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The Art of Leaving
Leaving has always come naturally to Eva Elliott: the daughter of a pilot, she spent her childhood abandoning schools and cities. Now an adult, she enjoys the thrill of saying goodbye much more than the butterflies of a first smile or kiss. There’s so much more potential in walking away, and Eva has always had a dangerously vivid imagination. During a rainy summer in Soho, when a golden eagle escapes London Zoo to prowl the city and a beguiling stranger begins appearing around town armed with a conspiratorial smile and a secret, Eva discovers that endings just aren’t as easy as they used to be. Is it a flirtation playing out amongst the crumbling offices, clubs and alleys of Soho, or something much darker? The line blurs in this haunting story about exits and departures…
- GenresFictionLoveContemporary
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Anna Stothard
8 books50 followersAnna Stothard was born in London and studied English Literature at Oxford University before completing a Screenwriting MFA at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. She is the author of five acclaimed novels, which have been translated into multiple languages and published around the world. Her writing often explores themes of identity, belonging, and obsession. Anna now lives and writes by the sea on the west coast of Guernsey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 3, 2013
There is no questioning Anna Stothard's ability to create vivid, hypnotic descriptions. The Art of Leaving has a very cinematic tone (which, considering that Stothard studied at the American Film Institute, isn't surprising), and I enjoyed the ways in which different parts of the world are illustrated. This is done in a very unique and prolific way, and the locations prove to be a very intricate part of the plot.
Although the narrative of the story is told with established warmth and skill, I don't have much praise for the story's lead character, Eva. She is very anti-social, numb, and goes through life in a daze. It is important to note, though, that these aspects of her character are very important to the story – I got the impression that you're supposed to feel these things about her. The fact that she isn't a very grounded character prompts her continued desire to leave people, and places, behind.
Even so, I would have preferred The Art of Leaving if Eva was more likable, and if the plot were more apparent (I struggled to see where it was going at times). It was the mesmerising elements of Stothard's use of language which propelled me to read on.
I would recommend The Art of Leaving to readers who don't mind a loose, offbeat plot, and picturesque narratives.
Although the narrative of the story is told with established warmth and skill, I don't have much praise for the story's lead character, Eva. She is very anti-social, numb, and goes through life in a daze. It is important to note, though, that these aspects of her character are very important to the story – I got the impression that you're supposed to feel these things about her. The fact that she isn't a very grounded character prompts her continued desire to leave people, and places, behind.
Even so, I would have preferred The Art of Leaving if Eva was more likable, and if the plot were more apparent (I struggled to see where it was going at times). It was the mesmerising elements of Stothard's use of language which propelled me to read on.
I would recommend The Art of Leaving to readers who don't mind a loose, offbeat plot, and picturesque narratives.
July 2, 2018
I really liked this story. Anna Stothard is so talented. I love how Anna can write about all different topics. I read the Pink Hotel by the same author and I could not put that down either.
March 22, 2017
Find my original review on my
blog
The entire story I was trying to figure out what was going on. I couldn’t understand the story, the added story lines of the girl in the strip club or the eagle that escaped didn’t really add anything in my opinion. Sure sure, I get why they were in there (besides the fact that the book would be incredibly thin without), but they didn’t enhance the understanding of why the main character did what she did.
More interesting would probably have been a broader description of her childhood, explaining why she came to like or enjoy goodbyes. However, this was a lot of strangeness, that has yet to come together as a story. At least the writing was beautiful.
The entire story I was trying to figure out what was going on. I couldn’t understand the story, the added story lines of the girl in the strip club or the eagle that escaped didn’t really add anything in my opinion. Sure sure, I get why they were in there (besides the fact that the book would be incredibly thin without), but they didn’t enhance the understanding of why the main character did what she did.
More interesting would probably have been a broader description of her childhood, explaining why she came to like or enjoy goodbyes. However, this was a lot of strangeness, that has yet to come together as a story. At least the writing was beautiful.
June 13, 2013
This book would make a good artsy but gloomy independent film. I could see the main character, Eva played by a hollow-eyed Kirsten Dunst.
I was quickly hooked wondering how Eva would go about leaving her first relationship lasting longer than six months. The story takes you through all her past relationships, the dark past of her boyfriend Luke, and some creepy magic show day dreams. I enjoyed reading it, eager to get to the end, and a little disappointed with the conclusion.
This is a great rainy day read. I am ironically finishing it in the middle of a spring thunderstorm in New Jersey, reminiscent of Eva’s dark, damp, London flat (minus the moths of course!).
I received a free copy of this book through a First Reads Giveaway on Goodreads.com
February 10, 2013
Dull to the nth degree!
December 29, 2024
Etwas verwirrend geschrieben und man braucht ein paar Seiten um rein zu kommen. Am Anfang fand ich es ganz gut und nur etwas toxisch aber um so mehr man liest um so toxischer wird es. Zwischen durch jedoch war es sehr spannend und war wie geband. Die Geschichte wird zwischen durch durch andere Rückblenden unterbrochen und das fand ich auch bisschen anstrengend, vor allem weil das auch ein paar mal nicht zu Ende erzählt wurde... Würde ich persönlich nicht weiter empfehlen 🤷🏻♀️
March 17, 2013
Review also published on my blog StudentSpyglass
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher
Plot: ★★
Characters: ★★
Readability: ★★★
Overall: ★★
The Art of Leaving follows Eva Elliott, the daughter of a pilot and and serial abandoner. Introverted and flighty, Eva’s favourite moments are the endings – the final scene of a film, the last words of a dying character and the end of a romance. For Eva, these moments hold far more meaning and excitement, filled with possibilities offering so many more choices.
Despite Eva’s determination to keep leaving things, her relationship with Luke endures, lasting significantly longer than any of her other relationships. Although she’s tried to leave him in the past, it’s never quite worked out and Eva begins to realise that leaving just isn’t as easy as it used to be. The novel also follows the plight of an escaped eagle from London Zoo, and Eva’s her musings on the mysterious Scorpio Club over the road from her office. Inspired by a story told to her by her Grandmother, Eva imagines magician’s assistants, escaped rabbits and tangled secrets, drawn in until she is unsure what exactly is real and what is part of her imagination.
Stothard manages to bring rainy London to life, rich with description and colour, where it could so easily have been bleak. The writing is hugely atmospheric; from Regent’s Park to Eva’s Office, the settings reach out and draw you in. The Scorpio Club in particular is hypnotising, vaguely reminiscent of something from a (more) sinister version of The Prestige.
However, despite Stothard’s fantastic writing, I didn’t love The Art of Leaving – perhaps because I found it difficult to connect with Eva. Her nomadic, distant approach to life is obviously necessary for the book, but I just found it hard to like her. I couldn’t help sympathising with Luke, and the plot was just a little looser than I would have liked. Similar in feel to something like Life of Pi, the plot felt too loose to me – more contemplative than action-packed.
For a book so clearly about endings, I found the novel’s conclusion to be lacking. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t have any real impact – a month after finishing the book I couldn’t remember how it ended!
I would strongly recommend this for readers who love a book to make them think and for anyone looking for beautiful prose. I can easily imagine this being a huge hit, but the plot was just too open for me.
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher
Plot: ★★
Characters: ★★
Readability: ★★★
Overall: ★★
The Art of Leaving follows Eva Elliott, the daughter of a pilot and and serial abandoner. Introverted and flighty, Eva’s favourite moments are the endings – the final scene of a film, the last words of a dying character and the end of a romance. For Eva, these moments hold far more meaning and excitement, filled with possibilities offering so many more choices.
Despite Eva’s determination to keep leaving things, her relationship with Luke endures, lasting significantly longer than any of her other relationships. Although she’s tried to leave him in the past, it’s never quite worked out and Eva begins to realise that leaving just isn’t as easy as it used to be. The novel also follows the plight of an escaped eagle from London Zoo, and Eva’s her musings on the mysterious Scorpio Club over the road from her office. Inspired by a story told to her by her Grandmother, Eva imagines magician’s assistants, escaped rabbits and tangled secrets, drawn in until she is unsure what exactly is real and what is part of her imagination.
Stothard manages to bring rainy London to life, rich with description and colour, where it could so easily have been bleak. The writing is hugely atmospheric; from Regent’s Park to Eva’s Office, the settings reach out and draw you in. The Scorpio Club in particular is hypnotising, vaguely reminiscent of something from a (more) sinister version of The Prestige.
