All About Books discussion
This topic is about
The End of the Affair
Group Reads - Fiction
>
The End of the Affair (Classics Group Read Aug.-Sep. '14)
I wasn't going to join in this one but actually it looks good and isn't too long so I'm going to reserve it at my library
I've ordered it from my library :)
Mod
I've already read this but I think I'll read it again.
Bette BookAddict wrote: "I've already read this but I think I'll read it again."I was thinking the same thing... depends on how my time goes but it would be nice to have it fresh in mind during the discussion.
I'm very curious to read it and I'm glad it has won in the poll! It seems really good, as Heather said. It's already in my bookshelf, waiting to be read :)
Mod
I will order this from the library - have never read anything by this author before, so all new to me!
Shirley wrote: "I will order this from the library - have never read anything by this author before, so all new to me!"Oh, Graham Greene is an interesting author but I think that you need to read several of his books to really appreciate him as he wrote such a variety -- literary fiction with religious/philosophical overtones (such as this); thrillers (such as This Gun for Hire or Brighton Rock); and satires (such as Our Man in Havana).
Leslie wrote: "Shirley wrote: "I will order this from the library - have never read anything by this author before, so all new to me!"Oh, Graham Greene is an interesting author but I think that you need to read..."
Thanks Leslie, I will remember that when I've read this. I have a copy of Brighton Rock on my bookshelf - just haven't read it yet!
Heather wrote: "I wasn't going to join in this one but actually it looks good and isn't too long so I'm going to reserve it at my library"snap!
Shirley, I still have Brighton Rock on my shelf too, still waiting to get around to it even though I've heard good things and keep meaning to pick it up!
Pink wrote: "Heather wrote: "I wasn't going to join in this one but actually it looks good and isn't too long so I'm going to reserve it at my library"snap!
Shirley, I still have Brighton Rock on my shelf to..."
Hi there, Pink!!! Glad to see you posting again :-)
Pink wrote: "Heather wrote: "I wasn't going to join in this one but actually it looks good and isn't too long so I'm going to reserve it at my library"snap!
Shirley, I still have Brighton Rock on my shelf to..."
Maybe we could read it together some time?
I read this a couple of years ago and found it very compelling. Love the film version with Ralph Fiennes. If I can find my copy I will try and join you in a re-read. (Since two of my children returned to the nest my scrupulously organised bookshelves have entered a state of dissipation and many books have been relocated to an overflowing garage to make room. )
I finished and it wasn't expecting the story to be what it was. I didn't read the synopsis. I hadn't known this began post-affair and delved right into it.
Mod
Alannah wrote: "Looking forward to this but I think it might be September before I get a chance to read it."That is fine -- one reason that we spread it out over 2 months is to give a bit more flexibility :)
Mod
The first time I read it, I was very surprised at where the story went as well. The other Graham Greene books I'd read, such as The Third Man, were very different. As Leslie said, he wrote a great variety!
I'm looking forward to re-reading it with the group but haven't started yet.
I'm about one-third through, and it did take me a while to adjust to the flipping back and forth in time. But I'm liking it overall.The other Graham Greene novel that I read is The Heart of the Matter, in my high school days. I did enjoy his autobiography Ways Of Escape, in which he discussed at length his writing career.
Mod
Starting this today :)Shirley, I'd love to read Brighton Rock together sometime...though not sure when!
Mod
I thought it was slow at first, also, but I've gotten used to the style and I'm getting involved in the story. (I don't like to know much about a book before I read it--it's a small obsession of mine-- so I'm glad I didn't read Leslie's initial post till I had gotten to the relevant part. I don't even read Introductions until I've read the whole book. They just give too much away!)
I like the part shortly into Book Two where Graham talks about the existence of a Personal Devil, and what such a devil would be up to:
"I can imagine that if there existed a God who loved, the devil would be driven to destroy even the weakest, the most faulty imitation of that love. Wouldn't he be afraid that the habit of love might grow, and wouldn't he try to trap us all into being traitors, into helping him extinguish love? If there is a God who uses us and makes his saints out of such material as we are, the devil too may have his ambitions; he may dream of training even such a person as myself, even poor Parkis, into being his saints, ready with borrowed fanaticism to destroy love wherever we find it."
I like the part shortly into Book Two where Graham talks about the existence of a Personal Devil, and what such a devil would be up to:
"I can imagine that if there existed a God who loved, the devil would be driven to destroy even the weakest, the most faulty imitation of that love. Wouldn't he be afraid that the habit of love might grow, and wouldn't he try to trap us all into being traitors, into helping him extinguish love? If there is a God who uses us and makes his saints out of such material as we are, the devil too may have his ambitions; he may dream of training even such a person as myself, even poor Parkis, into being his saints, ready with borrowed fanaticism to destroy love wherever we find it."
LauraT wrote: "Finding it a bit ... slow? How can I say, I don't get the "gist" of it!"My own take is that it's mainly about Maurice Bendrix's inner struggles with jealousies and insecurities and whether or not to believe in God. Greene does write with sensitivity, although I find it a bit tiresome at times.
Finished the book today (bonus of having lots of time on my hands) and overall I enjoyed it, though I felt it slowed down towards the end, not that it was ever fast paced! I didn't particularly like it when (view spoiler)I'm also glad that I didn't read Leslie's post first, as I try to avoid spoilers/ reading introductions etc until after I've read the book, as they usually give huge things away!
The passage I like most is this:-"I had come into this affair with my eyes open, knowing that one day this must end, and yet, when the sense of insecurity, the logical belief in the hopeless future descended like melancholia, I would badger her and badger her, as though I wanted to bring the future in now at the door, an unwanted and premature guest. My love and fear acted like conscience. If we had believed in sin, our behaviour would hardly have differed."
The agonizing pain (with guilt involved) that Maurice feels about his love for Sarah, both before and after her death, is one thing that's most intoxicating about this novel.
Mod
My own take is that it's mainly about Maurice Bendrix's inner struggles with jealousies and insecurities and..."
Yes I think this is what is all about. Yet ... I ddn't like it!
Terri wrote: "I thought it was slow at first, also, but I've gotten used to the style and I'm getting involved in the story. (I don't like to know much about a book before I read it--it's a small obsession of mi..."
Same for me! But sometmes I don't particuarly like what I find!!!!
What I mean is that, even if the book could be asily read - it took me three/four working days to finish it - it didn't leave me with much. I didn't like the characters, all three of them, and also the inor one as the catholic priest or the atheist. I found Bendrix dull and preposterous, the husband horrible and Sarah really stupid!!!
@Laura: I don't think I like any of the characters either - I only pity them!
This was my first Graham Greene novel and I was disappointed. I liked, but did not love it. I felt very sorry for Henry who seemed like a good person. He did not deserve what Sarah did to him
I have just finished this story and am very divided over it. On the one hand, I liked the cadence of the writing, I liked the evolution of the inner struggles that both Sarah and Maurice experienced, and there were some brilliant passages that generally make for a five star rating from me. On the other hand, the subject matter hits much too close to home for me personally, and I cannot scrape up any sympathy for any character other than Henry.
I finished this book a few days ago, and I had to think about it a while before I could write my review. Even though the characters were not particularly likable, I feel I got a lot out of reading this. It raised some deep issues, like the existence of God and the Devil, how an individual copes with grief and loss, what do memories really mean. This book really made me think, and for that reason I gave it 4 stars.
Mod
Saw the film in parts (Ralph Feinnes version), know the story, but decided to read it cos haven't read Greene and it IS the book of the month.
Terri wrote: "I finished this book a few days ago, and I had to think about it a while before I could write my review. Even though the characters were not particularly likable, I feel I got a lot out of reading ..."Terri -- I gave it 4 stars for the same reason. It isn't my favorite Graham Greene book nor were the themes ones I particularly like but he did make me think. If these themes are of interest to someone (I am thinking of you, Dhanaraj!), The Power and the Glory I felt was a more compelling story (although again, the characters were not particularly likable).
I'm still waiting for my reserved copy. I hope it arrives soon as I have lots of planned reading in September!
I just finished it and I am the only one here who has given it 2 stars. I didn't enjoy reading it, it was slow and it had way too much hatred in it. It was a very sad book and I didn't feel anything for the characters.
Mod
I can't say I disagree. I liked the writing style though. Very sharp and to the point. But what a sad bunch of people...
I'm still reading it, and would agree it is quite slow, but the story is intriguing, even if the characters are not very likeable. On page 67, just finished chapter seven.
I've finished it now and have given it 3 stars. I thought the writing was good, and it was a good storyline, but the characters didn't really resonate with me. I thought it was a very sad story, and I didn't really engage with the religious dilemmas explored within the book. It might have got four stars but it just didn't grip me sufficiently.
I finished it two days ago and I liked it. Surely the characters could never be my bestfriends but they have something in their unlikableness, even the more questionable, Sara, with those unnecessary "promises" of a melodramatic mind.Generally I liked all that Evelyn has already pointed out, even if I can't relate personally with the religious themes. But I've appreciated how Green deals with them here.
Mod
Same opinion!
I finished it, but only because I felt committed to in order to comment on it here. Otherwise I would have quit it earlier.My basic feeling reading it was boredom. I didn't really care about any of the characters. I found Bendix horribly self-centered and totally unconcerned about the way his actions might be affecting other people. The writing was the only reasonably strong point, but both the events and the perpetually rainy weather cast a pall of gloom which never lifted.
I actually did like the theological discussions, even though I'm not very theologically oriented. I liked Father Crompton, perhaps more than I might have otherwise because Bendix was obviously so annoyed with him. (Sort of along the lines of the enemy of my enemy is my friend?)
So I'm with Rehat in giving it two stars, and that only because of the writing.
I've just started and already I'm not really enjoying it. I don't like Bendrix much and I feel a little confused with the time scales. I hope it clears up as I continue through the book
Not re-read it in the last two years, but so disappointed that any of you could give it two stars. I'm probably with Terri and Leslie at four stars, but many people regard it as his finest serious work, with aspects of Ivy Compton Burnett, Mauriac, and Ford Madox Ford - three of the greatest.
Mod
My basic feeling reading it was boredom. I didn't really care about an..."
I felt the same for almost the whole bok! I can't say it is badly written, it is simply that I don't see the point of all the characters there described!
It feels good to know that I'm not the only one who gave this book two stars. I felt so left out when everyone was giving it four stars and I thought that maybe I didn't read it properly or didn't understand or was just missing something. I'm so relieved! And @everyman you spelt my name wrong :(
I finished this last night and have given it 3 stars.
I found the book quite boring. Bendrix annoyed me although I quite liked reading Sarah's journal and her dilemma about the promise. However the rest of the theology did not align with my personal beliefs at all and I found justify quite confused with the whole book. I was so annoyed with (view spoiler) at the end! Stupid concept.
I did like the language at times and I thought the story moved along a bit once I was reading Sarah's side of things.
On second thoughts I'm downgrading to a 2! The end just annoyed me too much and I generally wasn't bothered by anything that happened in the book. I enjoyed Brighton Rock though so will give Greene another chance
I found the book quite boring. Bendrix annoyed me although I quite liked reading Sarah's journal and her dilemma about the promise. However the rest of the theology did not align with my personal beliefs at all and I found justify quite confused with the whole book. I was so annoyed with (view spoiler) at the end! Stupid concept.
I did like the language at times and I thought the story moved along a bit once I was reading Sarah's side of things.
On second thoughts I'm downgrading to a 2! The end just annoyed me too much and I generally wasn't bothered by anything that happened in the book. I enjoyed Brighton Rock though so will give Greene another chance
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Glittering Images (other topics)The Power and the Glory (other topics)
The Heart of the Matter (other topics)
Ways of Escape (other topics)
The Third Man (other topics)
More...
"A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses a moment of experience from which to look ahead..."
"This is a record of hate far more than of love," writes Maurice Bendrix in the opening passages of The End of the Affair, and it is a strange hate indeed that compels him to set down the retrospective account of his adulterous affair with Sarah Miles.
Now, a year after Sarah's death, Bendrix seeks to exorcise the persistence of his passion by retracing its course from obsessive love to love-hate. At first, he believes he hates Sarah and her husband, Henry. Yet as he delves further into his emotional outlook, Bendrix's hatred shifts to the God he feels has broken his life, but whose existence at last comes to recognize.
Originally published in 1951, The End of the Affair was acclaimed by William Faulkner as "for me one of the best, most true and moving novels of my time, in anybody's language."