past with their present.
I liked this a great deal in the same way that i enjoyed Megan Harts Deeper. I am a great fan of first person pov and once I got over the lack of speech marks (which hints to the reader that something 'is not right') I flew through this. I liked Rosy/Nicky (not giving anything away there)she reacts to her tragedy much the same as many of us would, and her savior in the form of 'You' appears just when she needs him. Their story is not so much a romantic interlude as a coming together of souls to obtain closure; for both of them.
I liked the winter setting; the coolness and feeling of quiet and solitude that this evoked worked well for me, with the poetic writing adding to the ambiance. The scenes in the snow and warm cafes/hotels are particularly atmospheric. At the time I read this I found Rosy's day to day life a little flat, but in hindsight this was corner she had backed herself into and goes a long way to explain why her re-union with 'You' was so important.
A great read for those with imagination who like something different.
May 1, 2012
A strange book, I do not think I have ever read anything like it - though this could be purely down to me needing to read more!
Rosy has suffered a terrible tragedy in her family and is finding it hard to readjust to normal life with her partner Tom and two sons. On a anniversary trip to Paris she runs into a old friend but something seems to make her wonder if she imagined him being there, to confirm this an email from him arrives soon after implying he has not seen her in twenty years.
I become engrossed in this book very quickly, the lack of regular chapters only heightened my desire to keep reading and I read in three large sittings. I was swept along with Rosy and her emotions and although sometimes I find her behavior odd I cannot judge as she has gone through a terrible ordeal.
The tragedy is not revealed until a good half way through the book although there are clues. The various plot lines integrate very well and the book keeps you guessing, my only negative would be the ending seems too neat and simple.
Rosy has suffered a terrible tragedy in her family and is finding it hard to readjust to normal life with her partner Tom and two sons. On a anniversary trip to Paris she runs into a old friend but something seems to make her wonder if she imagined him being there, to confirm this an email from him arrives soon after implying he has not seen her in twenty years.
I become engrossed in this book very quickly, the lack of regular chapters only heightened my desire to keep reading and I read in three large sittings. I was swept along with Rosy and her emotions and although sometimes I find her behavior odd I cannot judge as she has gone through a terrible ordeal.
The tragedy is not revealed until a good half way through the book although there are clues. The various plot lines integrate very well and the book keeps you guessing, my only negative would be the ending seems too neat and simple.
November 27, 2014
This was not my kind of book really. It started off promisingly, written in the second person, 'you', which caught my attention as it's such an unusual way to write. As the story went on though, this began to grate and the writing felt a little too pleased with itself, exacerbated by the lack of speech marks throughout the novel. I also just didn't buy the premise on which the whole story hung: the encounter Rosy has during university with a boy didn't feel powerful enough to merit what comes twenty years later. The one thing I did feel that Myserson handled masterfully was the slow, tragic unfolding of the death of the two year old daughter's death. Heart-wrenching, really.
July 2, 2012
This is a beautiful, haunting work of fiction, and one of the best studies of obsessive memory I have read. It captures the persistence of memory in all its complexity and irrationality.
It is both consummately-conceived and completely resolved.
I almost dare not read Myerson's others!
It is both consummately-conceived and completely resolved.
I almost dare not read Myerson's others!
November 9, 2018
Io ho amato questo libro. L’autrice riesce a scandagliare come pochi l’animo femminile e l’atmosfera onirica, parigina, londinese, umida, fredda, invernale, di tardo pomeriggio, traspare alla perfezione. Sembra di essere lì, con Nic. Non mi aspettavo una storia così bella e lo consiglio.
