The Large Door

by Jonathan Gibbs

When Jenny Thursley, a 40-year old linguistics lecturer, returns to Europe for a conference in Amsterdam, she finds herself pitched back into the presence of a life she had fled. There, she re-encounters a once-inspirational mentor, finds a former lover again within reach, and is surprised by the flickerings of a new longing. Over little more than twenty-four hours Jenny must write a keynote conference speech, face up to her own mortality, and to the consequences of the bad choices she has made – while finding the nerve to make new choices that might be no better. Witty, sexy and provocative, The Large Door is a meditation on life and living, and on ages – golden and otherwise – that recalls the sparkling mid-century work of writers such as Iris Murdoch and Brigid Brophy.

Genres: Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2019

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 40-something woman returns to Amsterdam for a weekend conference. This book certainly put me in the same frame of mind of being stuck at a boring conference all weekend long. At least she got shagged at the end....

[JacquiWine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smart, playful novel which explores a number of interesting themes with the lightest of touches.

As the novel opens, Jenny Thursley, a troubled linguistics lecturer in her early forties, is returning to Europe for a conference in Amsterdam, an event dedicated to the life and work of her former mentor, Leonard Peters. During the trip, Jenny must revisit and come to terms with certain events from her past, most notably how best to honour Leonard given their previous history – Leonard once made a clumsy pass at Jenny, an incident that was brushed under the carpet at the time and never spoken of again. Jenny’s task is made all the more challenging by the news that Leonard is dying from cancer – a revelation that everyone else seems to have known about long before Jenny.

To read the rest of my review, please visit:

https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2020...

[Cath Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Jonathan Gibbs' previous novel, Randall, so I put The Large Door at the top of my reading pile as soon as it arrived, and devoured it in a couple of days. He is an excellent writer, and creates fascinating characters. Jenny, the linguistics lecturer at the centre of the story, is as complex and intriguing as anyone you might meet in real life. The scene in which she goes to a house with Jaap and both looks at and become part of a painting, is particularly engrossing.

The other characters are less developed, and I would have enjoyed more of them. For me the book ended a little early. On the other hand, reaching the end of a novel wanting more is perhaps no bad thing. Too many books outstay their welcome.

[Kieran Mcmahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this gentle, playful, subtle book. The quality of his descriptive writing is outstanding, and evokes Amsterdam and the atmosphere of academic life superbly. He writes beautifully and intelligently about art, about teaching, about getting drunk. It's the kind of book which isn't often written these days, a little bit old fashioned in some ways but none the worse for it. I would also say it's quite different to his (spectacular) first novel, far more inward looking, but taken as a pair they suggest a writer with a particular flair and passion for weaving visual art into his work, and a highly aesthetic literary style.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A philologist at a turning point

This is a novel about an academic approaching middle age as a single person, bruised by past relationships, regretting romantic choices and craving lost love. The whole novel takes place over a weekend conference in Amsterdam during which the past is revisited and reassessed and the future explored.

It is very readable and intelligent with some original and striking turns of phrase. Descriptions of Amsterdam are very evocative and there is a particular set piece around a dutch interior painting that is very effective and part of what makes this a stylish novel. Having said that, I wasn't sure what to take away from it: not much happens - the story is small and the characters' concerns are small . I found the protagonist self indulgent and unattractive - She seems to be devoid of feeling or empathy for anyone. This is really disturbing. An old friend, colleague and mentor is dying and there is no sense of her caring how it is for him, only about how she should be in relation to him and again with an old lover whose feelings she didn't consider in the past - she is only concerned about what she wants from them now. I wasn't sure if this was deliberate -whether what we are supposed to take away is that we are all living vainly and the consideration that we show for others is all window dressing? That this is what Mr Gibbs intends may be confirmed where we see Jennifer recognises that she could only leave one love for a bigger better one, because nothing else would be compatible with her narrative of herself. It's an interesting study of people and I will continue to think about it and for that reason I will be recommending it.

[Oliver Shrouder · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat laborious journey over 24 hours towards a really good final chapter, but it doesn’t leave enough of a punch to make me want to reread and piece the clues together afterwards

[Howtoloveandlove · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is something missing from this book - I think it is charm.

[Jonathan Walker]

This is, in one sense, a book about an academic conference – or, if you prefer, about people associating in a temporary, professional context, performing their assigned roles and expertise publicly – about the complex undercurrents and interactions of this characteristically modern form of social interaction. Its pleasures, difficulties, opportunities for connection – and misunderstanding. Insofar as it's an individual character study, it's also about lost opportunity and death – and about being wiling to let go of the past and find new opportunities. In amongst all this, it has some lovely things to say about teaching. Well written, vivid and convincing characters.