However, despite Stothard’s fantastic writing, I didn’t love The Art of Leaving – perhaps because I found it difficult to connect with Eva. Her nomadic, distant approach to life is obviously necessary for the book, but I just found it hard to like her. I couldn’t help sympathising with Luke, and the plot was just a little looser than I would have liked. Similar in feel to something like Life of Pi, the plot felt too loose to me – more contemplative than action-packed.
For a book so clearly about endings, I found the novel’s conclusion to be lacking. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t have any real impact – a month after finishing the book I couldn’t remember how it ended!
I would strongly recommend this for readers who love a book to make them think and for anyone looking for beautiful prose. I can easily imagine this being a huge hit, but the plot was just too open for me.
October 7, 2013
I seem to be encountering so many books lately that have absolutely beautiful prose and completely unlikable characters, and, unfortunately, this is yet another one.
The writing truly is as beautiful as the cover. The prose is elegant, descriptive, and absolutely haunting at times. This writer is obviously skilled and knows her way around the English language. Truly stunning writing, which is why I awarded this book three stars.
I just really couldn't stand any of the characters. The book opens with the main character complaining about her current boyfriend and then informing us that she's going to leave him as soon as she can figure out how to do it. Not only did this cast the boyfriend in a boorish light he could never overcome, but it doesn't exactly make me warm up to her, either. She clearly has some issues, but at one point, she tells her audience that she gets a bigger thrill out of dumping people than she does out of first kisses or first dates. That didn't sit well with me. So she's basically so arrogant that she assumes she'll always find someone else, essentially hurts people just to feel better about herself, and doesn't think anyone else can match her. Why am I supposed to care about her, again?
I stuck with the book just to see if she'd grow on me, and while she does improve and many of her foibles are explained and become understandable, I could never get over that initial distaste. Maybe this is all just my perception of her character, but I still had to force myself to keep reading, and that's never really a good sign.
Again, three stars for the author's skill and the beauty of the writing.
The writing truly is as beautiful as the cover. The prose is elegant, descriptive, and absolutely haunting at times. This writer is obviously skilled and knows her way around the English language. Truly stunning writing, which is why I awarded this book three stars.
I just really couldn't stand any of the characters. The book opens with the main character complaining about her current boyfriend and then informing us that she's going to leave him as soon as she can figure out how to do it. Not only did this cast the boyfriend in a boorish light he could never overcome, but it doesn't exactly make me warm up to her, either. She clearly has some issues, but at one point, she tells her audience that she gets a bigger thrill out of dumping people than she does out of first kisses or first dates. That didn't sit well with me. So she's basically so arrogant that she assumes she'll always find someone else, essentially hurts people just to feel better about herself, and doesn't think anyone else can match her. Why am I supposed to care about her, again?
I stuck with the book just to see if she'd grow on me, and while she does improve and many of her foibles are explained and become understandable, I could never get over that initial distaste. Maybe this is all just my perception of her character, but I still had to force myself to keep reading, and that's never really a good sign.
Again, three stars for the author's skill and the beauty of the writing.
May 3, 2013
One word description: melancholy. Story has great characters with heartfelt emotions. It kept me interested until the end, but left me feeling emotionally flat.
November 25, 2017
Love her writing !
August 29, 2020
Die Lektorin
Eva Elliot arbeitet in einem kleinen Verlag, der Liebesromane veröffentlicht. Ihr Freund Luke ist vor kurzem bei ihr eingezogen. Sie harmonieren ganz gut, wenigstens beim Scrabble. Doch wenn es bei Eva und ihrem Freund läuft, drängt sich bei der jungen Frau der Gedanke an Trennung auf. Schon mehrere Beziehungen hat Eva beendet. Sollte nun auch die zu Luke dran sein? Luke, der manchmal in unmögliche Situationen gerät, ist er erst kürzlich mit mit einer blutenden Lippe angekommen. Dabei ist er als Jurist ein sehr fleißiger und gewissenhafter Arbeiter. Wer allerdings ist Grace, die in letzter Zeit immer wieder in der Nähe des jungen Paares auftaucht?
Jeder wird wissen, dass eine Beziehung auch mal auseinandergehen kann. Und wenn es soweit ist, dann fühlt sich der eine halt wohler, wenn er sich trennt und dem nächsten bekommt es besser, wenn der Partner Schluss macht. Sicher gibt es auch Liebespaare, die den Entschluss gemeinsam treffen. Eva ist lieber diejenige, die aktiv wird. Und so hat sie ihre Liebschaften meist beendet, wenn ihr Partner am wenigsten damit gerechnet hat. Auch bei Luke hat sie schon mit dem Gedanken gespielt, die Sache zu beenden. Doch mit Grace betritt plötzlich eine Konkurrentin die Bühne.
Man fragt sich, wieso Eva sich nicht so auf ihre Beziehungen einlassen kann. Oder ist ihre Definition von Einlassen einfach anders? Wenn sie sich trennt, wirken ihre Partner verletzt und überrascht. Grace scheint ganz eigene Probleme zu haben, die sich in ihrem exzentrischen Verhalten äußern. Und Luke hat weniger Probleme, sich einzulassen. Dafür hat er ein Geschick darin entwickelt, Informationen für sich zu behalten. Auch wenn einem keiner der Protagonisten besonders sympathisch wird, erfährt man doch mit Interesse von den Lebenswegen der drei Hauptpersonen. Die Geschichte ist ausgeklügelt und wartet mit Überraschungen auf, die die Lektüre spannend machen. Nachdem der Aufbau etwas langatmig erscheint, spitzen sich die Ereignisse dann so zu, dass man am Ball bleibt.
3,5 Sterne
Eva Elliot arbeitet in einem kleinen Verlag, der Liebesromane veröffentlicht. Ihr Freund Luke ist vor kurzem bei ihr eingezogen. Sie harmonieren ganz gut, wenigstens beim Scrabble. Doch wenn es bei Eva und ihrem Freund läuft, drängt sich bei der jungen Frau der Gedanke an Trennung auf. Schon mehrere Beziehungen hat Eva beendet. Sollte nun auch die zu Luke dran sein? Luke, der manchmal in unmögliche Situationen gerät, ist er erst kürzlich mit mit einer blutenden Lippe angekommen. Dabei ist er als Jurist ein sehr fleißiger und gewissenhafter Arbeiter. Wer allerdings ist Grace, die in letzter Zeit immer wieder in der Nähe des jungen Paares auftaucht?
Jeder wird wissen, dass eine Beziehung auch mal auseinandergehen kann. Und wenn es soweit ist, dann fühlt sich der eine halt wohler, wenn er sich trennt und dem nächsten bekommt es besser, wenn der Partner Schluss macht. Sicher gibt es auch Liebespaare, die den Entschluss gemeinsam treffen. Eva ist lieber diejenige, die aktiv wird. Und so hat sie ihre Liebschaften meist beendet, wenn ihr Partner am wenigsten damit gerechnet hat. Auch bei Luke hat sie schon mit dem Gedanken gespielt, die Sache zu beenden. Doch mit Grace betritt plötzlich eine Konkurrentin die Bühne.
Man fragt sich, wieso Eva sich nicht so auf ihre Beziehungen einlassen kann. Oder ist ihre Definition von Einlassen einfach anders? Wenn sie sich trennt, wirken ihre Partner verletzt und überrascht. Grace scheint ganz eigene Probleme zu haben, die sich in ihrem exzentrischen Verhalten äußern. Und Luke hat weniger Probleme, sich einzulassen. Dafür hat er ein Geschick darin entwickelt, Informationen für sich zu behalten. Auch wenn einem keiner der Protagonisten besonders sympathisch wird, erfährt man doch mit Interesse von den Lebenswegen der drei Hauptpersonen. Die Geschichte ist ausgeklügelt und wartet mit Überraschungen auf, die die Lektüre spannend machen. Nachdem der Aufbau etwas langatmig erscheint, spitzen sich die Ereignisse dann so zu, dass man am Ball bleibt.
3,5 Sterne
September 29, 2023
3.5/5⭐
There are a lot of things I love and a lot of things I very much dislike about this book. I love the style of writing, the story, the topic, the little wisdoms between the lines, the symbolism, the story inside the story, the plot twist. It's a good book. But just not for me... I'm not sure... The things I don't like: The characters. As in Pink Hotel, Stothard creates these unambitius characters floating through life just being so joyless and boring. The setting. London is described as such a hopeless gray place. Apartments full of moths. Clubs with teenage prostitutes. As in Pink Hotel (set in LA as far as I can remember), Stothard has the talent to turn every setting into a place you really don't want to go. Ever. Because it just feels hopeless and full of people who have given up on life. And then the ending. I'm just not a big fan of open endings and I can't understand Eva's reaction.
There are a lot of things I love and a lot of things I very much dislike about this book. I love the style of writing, the story, the topic, the little wisdoms between the lines, the symbolism, the story inside the story, the plot twist. It's a good book. But just not for me... I'm not sure... The things I don't like: The characters. As in Pink Hotel, Stothard creates these unambitius characters floating through life just being so joyless and boring. The setting. London is described as such a hopeless gray place. Apartments full of moths. Clubs with teenage prostitutes. As in Pink Hotel (set in LA as far as I can remember), Stothard has the talent to turn every setting into a place you really don't want to go. Ever. Because it just feels hopeless and full of people who have given up on life. And then the ending. I'm just not a big fan of open endings and I can't understand Eva's reaction.
January 13, 2018
It’s a very well written story that unfortunately leaves a lot to be desired. Eva is emotionally flat, and sometimes I couldn’t see where the story was going. However, the writing style is beautifully descriptive and really appeals to all senses.
June 26, 2018
Beautiful Prose and the description is really vivid, but i didn't liked the ending.
January 9, 2024
Nach der Hälfte aufgehört
June 10, 2024
3,25
July 17, 2025
Hab’s nicht zu Ende gelesen, da ich teilweise die Einschübe nicht ganz nachvollziehen konnte und die Story dadurch schleppend vorankam. Kurz: es hat mich einfach nicht gecatched.
November 26, 2025
Beautiful writing but I expected more plot-wise
June 12, 2015
I liked this book. Beautiful passages, but I didn't like the ending. Feel kind of shortchanged. Maybe I'm too much of an optimist?
Didn't like:
The references to Regina the golden eagle, sometimes feels kinda forced.
Also, too many stories going on? Scorpio, the love story, Grace, the past, ex-boyfriends... So much going on. Can't keep track, bro.
Like:
The details of Eva & Luke, in the intimate space of her home. The little things make up love. This felt real to me.
"The first smile of a love affair was mostly fiction and blind hope, but you knew where you were with goodbye: you knew that mistakes would dissolve, doors would open, and then everything would be possible again. It was the ending, Eva maintained, that gave meaning to a story."
Most shocking is perhaps the author's use of Singapore. When she first name-dropped us... I was like *roll eyes*. Authors tend to do that. Use Singapore as a sort of 'exotic' go to place in Asia. Then later she elaborated more and I was quite shocked. Hahah. Mentions of Changi Airport, the National Museum, even Changi beach and how 'uncorrupted' we are. Lol. Points for trying! Haha.
Liked the "magician's assistant disappearance" story.
"The slow tear of their lives breaking free of each other, the unravelling of it, was undoubtedly pleasurable: it made her skin tingle. She had felt giddy and gleeful once he was gone, as if she could fly. The tighter the grip, the more relief the escape was, perhaps."
On marriage:
"I just mean there will be moments of unlove. It won't suddenly be this constant, solid, absolute, unconditional thing because they got married, will it? Nobody can promise that- it doesn't make sense."
"It's hopeful, that's all. An aspiration."
Can't find the other passages I liked, but oh well. Need to bring my little post-it tabs around. Don't like dog-earing books I don't own, or dog-earing in general.
Didn't like:
The references to Regina the golden eagle, sometimes feels kinda forced.
Also, too many stories going on? Scorpio, the love story, Grace, the past, ex-boyfriends... So much going on. Can't keep track, bro.
Like:
The details of Eva & Luke, in the intimate space of her home. The little things make up love. This felt real to me.
"The first smile of a love affair was mostly fiction and blind hope, but you knew where you were with goodbye: you knew that mistakes would dissolve, doors would open, and then everything would be possible again. It was the ending, Eva maintained, that gave meaning to a story."
