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Tourist
Sarah Patton has spent too long by the seaside, vainly attempting to escape the boredom of everyday life. So when her boss plans to convert an abandoned pier into a futuristic nightclub, her life looks set for an upturn. But the promise of the nightclub soon forces Sarah to confront her past.
- GenresContemporaryFiction
Paperback
First published April 5, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 9, 2015
After the uniquely bizarre reading experience that was Cherry, I felt compelled to find out more about the author, Matt Thorne. As ambiguous and confused as my feelings about Cherry may have been, I can't deny that it really got under my skin and I couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards. My interest in Thorne only increased when I found out he was only in his early twenties when Tourist, his debut, was published, making him just 30 when Cherry was Booker-longlisted - a bit of an awe- (and envy-) inspiring achievement and one that made me even more keen to investigate his other novels.
Tourist is a VERY different book to Cherry. I must admit that one of the main reasons I chose this out of all the Thorne books available in the library was that it has a female protagonist and narrator, while the 'maleness' of Cherry was one of the most off-putting things about it. Oddly enough, I almost immediately found Sarah's voice so convincing and quintessentially female (in an entirely non-clichéd way) that it was hard to believe the story was actually written by a man. If anything, this book has even more sex scenes than the other, but they have none of the uncomfortable queasiness of Steve and Cherry's encounters, seeming either erotic or predictable depending on how Sarah views and describes them. The plot itself doesn't add up to much, as this is one of those stories about life as it is - Sarah has several lovers, makes a few friends, loses them, ruminates on her past loves and relationship with her family, all against a bleak faded-British-seaside-town backdrop. But it's all so well done, so vividly portrayed, with just the right amount of intrigue to keep me wondering what the next little twist would be. At times I felt so entwined in Sarah's thoughts (or as though I WAS Sarah) that I wanted to reach inside the book and point events in the direction I wanted them to go. I disliked the whole Neil thing and was delighted when my gut feeling that it just wasn't right turned out to be correct. (Well, I say gut feeling, but in fact I'm sure seeds of doubt were planted in my mind by cleverly placed and very subtle clues in the narrative...) I also absolutely loved the ending - it's so refreshing to come across a conclusion that doesn't involve all the loose ends being tied up and the heroine living happily ever after; Sarah is still trying to figure out who she is and what she wants; she doesn't reconcile with her family, doesn't reunite with the love of her life, doesn't maintain ties with the life she's led in Weston-super-Mare. And, in the context of all that's gone before, this is perfect.
Not only was Tourist a brilliant read, it also achieved the rare distinction of making me re-assess my opinion of a book I'd already read. I now feel a lot more certain that the disturbing misogynistic undertones in Cherry were part of Steve's character, rather than a reflection of the author's own thoughts, and that the reader was supposed to feel disgust and/or pity towards Steve. In complete contrast, Sarah was one of the most believable and likeable characters I've read about all year and, the more I think about it, the more I think she's also one of the best and most authentic female narrators written by a male author that I've ever encountered. Anyone able to create two such incredibly different but equally captivating narratives is obviously a writer of great talent. Another one for the 'must read more by this author' list.
Tourist is a VERY different book to Cherry. I must admit that one of the main reasons I chose this out of all the Thorne books available in the library was that it has a female protagonist and narrator, while the 'maleness' of Cherry was one of the most off-putting things about it. Oddly enough, I almost immediately found Sarah's voice so convincing and quintessentially female (in an entirely non-clichéd way) that it was hard to believe the story was actually written by a man. If anything, this book has even more sex scenes than the other, but they have none of the uncomfortable queasiness of Steve and Cherry's encounters, seeming either erotic or predictable depending on how Sarah views and describes them. The plot itself doesn't add up to much, as this is one of those stories about life as it is - Sarah has several lovers, makes a few friends, loses them, ruminates on her past loves and relationship with her family, all against a bleak faded-British-seaside-town backdrop. But it's all so well done, so vividly portrayed, with just the right amount of intrigue to keep me wondering what the next little twist would be. At times I felt so entwined in Sarah's thoughts (or as though I WAS Sarah) that I wanted to reach inside the book and point events in the direction I wanted them to go. I disliked the whole Neil thing and was delighted when my gut feeling that it just wasn't right turned out to be correct. (Well, I say gut feeling, but in fact I'm sure seeds of doubt were planted in my mind by cleverly placed and very subtle clues in the narrative...) I also absolutely loved the ending - it's so refreshing to come across a conclusion that doesn't involve all the loose ends being tied up and the heroine living happily ever after; Sarah is still trying to figure out who she is and what she wants; she doesn't reconcile with her family, doesn't reunite with the love of her life, doesn't maintain ties with the life she's led in Weston-super-Mare. And, in the context of all that's gone before, this is perfect.
Not only was Tourist a brilliant read, it also achieved the rare distinction of making me re-assess my opinion of a book I'd already read. I now feel a lot more certain that the disturbing misogynistic undertones in Cherry were part of Steve's character, rather than a reflection of the author's own thoughts, and that the reader was supposed to feel disgust and/or pity towards Steve. In complete contrast, Sarah was one of the most believable and likeable characters I've read about all year and, the more I think about it, the more I think she's also one of the best and most authentic female narrators written by a male author that I've ever encountered. Anyone able to create two such incredibly different but equally captivating narratives is obviously a writer of great talent. Another one for the 'must read more by this author' list.
August 24, 2025
I mostly enjoyed reading this, although there were parts where it didn't seem to be going anywhere. The story that was set up at the start never took off (turning a pier into a nightclub). Instead it meandered through Sarah's personal life. I think I connected with it as a snapshot of life in a seaside resort in the 90s.
If you want something plot driven, this isn't for you. But if you are interested in a character driven book, you might enjoy it.
If you want something plot driven, this isn't for you. But if you are interested in a character driven book, you might enjoy it.
November 7, 2008
It's a bit odd but I enjoyed it. It's quite original and I love just how messed up Sarah is - and she doesn't even seem to get it!
September 5, 2011
Interesting - and original - with an intriguing central character, but I never really felt as if I connected with the book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews