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The Paper Lovers
This is the story of two married couples and an affair.
The Paper Lovers by Gerard Woodward opens with a man who suddenly develops a crush on one of his wife’s friends. As his affections deepen, he becomes aware that she too has feelings for him. Soon they transgress. But what does this mean? Is it love? Will they be caught?
The second part of the story is about the crisis of identity that comes with betrayal. If you are no longer faithful to yourself, to your spouse or to your God, who are you now? If you have been deceived, diminished, your world destroyed without your knowledge, who are you now? And in each case: how might you live on, who might you become?
The Paper Lovers by Gerard Woodward opens with a man who suddenly develops a crush on one of his wife’s friends. As his affections deepen, he becomes aware that she too has feelings for him. Soon they transgress. But what does this mean? Is it love? Will they be caught?
The second part of the story is about the crisis of identity that comes with betrayal. If you are no longer faithful to yourself, to your spouse or to your God, who are you now? If you have been deceived, diminished, your world destroyed without your knowledge, who are you now? And in each case: how might you live on, who might you become?
- GenresFictionContemporary
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
23 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Gerard Woodward
30 books69 followersGerard Woodward (born 1961) is a British novelist, poet and short story writer, best known for his trilogy of novels concerning the troubled Jones family, the second of which, I'll Go To Bed at Noon, was shortlisted for the 2004 Man-Booker Prize.[1] He was born in London and briefly studied painting at Falmouth School of Art in Cornwall. He later attended the London School of Economics, where he studied Social Anthropology, and Manchester University, where he studied for an MA in the same subject. In 1989 he won a major Eric Gregory Award for poets under thirty and his first collection of poetry, Householder, won the Somerset Maugham Award in 1991. His first novel, August, was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award. In 2011 he was writer in residence at Columbia College, Chicago. He is currently Professor of Fiction at Bath Spa University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 15, 2019
(I do not put spoilers in my reviews.) The Paper Lovers is about so much more than an affair. Yes, that's the main storyline. And the affair is the most boring part of the story. In fact, the first 40% of the book deals with nothing but the affair between two seemingly happily-married people who have children. It was easy to skim read and Woodward has a very funny English style. His sense of humor kept me reading. At the 40% mark, things get interesting. Howard, the guy who's having the affair, has a cool wife named Polly. Polly owns a paper-making store. (I know. In the digital age? But it was very credible.) There, she also publishes small poetry pamphlets. You see, Howard is a poet and therefore qualified to determine which poets get published.
Enter a poet and paper-lover, Martin Querre (a nom de plume, of course). At last, the story gets interesting, and we see, oh, the story is not just about an affair. It's not one of those romance novels with the hunky men on the front. It's much more.
The characters in the novel deal with Christianity and belief systems. (Warning: If you are a born-again Christian, you may find this book more than a little insulting.) Are you a legitimate Christian if you turn to God only because the going gets tough? Can an atheist and a Christian live together? Polly's paper-making store is a kind of church. And her sewing machine is a kind of idol meant for worshipping. Yes, a sewing machine.
Sewing machines figure prominently in the novel. The sewing machine is set up as a shrine in Polly and Howard's house. Polly loves to create things. Even her paper-making has a religiosity to it. Is Polly as much of an artist as Howard just because she doesn't paint or write novels? What is Polly really patching together when she reveals her new outfit? The outfit is reminiscent of the daughter's bedroom walls. A ha. A hint. Is she sewing a representation of her life? Is she creating her life? What does the sewing machine really mean, there in the living room bathed in sunlight?
Back to Martin Guerre, the paper poet. He really bothers Howard. Guerre is one of those poets who believes you cannot create at will. His poems came to him, he wrote them down on paper, about paper, and delivers them to a paper store hoping for publication. He may not be able to write more poetry. But Howard seems jealous. We're not sure if it's because Guerre is the real artist or Guerre's writing hits Howard too close to home.
Polly is enamored of Guerre's poetry because of the "extraordinary way in which paper and people seemed interchangeable." In any event, Guerre figures prominently in the novel. He's a catalyst. He's the cause of both Howard and Polly's transformation. He's a very peculiar change agent, showing up as a protestor in front of Polly's store. He's wispy, frail, almost paper-like. And, once more evidencing Woodward's humor, Guerre has a thing for scissors.
(One scene involving Guerre caused me to un-suspend my disbelief when Howard pushes a man doing tai-chi on a ledge into the sea. A real tai-chi practitioner would never do tai-chi in the location from which Howard pushed him. Tai-chi masters teach one to ground themselves into the earth. A real practitioner would never choose a precarious spot near the sea. But I put this error aside and kept reading.)
Don't read this novel if you're expecting one of those sizzling beach read books about an affair. Do read it if you're interested in how religion plays out in marriages confronted by threatening events. And of course, as the title suggests, read it if you love paper. It's a quick read and some of Woodward's lines will have you laughing out loud.
Enter a poet and paper-lover, Martin Querre (a nom de plume, of course). At last, the story gets interesting, and we see, oh, the story is not just about an affair. It's not one of those romance novels with the hunky men on the front. It's much more.
The characters in the novel deal with Christianity and belief systems. (Warning: If you are a born-again Christian, you may find this book more than a little insulting.) Are you a legitimate Christian if you turn to God only because the going gets tough? Can an atheist and a Christian live together? Polly's paper-making store is a kind of church. And her sewing machine is a kind of idol meant for worshipping. Yes, a sewing machine.
Sewing machines figure prominently in the novel. The sewing machine is set up as a shrine in Polly and Howard's house. Polly loves to create things. Even her paper-making has a religiosity to it. Is Polly as much of an artist as Howard just because she doesn't paint or write novels? What is Polly really patching together when she reveals her new outfit? The outfit is reminiscent of the daughter's bedroom walls. A ha. A hint. Is she sewing a representation of her life? Is she creating her life? What does the sewing machine really mean, there in the living room bathed in sunlight?
Back to Martin Guerre, the paper poet. He really bothers Howard. Guerre is one of those poets who believes you cannot create at will. His poems came to him, he wrote them down on paper, about paper, and delivers them to a paper store hoping for publication. He may not be able to write more poetry. But Howard seems jealous. We're not sure if it's because Guerre is the real artist or Guerre's writing hits Howard too close to home.
Polly is enamored of Guerre's poetry because of the "extraordinary way in which paper and people seemed interchangeable." In any event, Guerre figures prominently in the novel. He's a catalyst. He's the cause of both Howard and Polly's transformation. He's a very peculiar change agent, showing up as a protestor in front of Polly's store. He's wispy, frail, almost paper-like. And, once more evidencing Woodward's humor, Guerre has a thing for scissors.
(One scene involving Guerre caused me to un-suspend my disbelief when Howard pushes a man doing tai-chi on a ledge into the sea. A real tai-chi practitioner would never do tai-chi in the location from which Howard pushed him. Tai-chi masters teach one to ground themselves into the earth. A real practitioner would never choose a precarious spot near the sea. But I put this error aside and kept reading.)
Don't read this novel if you're expecting one of those sizzling beach read books about an affair. Do read it if you're interested in how religion plays out in marriages confronted by threatening events. And of course, as the title suggests, read it if you love paper. It's a quick read and some of Woodward's lines will have you laughing out loud.
June 6, 2022
Gerard Woodward’s books seldom seem to get the attention they deserve. His trilogy about the Jones family (the middle volume of which did at least make the Booker shortlist), is an astonishing portrait of a family torn apart by alcohol, and subsequent novels (Nourishment and Vanishing), although well reviewed, don’t seem to have made as much impact with the reading public as they should. The Paper Lovers starts off as a tale of middle-class adultery, one of the most unoriginal of themes in postwar English literature the reader may well think, but shortly before the half-way point it takes a surprising turn and heads off into territory seldom explored in the contemporary novel; in an exploration of faith, belief, morality and truth, Woodward takes his characters to some surprising places. The author is a poet, and that shows in his finely tuned prose and ear for a surprising but perfect simile.
June 15, 2018
What begins as a fairly conventional story of infidelity in middle-class England becomes something far more interesting when it veers into the territory of identity, and religious and creative obsession. The main character, atheist Arnold, has an affair with practicing Christian Vera which segues into a religious conversion for Arnold. For Arnold's wife Polly, whose hatred of all things religious runs deep, it is hard to decide which is the bigger betrayal. The creative process is woven throughout the book, from Arnold's stalling attempts to write his second poetry collection and Polly's business hand-making paper, to the character of the young poet (whose pen name Martin Guerre links to the theme of identity) whose struggles with both his mental health and his poetry lead inexorably to the book's climax.
The Christian ideas of transubstantiation and redemption seem to underpin it all: can solid things really be transformed into something entirely other, and can the slate really be wiped clean? Paper recurs as a metaphor throughout, and I was really intrigued by the idea of creativity as potentially destructive of something else - which the denouement of the book illustrates powerfully.