Most shocking is perhaps the author's use of Singapore. When she first name-dropped us... I was like *roll eyes*. Authors tend to do that. Use Singapore as a sort of 'exotic' go to place in Asia. Then later she elaborated more and I was quite shocked. Hahah. Mentions of Changi Airport, the National Museum, even Changi beach and how 'uncorrupted' we are. Lol. Points for trying! Haha.
Liked the "magician's assistant disappearance" story.
"The slow tear of their lives breaking free of each other, the unravelling of it, was undoubtedly pleasurable: it made her skin tingle. She had felt giddy and gleeful once he was gone, as if she could fly. The tighter the grip, the more relief the escape was, perhaps."
On marriage:
"I just mean there will be moments of unlove. It won't suddenly be this constant, solid, absolute, unconditional thing because they got married, will it? Nobody can promise that- it doesn't make sense."
"It's hopeful, that's all. An aspiration."
Can't find the other passages I liked, but oh well. Need to bring my little post-it tabs around. Don't like dog-earing books I don't own, or dog-earing in general.
November 27, 2016
Stothard's writing is accomplished and very engaging, and that itself gives this slim novel a sense of vivid adventure. Despite this,the book has so little by way of plot,it hurts. But, it also illuminates with its moving tenderness, allegorical scope and unflinching naturalism.
Leaving comes naturally to Eva Elliott: she enjoys the thrill of saying goodbye much more than the butterflies of a first smile or kiss. There's so much more potential, according to her, in walking away. During a rainy summer in London, where Eva lives in a rackety Soho flat with her boyfriend Luke,she becomes fascinated by a golden eagle who has escaped the Zoo to roam the city, and thinks up stories about the ghostly figure of a girl who lurks in the window of a strip club opposite her office. When a beguiling stranger called Grace turns up in Eva's life, armed with a conspiratorial smile and an unsettling secret, Eva is left unsure of what is in her head and what is reality.
However, despite Stothard’s fantastic writing, I didn’t love The Art of Leaving – perhaps because I found it difficult to connect with Eva. Her numb, distant approach to life is obviously necessary for the book, but makes her sort of unlikable. Even while loving Luke - while actually experiencing the emotion of love - she often found herself contemplating the their eventual parting.
Stothard manages to bring rainy London to life, rich with description and colour, where it could so easily have been bleak. The writing is hugely atmospheric; from Regent’s Park to Eva’s Office, the settings reach out and draw you in. Ultimately, the hypnotic quality of writing saves the book and makes it a good read for those entrapped by the magic of the printed word.
Leaving comes naturally to Eva Elliott: she enjoys the thrill of saying goodbye much more than the butterflies of a first smile or kiss. There's so much more potential, according to her, in walking away. During a rainy summer in London, where Eva lives in a rackety Soho flat with her boyfriend Luke,she becomes fascinated by a golden eagle who has escaped the Zoo to roam the city, and thinks up stories about the ghostly figure of a girl who lurks in the window of a strip club opposite her office. When a beguiling stranger called Grace turns up in Eva's life, armed with a conspiratorial smile and an unsettling secret, Eva is left unsure of what is in her head and what is reality.
However, despite Stothard’s fantastic writing, I didn’t love The Art of Leaving – perhaps because I found it difficult to connect with Eva. Her numb, distant approach to life is obviously necessary for the book, but makes her sort of unlikable. Even while loving Luke - while actually experiencing the emotion of love - she often found herself contemplating the their eventual parting.
Stothard manages to bring rainy London to life, rich with description and colour, where it could so easily have been bleak. The writing is hugely atmospheric; from Regent’s Park to Eva’s Office, the settings reach out and draw you in. Ultimately, the hypnotic quality of writing saves the book and makes it a good read for those entrapped by the magic of the printed word.
May 12, 2014
*I won this book as a Goodreads first-reads giveaway.
Let me preface by saying I really wanted to like this book, but I just could not get into it. The descriptions were lovely and it's obvious Ms. Stothard knows how to write, however the plot fell flat, and the main character was lifeless.
