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A Closed Book
An isolated cottage deep in the heart of the Cotswolds. A writer's den, as dusty, gloomy and full of exotic objets d'art as the cell of a medieval monk. This is an "unsettling, claustrophobic" novel begging the reader to ask many, many questions.
257 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Gilbert Adair
43 books160 followersGilbert Adair was a Scottish novelist, poet, film critic and journalist. Born in Edinburgh, he lived in Paris from 1968 through 1980. He is most famous for such novels as Love and Death on Long Island (1997) and The Dreamers (2003), both of which were made into films, although he is also noted as the translator of Georges Perec's postmodern novel A Void, in which the letter e is not used. Adair won the 1995 Scott Moncrieff Translation Prize for this work.
In 1998 and 1999 Adair was the chief film critic for The Independent on Sunday, where in 1999 he also wrote a year-long column called "The Guillotine." In addition to the films made from his own works, Adair worked on the screenplays for a number of Raúl Ruiz films. Although he rarely spoke of his sexual orientation in public, not wishing to be labelled, he acknowledge in an interview that there were many gay themes in his work. He died from a brain hemorrhage in 2011.
(source: Wikipedia)
In 1998 and 1999 Adair was the chief film critic for The Independent on Sunday, where in 1999 he also wrote a year-long column called "The Guillotine." In addition to the films made from his own works, Adair worked on the screenplays for a number of Raúl Ruiz films. Although he rarely spoke of his sexual orientation in public, not wishing to be labelled, he acknowledge in an interview that there were many gay themes in his work. He died from a brain hemorrhage in 2011.
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 23, 2014
To paraphrase one fondl(e)y viewed meviewer, Josipovici flirts with postmodernism, Adair is a proud proponent. Frankly, the division is artificial, but since both state firmly their respective camps (no pun intended), resistance is useless.
While Only Joking appeared in 2010, a playful twist on the shenanigans of the art heist, with only hints of the macabre and menacing, and written in the speakerless narrative sentence achieved by exorcising description from the text ie dialogue almost only, Josipovici had already begun to explore this technique in Conversations in Another Room, Contre-Jour: A Triptych after Pierre Bonnard, and The Echo Chamber (note however, that each of these are not without narrative description - the apotheosis is reached in Only Joking), all, except the latter, pre-dating A Closed Book. So it could be argued that Adair, in his signature pastiche style, has stolen the march and developed the culmination of the idea--A Closed Book was written in 2000.
What to expect? Essentially any further analysis cannot help but succumb to spoilers. Instead, beg, buy, borrow, or steal the book. This is Modernist/Postmodernist cross-dressing at its finest, lavishly tart(t)ed up in noir thriller genre clothing, with enough psychological sting to blow Highsmith and others of her ilk clear from troubled waters. Read this to study the art of polished, narratorless prose, brilliantly executed plot, and the drawing of completely unsympathetic, mesmerising characters whose behaviours can be neither condemned nor condoned. Or for just the sheer enjoyment.
While Only Joking appeared in 2010, a playful twist on the shenanigans of the art heist, with only hints of the macabre and menacing, and written in the speakerless narrative sentence achieved by exorcising description from the text ie dialogue almost only, Josipovici had already begun to explore this technique in Conversations in Another Room, Contre-Jour: A Triptych after Pierre Bonnard, and The Echo Chamber (note however, that each of these are not without narrative description - the apotheosis is reached in Only Joking), all, except the latter, pre-dating A Closed Book. So it could be argued that Adair, in his signature pastiche style, has stolen the march and developed the culmination of the idea--A Closed Book was written in 2000.
What to expect? Essentially any further analysis cannot help but succumb to spoilers. Instead, beg, buy, borrow, or steal the book. This is Modernist/Postmodernist cross-dressing at its finest, lavishly tart(t)ed up in noir thriller genre clothing, with enough psychological sting to blow Highsmith and others of her ilk clear from troubled waters. Read this to study the art of polished, narratorless prose, brilliantly executed plot, and the drawing of completely unsympathetic, mesmerising characters whose behaviours can be neither condemned nor condoned. Or for just the sheer enjoyment.