The Christian ideas of transubstantiation and redemption seem to underpin it all: can solid things really be transformed into something entirely other, and can the slate really be wiped clean? Paper recurs as a metaphor throughout, and I was really intrigued by the idea of creativity as potentially destructive of something else - which the denouement of the book illustrates powerfully.
February 23, 2021
I’m surprised that the rating isn’t higher on Goodreads. I think this is a very well-written book and I’m very keen to read more by this author.
Although the main plot centres around an affair; it is more a fascinating insight into family, relationships, religion and poetry / Literature. I also love the details about the paper shop and how paper is made. Quite brilliant!
Although the main plot centres around an affair; it is more a fascinating insight into family, relationships, religion and poetry / Literature. I also love the details about the paper shop and how paper is made. Quite brilliant!
October 20, 2018
Adulterers are bad, but Christian adulterers are the worst. They will bang your atheist spouse in a bedroom with cross stitch bible verse hangings and convert him too. Monstrous.
July 19, 2018
Gerard Woodward writes a remarkable novel in The Paper Lovers. In some ways it is a metaphor for contemporary life, that is unchallenged boredom replaced by mad sexual passion which in turn is consumed by –maybe false—religious fervor.
Woodward tells an ordinary tale but in such extraordinary detail and with such verve that we are almost crushed by the force of his intimacy and stylistic power. His subjects, a non-writing academic poet and a woman who seeks her own way through paper he draws thoroughly and completely. Never once does one wonder, “Could he have done this better? Did I see this coming?” In short, no.
He writes with a unique skill and with total regard for both his themes and art.
Woodward tells an ordinary tale but in such extraordinary detail and with such verve that we are almost crushed by the force of his intimacy and stylistic power. His subjects, a non-writing academic poet and a woman who seeks her own way through paper he draws thoroughly and completely. Never once does one wonder, “Could he have done this better? Did I see this coming?” In short, no.
He writes with a unique skill and with total regard for both his themes and art.
October 8, 2018
One of my favourite books of the year. Beautifully written, original and engaging plot and characters, all of which stay with you after you've finished reading. I even really liked the cover!
I don't personally enjoy reading poetry, but I do seem to enjoy books written by poets. This is one of those. Highly recommended.
I will be reading more of Gerard Woodward's books, and am looking forward to it.
I don't personally enjoy reading poetry, but I do seem to enjoy books written by poets. This is one of those. Highly recommended.
I will be reading more of Gerard Woodward's books, and am looking forward to it.
December 23, 2018
This is the story of Arnold and Polly and the effect his adultery has on their life.
The first half of the book is told from the viewpoint of Arnold, an unimposing man, who develops a crush on one of his wife’s friends. The strangest part of the attraction is that the object of his affection is religious and Arnold and Polly are most certainly not.
The attraction turns into an affair. Eventually, his mistress’s husband finds out. He demands that Arnold confesses his sins to Polly.
To avoid confessing, Arnold becomes part of their religious fanatical retreats.
Polly discovers the truth and the second part of the book is told from her viewpoint. She is much stronger and more decisive than Arnold and the break in the marriage allows her to finish many of the things Arnold could not.
This is a literary read about a mid-life crisis and a crisis of faith.
The first half of the book is told from the viewpoint of Arnold, an unimposing man, who develops a crush on one of his wife’s friends. The strangest part of the attraction is that the object of his affection is religious and Arnold and Polly are most certainly not.
The attraction turns into an affair. Eventually, his mistress’s husband finds out. He demands that Arnold confesses his sins to Polly.
To avoid confessing, Arnold becomes part of their religious fanatical retreats.
Polly discovers the truth and the second part of the book is told from her viewpoint. She is much stronger and more decisive than Arnold and the break in the marriage allows her to finish many of the things Arnold could not.
This is a literary read about a mid-life crisis and a crisis of faith.
February 6, 2021
There was nothing wrong with this book as the 2 stars might suggest as it is a well written and easy read. It just didn’t really hit the mark for me.
It’s good to read books you wouldn’t ordinarily read and this is definitely one of those books. In fact I read it in a couple of days.
Mainly the end was a bit of an anti climax for me and I was left thinking ‘is that it?’
It wasn’t boring but it did feel a bit pointless to me. Maybe others might like it so I wouldn’t say don’t read it.
It’s good to read books you wouldn’t ordinarily read and this is definitely one of those books. In fact I read it in a couple of days.