The Art of Leaving follows the story of romance editor Eva Elliott, who enjoys the thrill of saying goodbye rather than saying "hello." She grew up jumping from one place to another thanks to her pilot father. She lives with her boyfriend Luke and has tried leaving him a few times but has never succeeded. It's not until a strange woman with a secret past with Luke comes along, that she evaluates her life with Luke and the possibility that he may leave her. Just when Luke begins to open up about his past, she runs off to Singapore for a month to be with her parents. There are many metaphors in the books about "leaving" - the biggest being a golden eagle names Regina who escapes the confines of the local zoo to roam the city. I kept thinking this would get better but it just didn't for me.
Let me preface by saying I really wanted to like this book, but I just could not get into it. The descriptions were lovely and it's obvious Ms. Stothard knows how to write, however the plot fell flat, and the main character was lifeless.
The Art of Leaving follows the story of romance editor Eva Elliott, who enjoys the thrill of saying goodbye rather than saying "hello." She grew up jumping from one place to another thanks to her pilot father. She lives with her boyfriend Luke and has tried leaving him a few times but has never succeeded. It's not until a strange woman with a secret past with Luke comes along, that she evaluates her life with Luke and the possibility that he may leave her. Just when Luke begins to open up about his past, she runs off to Singapore for a month to be with her parents. There are many metaphors in the books about "leaving" - the biggest being a golden eagle names Regina who escapes the confines of the local zoo to roam the city. I kept thinking this would get better but it just didn't for me.
April 23, 2013
Back in January 2011, I read The Pink Hotel by Anna Stothard. The Pink Hotel was longlisted for the Orange Prize and is currently being adapted for film.
Anna Stothard's latest novel, The Art Of Leaving was published by Alma Books on 28 March 2013.
The story is set in Soho, London - not the most beautiful of settings, but Anna Stothard's writing transforms this dreary part of the city into a sensual, often mysterious place with her wonderfully descriptive writing. She creates an almost magical fantasy world from what is in reality a run-down nightclub called The Scorpio Club - a place about which Eve, the lead character, dreams up stories of a long magician's assistant. Eve herself is something of an enigma. The reader really never quite understands her. Eve enjoys endings, her life has been a series of endings and she remembers each one in fine detail.
This is a slow, yet intriguing story that centres around place and character rather than plot line. Anna Stothard uses brilliantly evocative phrases that conjure up a world that is almost bewitching at times.
Anna Stothard's latest novel, The Art Of Leaving was published by Alma Books on 28 March 2013.
The story is set in Soho, London - not the most beautiful of settings, but Anna Stothard's writing transforms this dreary part of the city into a sensual, often mysterious place with her wonderfully descriptive writing. She creates an almost magical fantasy world from what is in reality a run-down nightclub called The Scorpio Club - a place about which Eve, the lead character, dreams up stories of a long magician's assistant. Eve herself is something of an enigma. The reader really never quite understands her. Eve enjoys endings, her life has been a series of endings and she remembers each one in fine detail.
This is a slow, yet intriguing story that centres around place and character rather than plot line. Anna Stothard uses brilliantly evocative phrases that conjure up a world that is almost bewitching at times.
June 15, 2013
I received a copy of this novel for free through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
This book was a quick, enjoyable read. I found the main character, Eva, easy to relate to, though I don’t have much in common with her. She’s a girl more comfortable with leaving a relationship than staying in one, and thinks about her exit long before she makes it. But Luke, her current boyfriend, is somehow different. She still thinks of leaving him as inevitable, but the idea doesn’t hold the same charm it once did for her. When their relationship starts to unravel, due in part to the reappearance of someone from Luke’s past, Eva finds she might not get the ending she’s always imagined.
The language in this novel is excellent, especially the description—I could clearly picture Eva’s surroundings, and I’ve never been to London. The one minor issue I had—the reason I gave it four stars instead of five—was the ending. There is no closure whatsoever, and no sense of what happens next. Such is life, I know; I just like my stories to end with a little conclusiveness.
This book was a quick, enjoyable read. I found the main character, Eva, easy to relate to, though I don’t have much in common with her. She’s a girl more comfortable with leaving a relationship than staying in one, and thinks about her exit long before she makes it. But Luke, her current boyfriend, is somehow different. She still thinks of leaving him as inevitable, but the idea doesn’t hold the same charm it once did for her. When their relationship starts to unravel, due in part to the reappearance of someone from Luke’s past, Eva finds she might not get the ending she’s always imagined.