January 1, 2019
A slow burn type of book, which to be honest, would appeal to a reader only if they have experienced the same raw vulnerability that comes with loving with complete abandonment. Total giving of heart, body and soul. The characters in the book did feel two dimensional at first, and took a bit more time (you have to last at least halfway in) to give them time to fully flesh out. In some ways, the loss of a baby of the protagonist Nicole reminds me of the real story loss of another book I had read in the past two years, by Sonali Deraniyagala called "Wave", which illustrated in painful stupor-filled detail, the loss of her entire family in the 2004 Indian Ocean Boxing Day Tsunami. I found it therapeutic to read this book, instead of the immense sadness from reading Sonali's real life account. But if you enjoy a "dig deep" type of read about the female mind grappling with loss and regrets, then this is book will take you on a journey that you least expect to. Though my only first world gripe is that I wished I liked the protagonist more....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2026
This book is odd but intriguing enough to finish. My biggest pain points were the visceral sex descriptions and dialogue between the narrator and her college love. Too many pet names for this reader to tolerate.
I personally did not enjoy the ambiguity of the ending, not knowing whether she was having a mental breakdown or experiencing the supernatural. I’m rolling with she’s schizophrenic but that’s just me.
I personally did not enjoy the ambiguity of the ending, not knowing whether she was having a mental breakdown or experiencing the supernatural. I’m rolling with she’s schizophrenic but that’s just me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2017
*** Attenzione: di seguito anticipazioni sulla trama (SPOILER) ***
Insolito.
E' molto triste e lascia tanti dubbi, alla fine ci si domanda che cosa sia vero e che cosa invece non sia successo realmente, però mi è piaciuto, alcuni paragrafi sono davvero belli
Insolito.
E' molto triste e lascia tanti dubbi, alla fine ci si domanda che cosa sia vero e che cosa invece non sia successo realmente, però mi è piaciuto, alcuni paragrafi sono davvero belli
April 24, 2023
Interesting book, unlike anything I’ve read before. At the start, the writing felt over done, then I got into it, and in the end I felt kinda confused. Like was ‘you’ real? I guess that’s the mystery of the book. Overall, decent read.
October 18, 2019
Dopo il bellissimo "Può sempre succedere", credevo di andare a colpo sicuro.
E invece.
E invece.
November 17, 2019
I didn't believe in the characters and I didn't like this book.
February 14, 2021
I ploughed through this book & it was grim. The phoney American saying baby & it all read like a very bad afternoon soap opera. Very disappointing.
July 10, 2021
Beautifully written and moved me to tears in parts.
March 30, 2015
From the opening line I was entranced by this book. It evoked powerful feelings of a long ago love that never really came to fruition, all tangled up with current feelings of loss over a different kind of love, that between mother and child.
Its hard to find words for how this book affected me. I found it difficult to pick up another book following this one for in it I feel Julie Myerson reached deep into the soul of her central character Rosy/Nic providing a complex portrait with so many layers and textures.
One of the very interesting aspects it explores is of how loss of a child can affect a couple in such a way that they are pushed apart both struggling in their own personal ways with a huge grief.
In reconnecting with "you", Rosy is able to find and express parts of herself she cannot seem to in her relationship with her husband and yet in the end that relationship brings her back in touch with her love for her husband.
I highly recommend this book.
Its hard to find words for how this book affected me. I found it difficult to pick up another book following this one for in it I feel Julie Myerson reached deep into the soul of her central character Rosy/Nic providing a complex portrait with so many layers and textures.
One of the very interesting aspects it explores is of how loss of a child can affect a couple in such a way that they are pushed apart both struggling in their own personal ways with a huge grief.
In reconnecting with "you", Rosy is able to find and express parts of herself she cannot seem to in her relationship with her husband and yet in the end that relationship brings her back in touch with her love for her husband.
I highly recommend this book.
May 18, 2011
I've had to revisit this review as this book has stayed in my psyche since finishing it! I particuarly enjoyed the first half or so but then found some of the bits describing Nicole/Rosy's meetings with "you" somewhat repetitive (her Uni friend who comes back into her consciousness). I also wasn't sure about Tom's passivity- it suited the story and certainly made me think, but was it convincing in the light of Nicole's behaviour? Arguably he might nave been more concerned as to whether she was losing her sanity. However, I really enjoyed the fluidity of Julie Myerson's writing, and found myself empathising with many of the feelings it was evoking particularly early on. Certainly easy to read- and the movement between different time frames in consecutive sections for once seemed to work well- rather than being a distraction. On refelction, have changed my review from a 3 to 4 stars!
September 9, 2008
This is the story of Rosy who, following the sudden death of her young child, has an affair with an old flame.
This book is very ambiguous, and by the end of the book you are not entirely sure whether what happened is real or imaginary in Rosy's head. It is very mysterious and ethereal. It is quite difficult to get into to start with, as it is written in the second person and ignores punctuation etc. However, the story pulls you along, although it is disappointing in places in that it doesn't really go into enough depth, and things seem to be resolved far too easily.
This book is very ambiguous, and by the end of the book you are not entirely sure whether what happened is real or imaginary in Rosy's head. It is very mysterious and ethereal. It is quite difficult to get into to start with, as it is written in the second person and ignores punctuation etc. However, the story pulls you along, although it is disappointing in places in that it doesn't really go into enough depth, and things seem to be resolved far too easily.
June 14, 2010
Mum chose this for me from the library and I almost quit as it got sort of supernatural (not my thing at all) but then it seemed it was more a manifestation of the central character's grief so I coped. I couldn't not finish it after it is revealed that her 2 y.o. daughter died in an accident. She talked of the smell of a wee soaked nappy after a night's sleep and I was on the journey. Overall not a great read and would not pick another of hers.
July 8, 2011
I have to confess I am torn on this book - I almost didn't read past chapter 3, I found the style irritating and vague to begin, a bit whimsical although it was easier to ignore ad the plot developed. I am glad I continued with it although I honestly can't say I enjoyed it. I was disturbed by the central theme - the loss of a 2 year old child - yet the writing was so honest it made me weep. I couldn't put it down, I was gripped but I don't know if it was in a good way.
July 30, 2011
This novel covers the same ground as many of Myerson's other novels - adultery and the death of a child - and while it is certainly as well written and as moving as the others, I found I had less sympathy for Rosy/Nic than I had for Tess in Something Might Happen. The supernatural element also seemed to just distract from the main plot and may be why I found it hard to really understand Rosy's dilemma.
May 29, 2013
Ultimately it might have merited three stars but it started so badly that I was hard pushed to continue at times. I've never found first person narratives especially difficult but this verged on monotonous at times, and coupled with lack of apostrophes to denote speech and tricksy 'was it real or just her imagintion?' passages I did find this one hard to take.
And the ending felt too OTT simplistically inevitable.
And the ending felt too OTT simplistically inevitable.
September 8, 2012
This book started out with a lot of good potential. I finished this book in two days. I found it very hard to put down, and I thought that the writing was very well done.
However, I really didn't like the ending - that kind of ruined the book for me. Without giving too much away, I just thought she could have done so much more with the book by ending it in a slightly different way.
However, I really didn't like the ending - that kind of ruined the book for me. Without giving too much away, I just thought she could have done so much more with the book by ending it in a slightly different way.
April 12, 2013
This novel slips effortlessly between past and present, real life and another parallel one. The annoying characters overshadow the stunning writing style. Even so,this author is a master of suspense, and while you ache to know what happened Mary, at the same time you do nt ever want to know because it will be too hard to bear.
September 24, 2007
This book disturbed me, but I couldn't put it down. A woman suffers the horrible loss of her very young daughter via a senseless accident and suddenly reconnects with a college flame while on a trip to Paris with her partner. It was a very strange thriller/mid life crisis book. Interesting.
March 10, 2010
This was as other-worldly as the books that I normally love to read. Somehow this didn't work for me though. At times the characters were annoying and the dialogue bordered on self indulgent. Not brilliant
June 3, 2007
So far, this book is amazing. Ending was a bit different than I expected, but still worth it.
August 27, 2008
I was a bit disappointed with this book, I was really looking forward to reading it and found that it did not have the depth that I was anticipating.
October 12, 2015
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13642348
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13642348
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews