Rate: ★★★☆☆
I have to be honest that I had never heard about this book until my sister told me she had to read this for school. Therefore we bought it and I decided to give this a try.
And even though it was not the best book I’ve read, not even from the genre, it was a new experience and, in general, I enjoyed it.
It is not a light read, even though it is a quite short book, but it was different from everything else I’ve read and that counts as something.
I honestly wish I had enjoyed it a little more, but at least I got to “meet” a new author and a new story.
Synopsis
Two childhood best friends reunite after 40 years of no contact. In a long conversation, they discover what truly happened that fatidic day when a gun and a betrayal killed the strongest of feelings: friendship.
Positive aspects
My favorite thing about this book was the quotes! Marai has a mesmerizing way of writing, he really uses the words in their most beautiful way possible. There were many times that I simply came back and read a quote again because it touched me in some way. Not all books can do that, but the writing in this book is out of this world.
I also found the two main characters pretty interesting. Throughout the book, you discover a little more about those two mysterious and sad old man that seem to hide behind something that doesn’t exist anymore. And when that hidden layer is unraveled, you discover that they are not what they seem. And that was a surprise.
Negative aspects
Nevertheless, even though the concept of the book was enough to make me want to pick up that book immediately, I found that sometimes it became quite boring. There isn’t much action in this book as everything happens inside a long conversation between the two main characters.
Also, as I mentioned before, I loved Marai’s way with words. But it is also a fact that he can get pretty descriptive. There were pages and pages of a descriptions of some things that could be said in a paragraph or two. But even though it bored me a little, I can understand the motive: it all comes from the mind of a hurt elderly person that finds solace on the details and can’t seem to let them go.
So yes, this book is worth it. Maybe do not read it to get out of a reading slump, it wouldn’t probably help. But if you’re looking for a book that makes you think of friendship, pain and the lost of innocence, this is the perfect book for you. And you also won’t be able to let go of its many gorgeous quotes.
“No, the secret is that there’s no reward and we have to endure our characters and our natures as best we can, because no amount of experience or insight is going to rectify our deficiencies, our self-regard, or our cupidity.
We have to learn that our desires do not find any real echo in the world.
We have to accept that the people we love do not love us, or not in the way we hope. We have to accept betrayal and disloyalty, and, hardest of all, that someone is finer than we are in character or intelligence.”
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