The language in this novel is excellent, especially the description—I could clearly picture Eva’s surroundings, and I’ve never been to London. The one minor issue I had—the reason I gave it four stars instead of five—was the ending. There is no closure whatsoever, and no sense of what happens next. Such is life, I know; I just like my stories to end with a little conclusiveness.
May 19, 2014
This book definitely was not what I expected, and to be honest, I think the mood conveyed by the cover is a little misleading. The best part of this is Stothard's style of writing. Her vocabulary and turns of phrase are among some of the best I've read. Sometimes, the plot can drag a little, but I read almost the whole thing in one day, so it is an easy, quick read. Often, the tone becomes almost suspenseful in the manner of a psychological thriller, and I was reminded of films like Vertigo or Gaslight. While not what I expected, I started to really love it. I'm sad to say, however, that the suspense was building up to nothing and ended, leaving me feeling a little unfulfilled.
It's worth reading, but the ending was disappointing.
It's worth reading, but the ending was disappointing.
April 14, 2013
"The Art of Leaving is the latest book by Anna Stothard, author of Orange Prize longlisted The Pink Hotel (currently being adapted into a feature film) and début novel Isobel and Rocco, published when she was only nineteen.
In the decade since then, Stothard has become more accomplished than ever, evidenced by the praise she’s had from the likes of Helen Dunmore, who proudly proclaims that “the quality of her writing is remarkable” from the cover of The Art of Leaving." (Excerpt from full review at For Books' Sake.)
In the decade since then, Stothard has become more accomplished than ever, evidenced by the praise she’s had from the likes of Helen Dunmore, who proudly proclaims that “the quality of her writing is remarkable” from the cover of The Art of Leaving." (Excerpt from full review at For Books' Sake.)
June 6, 2015
Throughout the beginning the story was engaging and I loved Anna's style of wrting. It was different from what I usually am eexposed to so it was refreshing. I was getting confident that the book will keep me in awe at the end but it didn't.. I was skipping though the pages to get it over with. although I liked the bittersweet ending.
The reason why it bored me was because it was repetitive. Especially everytime when eva imagined about the magic show and I have to read chunks about it was just too much. I wanna know what happens more than what happened. Perhaps if the story is less descriptive I would have liked it more.
The reason why it bored me was because it was repetitive. Especially everytime when eva imagined about the magic show and I have to read chunks about it was just too much. I wanna know what happens more than what happened. Perhaps if the story is less descriptive I would have liked it more.
February 15, 2015
Přesto, že jsem knížku přečetla v podstatě za jedno odpoledne, bylo pro mě místy docela těžké udržet pozornost. Má 260 stránek, z toho se něco děje asi na padesáti. Ve zbytku hlavní hrdinka bloumá po Londýně a prokládá to vzpomínkami na své tolik oblíbené rozchody a několika zprvu nepochopitelnými setkáními s excentrickou Grace. Příběh tak nějak bez reálného začátku a konce plynul a celou dobu jsem si říkala, kdy začnu narážet na nějakou pointu, o čem to vlastně celé je, proč to autorka vypráví. Pointu jsem ale ani po přečtení bohužel nenašla a tak mi celkově z knížky zůstal takový prázdný pocit.
May 9, 2013
Well grounded in Soho and London more generally, and you can enjoy taking a lot of walks in well-described settings.
Really interesting concept about the endings being the most profound part of relationships and it was very easy to read. Just never quite hit me as I wanted it to.
Also amazed at the typos - wish I'd tracked them as I went.
Really interesting concept about the endings being the most profound part of relationships and it was very easy to read. Just never quite hit me as I wanted it to.
Also amazed at the typos - wish I'd tracked them as I went.
November 25, 2016
I won this through Goodreads First reads and I loved the way that the story was woven and the beautiful language that was used to describe the surroundings and the life she was setting up in the story. But I just had no connection to the main character. She just seemed to fall flat, although that was used in the story. It just made it much harder for me to get into the story.
February 1, 2014
A beautifully observed and written novel, focusing on Eva's unusual approach to her relationships with men. These views were interesting and persuasively posed, but ultimately it all felt a little shallow and insubstantial.
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