Monday, November 07, 2005

2005 book 142

julian barnes' before she met me
this dark little novel centers on an academic who gradually becomes obsessed w/ the past sexual escapades of his wife, a former actress. i think that pretty much sums it up--i was sort of ambivalent about it, since i found the husband's obsession to be pretty annoying. i was all, "get a grip, dude! sheesh!" which of course misses the point of the novel, but not being married to a former actress, i couldn't really relate.

4 comments:

David said...

Read Flaubert's Parrott, if you haven't alrady. I think it is kind of the same, but different and really good. And full of facts.

Alicia K. said...

so there are no obsessive and annoying old guys? or if there are, they're obsessed w/ flaubert? that sounds ok.

David said...

No, there is an old guy who is obssessed with his wife--or ex-wife--'s fidelity but he is also obsessed with Flaubert.

Alicia K. said...

so barnes' thing is dudes obsessed with their wives' fidelity? that is almost as odd as john irving's thing about swapping partners.