Mainly the end was a bit of an anti climax for me and I was left thinking ‘is that it?’
It wasn’t boring but it did feel a bit pointless to me. Maybe others might like it so I wouldn’t say don’t read it.
February 21, 2021
A fascinating exploration of one's shadow (archetypes, too, even), deceit, yearning, undoing, sublimation, rage, death, all facets of humanity integrated into a kind of melancholic yet decisive poetic justice. Very beautiful.
The 'rewind' scenes were my favourite and I loved the forward echo in the bleaching of ink from paper pulp: a renewal. I also appreciated the theme of 'value' (within sex and relationships, money and success, spirituality and intellect, poetry and chance) - which got me curious around where I might place or rank it in my own life. Exquisitely handled.
The 'rewind' scenes were my favourite and I loved the forward echo in the bleaching of ink from paper pulp: a renewal. I also appreciated the theme of 'value' (within sex and relationships, money and success, spirituality and intellect, poetry and chance) - which got me curious around where I might place or rank it in my own life. Exquisitely handled.
December 26, 2019
The Paper Lovers is to me a quiet and delicate display of the human nature, wishes and actions.
I entered this story with some kind of doubts, since it's the story of how an infidelity affects the couples (one particular couple) involved. But it's just not as simple as that. Yes, you have this affair that was all kinds of wrong, but then there's this... religious affair also. I'm not a religious person neither I'm an atheist, and in that comfortable, intermediate position I had never given it a thought to the idea of converting from one to the other, and how that affects your relationships too.
I think what I liked the most was the times our main characters/rapporteurs thought about the ways they could react to some situation, and then we had them going through that same situation and reacting in another totally different way. Isn't that human nature at its core? Aren't we all convinced that we'd do things in a certain manner just to be confronted with the reality to see that actually we wouldn't?
I entered this story with some kind of doubts, since it's the story of how an infidelity affects the couples (one particular couple) involved. But it's just not as simple as that. Yes, you have this affair that was all kinds of wrong, but then there's this... religious affair also. I'm not a religious person neither I'm an atheist, and in that comfortable, intermediate position I had never given it a thought to the idea of converting from one to the other, and how that affects your relationships too.
I think what I liked the most was the times our main characters/rapporteurs thought about the ways they could react to some situation, and then we had them going through that same situation and reacting in another totally different way. Isn't that human nature at its core? Aren't we all convinced that we'd do things in a certain manner just to be confronted with the reality to see that actually we wouldn't?
January 1, 2020
I chose this book by its cover - I love paper and stationery. Knew nothing about this book by @grahamwoodward If I did I might have still chosen it. What I found was that it dragged on and on and I am surprised how much of the plot was massaged to create this tale. I wanted so much more about Polly's paper to be woven into the story, as well as the plot to Ryan's poetry and life to be connected to the bigger picture. I think it could have gone either more dark or quirky. Either way, it was too bland for me.
February 22, 2021
Different from my usual read but still enjoyable. It had an end to it which completed the whole story and didn’t leave me hanging.
July 16, 2024
Oooooh I wanted to strangle him!
November 30, 2022
For me, the ending of this novel was not satisfactory. I was expecting a completely different end-point and had thought I was collecting clues from the narrator's opinions, dialogue and movements in the plot. However, I got it wrong! Having said that, the message or underlying controversial comments included in the novel by Gerard Woodward have lingered with me and for that, I do have appreciation for this novel.
I love the front cover and the title was appealing for me. I saw how the concept of paper and how it is made through the destruction of something else was used expertly by Woodward to weave his themes together: adultery, redemption, truth, honesty and deceit. I greatly enjoyed learning details about the way recycled paper is made, ironically through breaking and tearing of the original valued product. The references to the wonderful artisan paper shop and the publishing agency run by the husband and wife team was also interested for me.
In the current book publishing world, I believe this novel would be labelled as 'quiet', since the majority of the text is internal choices and decisions made by characters, with very little dynamic action. I liked the plot structure where the second half was without chapters, giving us the wife's perspective. I have to admit, I did not manage to connect with the protagonist, the male Arnold in the opening chapters and throughout his narration, he seemed a wholly unlikeable character.
The Martin Guerre character made me think of the voyeuristic, unstable character in 'Enduring Love' by Ian Ian McEwan. These anomalous aspects of the novel intrigued me and having finished, without feeling a love for the book, I know there is so much to prompt discussion within this novel; religion, parenting, gender roles, trust and honesty, modern relationships, publishing and editing industries, and so much more.
My secondary school teacher background would make me argue this novel could be taught and used in the classroom as a controversial prompt for debates.
To give a final brief overview of the story of this novel, it starts with a family scenario, using a sewing machine as a central motif. The sewing machine is a gift for the couple's daughter, which turns out to be too old for her and thus becomes her mother's tool, allowing her to invite other mothers from her daughter's school to her house for sewing evenings.
The father, Arnold is a poet and the couple's publishing company linked with the mother's paper shop has published his one collection of poems. This company comes under attack by a young student poet, who is determined to be published by the company, so causes a disturbance to the mother and shop-owner Polly.
There is a twist in the tale, causing the reader to be voyeuristic of something unnerving, which develops and encompasses the family, poisoning the foundations of the family at its roots. From here, the story twists and turns, in a 'quiet' fashion and the reader is gradually unsettled and left feeling a little empty.
A devastating story, but rather spiritual, making us wonder if redemption is ever possible, whether new can be made from old and ultimately if creativity needs more sensitive handling due to its propensity for self-destruction.
Review by Christina Francis-Gilbert
I love the front cover and the title was appealing for me. I saw how the concept of paper and how it is made through the destruction of something else was used expertly by Woodward to weave his themes together: adultery, redemption, truth, honesty and deceit. I greatly enjoyed learning details about the way recycled paper is made, ironically through breaking and tearing of the original valued product. The references to the wonderful artisan paper shop and the publishing agency run by the husband and wife team was also interested for me.
In the current book publishing world, I believe this novel would be labelled as 'quiet', since the majority of the text is internal choices and decisions made by characters, with very little dynamic action. I liked the plot structure where the second half was without chapters, giving us the wife's perspective. I have to admit, I did not manage to connect with the protagonist, the male Arnold in the opening chapters and throughout his narration, he seemed a wholly unlikeable character.
The Martin Guerre character made me think of the voyeuristic, unstable character in 'Enduring Love' by Ian Ian McEwan. These anomalous aspects of the novel intrigued me and having finished, without feeling a love for the book, I know there is so much to prompt discussion within this novel; religion, parenting, gender roles, trust and honesty, modern relationships, publishing and editing industries, and so much more.
My secondary school teacher background would make me argue this novel could be taught and used in the classroom as a controversial prompt for debates.
To give a final brief overview of the story of this novel, it starts with a family scenario, using a sewing machine as a central motif. The sewing machine is a gift for the couple's daughter, which turns out to be too old for her and thus becomes her mother's tool, allowing her to invite other mothers from her daughter's school to her house for sewing evenings.
The father, Arnold is a poet and the couple's publishing company linked with the mother's paper shop has published his one collection of poems. This company comes under attack by a young student poet, who is determined to be published by the company, so causes a disturbance to the mother and shop-owner Polly.
There is a twist in the tale, causing the reader to be voyeuristic of something unnerving, which develops and encompasses the family, poisoning the foundations of the family at its roots. From here, the story twists and turns, in a 'quiet' fashion and the reader is gradually unsettled and left feeling a little empty.
A devastating story, but rather spiritual, making us wonder if redemption is ever possible, whether new can be made from old and ultimately if creativity needs more sensitive handling due to its propensity for self-destruction.
Review by Christina Francis-Gilbert
April 21, 2025
4.5⭐️ In The Paper Lovers, Arnold Proctor develops feelings for his wife's friend Vera. These feelings turn out not to be one-sided, and soon they begin this all-consuming affair. Arnold is a poet and lecturer, and his wife, Polly, runs a paper-making business; they are both atheists. Vera is a Christian.
During the time of this affair, Arnold questions his faith and identity, and although Vera is a practicing Christian, it doesn’t seem to affect her like him. She believes in her higher power and that the affair is meant to happen. This book is about so much more than an affair. The affair is important to the story, of course; however, the book is centered around religion, faith, identity, betrayal, and redemption.
Polly truly hates Christians. She mocks them, name-calls, and is disgustingly angry about how they choose to believe in God. The hatred is so deep-rooted in her, and her racist side starts to show too, at the end. What doesn’t make sense to me, at least, is how she holds Vera to this higher standard and doesn’t have any issues with her.
On the other hand, Arnold may be an atheist, but he doesn’t let his beliefs or Christianity affect his day-to-day life. When Vera tells Arnold that she will confess their affair to Polly, his life begins to crumble piece by piece. He turns to church. Churches are welcoming places, and when life is difficult, turning to faith and attending church can help provide comfort and strength.
“When he came out of the cathedral, he felt a little calmer, and the process of emerging from the ancient shadows of the interior into the brightly lit gaudiness of the tourist city was one that was charged lightly with a sense of renewal.”
It’s just a little ironic that she chooses to hate Christians and their belief in God (higher power), but she sure had a whole lot of faith in her paper-making business in the digital age.
Before Polly eventually discovers the affair between her husband and friend, Arnold takes an extreme interest in attending weekly Sunday service. She grows suspicious of this and takes it as a betrayal of their relationship, thinking he is turning against her and has become a Christian. He tries to calm her down by saying his attendance is research for work and that he still doesn’t believe in God. She would rather he cheat on her than potentially become “stupid” and convert to Christianity.
This book has sat on my shelf for over a year; I was going to unhaul it. I picked it up this Easter weekend and didn’t realize it would be so heavily based around religion and faith. I choose to believe there is something significant in that. I enjoyed this book! I didn’t fully love the ending, though. And I thought Polly would have this considerable character development, but I still didn’t like her.
The Paper Lovers was an interesting book, and I gained a great deal from it. I’m very glad that I stumbled across it. This is why I love taking a chance on different books that I’ve never seen discussed before. You find some hidden gems.
During the time of this affair, Arnold questions his faith and identity, and although Vera is a practicing Christian, it doesn’t seem to affect her like him. She believes in her higher power and that the affair is meant to happen. This book is about so much more than an affair. The affair is important to the story, of course; however, the book is centered around religion, faith, identity, betrayal, and redemption.
Polly truly hates Christians. She mocks them, name-calls, and is disgustingly angry about how they choose to believe in God. The hatred is so deep-rooted in her, and her racist side starts to show too, at the end. What doesn’t make sense to me, at least, is how she holds Vera to this higher standard and doesn’t have any issues with her.
On the other hand, Arnold may be an atheist, but he doesn’t let his beliefs or Christianity affect his day-to-day life. When Vera tells Arnold that she will confess their affair to Polly, his life begins to crumble piece by piece. He turns to church. Churches are welcoming places, and when life is difficult, turning to faith and attending church can help provide comfort and strength.
“When he came out of the cathedral, he felt a little calmer, and the process of emerging from the ancient shadows of the interior into the brightly lit gaudiness of the tourist city was one that was charged lightly with a sense of renewal.”
It’s just a little ironic that she chooses to hate Christians and their belief in God (higher power), but she sure had a whole lot of faith in her paper-making business in the digital age.
Before Polly eventually discovers the affair between her husband and friend, Arnold takes an extreme interest in attending weekly Sunday service. She grows suspicious of this and takes it as a betrayal of their relationship, thinking he is turning against her and has become a Christian. He tries to calm her down by saying his attendance is research for work and that he still doesn’t believe in God. She would rather he cheat on her than potentially become “stupid” and convert to Christianity.
This book has sat on my shelf for over a year; I was going to unhaul it. I picked it up this Easter weekend and didn’t realize it would be so heavily based around religion and faith. I choose to believe there is something significant in that. I enjoyed this book! I didn’t fully love the ending, though. And I thought Polly would have this considerable character development, but I still didn’t like her.
The Paper Lovers was an interesting book, and I gained a great deal from it. I’m very glad that I stumbled across it. This is why I love taking a chance on different books that I’ve never seen discussed before. You find some hidden gems.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2021
The blurb reads as if this is a modern novel about an affair, but this is to overly simplify what is in many ways a beautiful novel about modern life. Written by a poet, the prose is beautiful and the symbolism rich and multi-layered.
The style is reminiscent of Graham Greene, and has a timeless feel, in the sense that the physical time in which the book is set is hard to locate as well as an almost universality to the themes explored. It shows sways from existential angst, but explores the feelings of fragility and brevity; the sense of the impermanence of everything. Hobbies, careers, friendships, love affairs and marriages are all thin and insubstantial. The nuance of this is wrought with elegance throughout most of the book as it looks at love, art, religion and sewing machines as objects of fragile worship which appear to give solidity and meaning.
I debated giving this 5 stars, but there was something missing for me, a distance which I am sure was by the authors design, which left me feeling a little unsatisfied around the end of the novel, which, like so many others, needed to stop a few pages before it actually did.
Would definitely recommend this and will look out for other books by this author.
The style is reminiscent of Graham Greene, and has a timeless feel, in the sense that the physical time in which the book is set is hard to locate as well as an almost universality to the themes explored. It shows sways from existential angst, but explores the feelings of fragility and brevity; the sense of the impermanence of everything. Hobbies, careers, friendships, love affairs and marriages are all thin and insubstantial. The nuance of this is wrought with elegance throughout most of the book as it looks at love, art, religion and sewing machines as objects of fragile worship which appear to give solidity and meaning.
I debated giving this 5 stars, but there was something missing for me, a distance which I am sure was by the authors design, which left me feeling a little unsatisfied around the end of the novel, which, like so many others, needed to stop a few pages before it actually did.
Would definitely recommend this and will look out for other books by this author.
August 31, 2019
An annoying and frustrating read. The first two thirds of the book are about a minor obsession which develops into an affair. The affair is seen through the eyes of Arnold and is convincing in its depiction of the growing feelings and infatuation between Arnold and Vera, one of his wife Polly's friends. Polly herself runs a paper shop and occasionally publishes poetry collections.
Problems occur for Arnold and the narrative when Vera's husband discovers the affair and threatens to uncover all to Polly. In order to avoid this, Arnold agrees to attend their church. The narrative viewpoint moves to Polly and the reader has no way of knowing whether Arnold's conversion is real or contrived. What is clear is that his (pretended?) faith is causing more disruption to his marriage than any revelation of an affair.
The introduction of a subplot about a troubled young poet, whose poetry collection gives the novel its title, is quite baffling. It offers no insights into the central dilemma or offers any general insights of its own.
A disappointment as the book is beautifully written.
Problems occur for Arnold and the narrative when Vera's husband discovers the affair and threatens to uncover all to Polly. In order to avoid this, Arnold agrees to attend their church. The narrative viewpoint moves to Polly and the reader has no way of knowing whether Arnold's conversion is real or contrived. What is clear is that his (pretended?) faith is causing more disruption to his marriage than any revelation of an affair.
The introduction of a subplot about a troubled young poet, whose poetry collection gives the novel its title, is quite baffling. It offers no insights into the central dilemma or offers any general insights of its own.
A disappointment as the book is beautifully written.
February 27, 2022
I want to preface my thoughts and comments on this book with the fact that every year I try to read something out of my comfort zone. When I picked up this book to give it a go, I thought it was a romance. I thought it was going to be a light, frivolous beach read. It taught me not to be so judgemental when looking at genre.
This story captured my heart, imagination and philosophical intrigue. The affair mentioned in the blurb, though I guess the catalyst for the story, is not the main focus.
I enjoyed the ways the characters developed, I loved unfurling the decay in the characters' psyches while they grappled with what is really just symptoms of humanity. I thought the characters were really interesting, and the plot was engaging - more than I thought it would be.
This book was an enjoyable read, it really stuck with me. I might even read it again. Apologies, my reviews aren't really reviews they're just ramblings on what I like and dislike. If you're thinking about reading this book, give it a go.
This story captured my heart, imagination and philosophical intrigue. The affair mentioned in the blurb, though I guess the catalyst for the story, is not the main focus.
I enjoyed the ways the characters developed, I loved unfurling the decay in the characters' psyches while they grappled with what is really just symptoms of humanity. I thought the characters were really interesting, and the plot was engaging - more than I thought it would be.
This book was an enjoyable read, it really stuck with me. I might even read it again. Apologies, my reviews aren't really reviews they're just ramblings on what I like and dislike. If you're thinking about reading this book, give it a go.
November 15, 2024
More 3.5 than 4.
Compulsively readable, especially halfway/three-quarters way through. The beginning bits about the affair really felt like the book was written by a middle-class white man, but the rest of it was thought provoking and even suspenseful, especially when the POV switched to Polly’s. I absolutely loved the ending - did so well to tie all the plot points together, and the symbolism as well.
The book felt a bit too long for me. I wasn’t sold on the necessity for some scenes, such as the ones with Polly’s family. And the beginning, when it was just Arnold getting obsessed with Vera, was rather dull. I didn’t think Vera was a well realised character - came across as more mysterious than she was. Or maybe that was intentional, to show how deluded A was. Though for me, she felt a bit too detached.
But a good read overall.
Compulsively readable, especially halfway/three-quarters way through. The beginning bits about the affair really felt like the book was written by a middle-class white man, but the rest of it was thought provoking and even suspenseful, especially when the POV switched to Polly’s. I absolutely loved the ending - did so well to tie all the plot points together, and the symbolism as well.
The book felt a bit too long for me. I wasn’t sold on the necessity for some scenes, such as the ones with Polly’s family. And the beginning, when it was just Arnold getting obsessed with Vera, was rather dull. I didn’t think Vera was a well realised character - came across as more mysterious than she was. Or maybe that was intentional, to show how deluded A was. Though for me, she felt a bit too detached.
But a good read overall.
November 6, 2020
A well written novel about a happily married man who has an affair with a happily married woman, one of his wife's acquaintances. Arnold is married to Polly who has opened and runs a paper making company that publishes on its paper poems and special writings. He is suddenly attracted to Vera, a Christian woman whom he suspects, wrongly, will not allow herself to have an extra-marital affair with him. They do embark on such an affair. The end of their affair is partially due to the poems written by a young writer who takes the name of Martin Guerre. What will happen to Arnold and Polly once he and Vera break up?
February 10, 2021
i sped through this book. i found myself very invested in Arnold’s life, probably due to the fact that it annoyed me. i didn’t really like any of the characters - they all had their faults in my eyes; but that made them all the more human.
i didn’t think this book really was all about the affair - it was more like the ins and outs of modern relationships
i liked how you saw the events from both arnold’s and polly’s perspective, and honestly i loved how she handled it.
this book was very different from anything i’ve ever read, but i really enjoyed it :)
i didn’t think this book really was all about the affair - it was more like the ins and outs of modern relationships
i liked how you saw the events from both arnold’s and polly’s perspective, and honestly i loved how she handled it.
this book was very different from anything i’ve ever read, but i really enjoyed it :)
February 11, 2021
I started off really not enjoying this book and wondering if I would finish it, I'm really glad I persisted. It is written in two halves, the first half by a husband and the second a wife. I started warming to the book about half way through, though felt it really came into its own when written from the wife's perspective, probably because the male character is not likable but also because I didn't find much excuse for his actions. I would have given the first part of the book a 2 stars and the second part 4 stars if I could.
March 13, 2021
Poor character development, religion plays a large part at the end of the novel but the concept is poorly developed through out the plot and fails to stir even a little sympathy for absolutely any character (including the child). Overall it feels as if someone wrote a book because they could with little thought to the overall plot or characters. Basically there is no depth to something that should, in it's rights, be a very emotional topic. Lazy.
April 29, 2021
I really hated 75% of the book. Just couldn't understand what was behind the random obsession with Vera in the first place and I felt that for the first section of the book the religion theme was unnaturally forced in.
Also I couldn't understand the presence of the Ryan character.
Having said that, I did quite like the ending, how the affair came out and watching Arnold's transformation, how the book swapped to polly's point of view.
Also I couldn't understand the presence of the Ryan character.
Having said that, I did quite like the ending, how the affair came out and watching Arnold's transformation, how the book swapped to polly's point of view.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2018
I came away from this book unsatisfied and I am not sure why. It had everything I usually love in a book - intense emotion, lyricism, a viewpoint not often favoured by narrator's (though perhaps a little too much exposition) - but I just felt a little underwhelmed at the end. Again, not sure why - maybe this just wasn't the book for me.
September 11, 2018
This style of writing is less familiar to me, and the first few pages were hard to get into, but I found myself wondering what would end up happening. The themes of religion, belief, identity, and the importance of paper in so many ways throughout was interesting. I especially liked how some things came together at the end.
September 29, 2018
I did feel this had a slow start and nearly stopped reading after 100 pages but, persevered. Glad I did because of the twisty plot and surprising ending. Personally, I felt Arnold proctor to be a selfish, sly individual and this was described well in the writing prose and slow build up to the twist in the plot.Bit of a nod towards fanaticism in religion and the place in society today.
May 2, 2019
This was mostly well written but I disliked it. The problem for me is in the handling of the religious element, which I found completely unconvincing. A character who has a clear inner life when it comes to love and sex is then entirely opaque when it comes to faith. Odd. And none of the main characters is sympathetic.
May 3, 2019
I was looking forward to this book but I felt a bit let down by it as it didn't hold my attention.
Going by the cover I was expecting a story based in times gone by but it was actually modern. Lovely cover by the way.
Book is split between Arnold's (part 1) story then Polly's (part 2).
I could say more but I would probably reveal things you'd want to discover yourself.
Going by the cover I was expecting a story based in times gone by but it was actually modern. Lovely cover by the way.
Book is split between Arnold's (part 1) story then Polly's (part 2).
I could say more but I would probably reveal things you'd want to discover yourself.
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