August 13, 2016
There is a paradox in the title—once you have closed A Closed Book, you will immediately seek re-entry—so the title should be A Perpetually Reopened, Thumbed, and Not Often Closed Book. (But, as a title, you would have to agree, this is lacking that Waterstones wow factor). Adair is one of the few writers who has used the more subtle narrative techniques common among postmodernists in genre writing (although pastiche is his passion—a popular pursuit of the pomoist), and in this thriller he uses the dialogue-only (minus deceptive passages in italics) technique (common among die-hard Barthesians who want to kill the narrator/author at all costs) to drive forward an entertaining and fast-paced novel for both plebs and snobs to delight in at both shallow and cerebral levels. A narratorless style in a book with a blind protagonist and a sneaky antagonist is an obvious stroke of genius, and Adair is the perfect man to milk this constraint for all kinds of suspense, typical in-jokes, and clever callbacks. The unfair irony is that Adair was to go blind in the last year of his life—on the same year the film version with Daryl Hannah was released, so praise be for small mercies.
March 12, 2014
A Closed Book gets a 4 star rating for its innovative POMO style rendered nearly complete in dialogue. Scribble Orca you are absolutely right about this narrative-less expression form. By removing the narrator, therefore one further layer of distance, the characters inherited a vitality I hadn't experienced before.
Unfortunately I had to wrench away 1 star due to the experiment (Bold-Courageous,) of mixing this innovation with a genre story of suspense. It grew dense, at times sluggish. Nowhere did this seem necessary to me to maintain or increase the aesthetic hold, prop or further the plot. When the suspense began its twisting of plot and possibilities of turns of events I felt tugged to lean this way or that in a direction leading toward the eventual surprise conclusion. Possibly this time the surprise might be no surprise.
I enjoy suspense novels, especially as a break from reading what for me are difficult books. Here I was jarred since without a narrator, the person writing these characters must get me to the end. Get me set up, fool me, twirl me in a circle and surprise me. This felt strongly intrusive in a text written in a style which had removed authorial intrusion. There I found myself in a printed text of letters arranged to manipulate the reader.
Although there were a few events I needed to buy into to have the book's weight sufficiently propped open, Adair is a skillful writer. The story of a blinded and disfigured author living cut off from society hiring a young man to depend on to be his amanuensis to complete a final book, is intriguing. Scenes of what it is like to be blind, to live in a world of darkness, too see the darkness, are sublime. Although not the nicest of people, easy to identify with, both characters are alive and vivid. The problem and the lost star I believe was the attempt to mix this innovative and successful style with a genre fiction piece.
This being my first Adair I can see that if he took the leash off each allowing them to scamper where they might like to go within their own books a great success could be in store.
Unfortunately I had to wrench away 1 star due to the experiment (Bold-Courageous,) of mixing this innovation with a genre story of suspense. It grew dense, at times sluggish. Nowhere did this seem necessary to me to maintain or increase the aesthetic hold, prop or further the plot. When the suspense began its twisting of plot and possibilities of turns of events I felt tugged to lean this way or that in a direction leading toward the eventual surprise conclusion. Possibly this time the surprise might be no surprise.
I enjoy suspense novels, especially as a break from reading what for me are difficult books. Here I was jarred since without a narrator, the person writing these characters must get me to the end. Get me set up, fool me, twirl me in a circle and surprise me. This felt strongly intrusive in a text written in a style which had removed authorial intrusion. There I found myself in a printed text of letters arranged to manipulate the reader.
Although there were a few events I needed to buy into to have the book's weight sufficiently propped open, Adair is a skillful writer. The story of a blinded and disfigured author living cut off from society hiring a young man to depend on to be his amanuensis to complete a final book, is intriguing. Scenes of what it is like to be blind, to live in a world of darkness, too see the darkness, are sublime. Although not the nicest of people, easy to identify with, both characters are alive and vivid. The problem and the lost star I believe was the attempt to mix this innovative and successful style with a genre fiction piece.
This being my first Adair I can see that if he took the leash off each allowing them to scamper where they might like to go within their own books a great success could be in store.
October 1, 2021
Bu kitabı nadirkitap'ta kargo bedavaya gelsin diye almıştım. Değişik bir şeyler okuyayım diye başladım geçen. Kitabın sonlarına kadar ne kadar da iyi bir kitap seçmişim, gizli bir hazine buldum diye düşünüyordum. Ancak kitabın sonu beni hayal kırıklığına uğrattı.
Önce çok beğendiğim taraflarından bahsedeyim. Feud filmini/ oyununu gördüyseniz, hikaye ona çok benziyor. İki kişi arasındaki gerilimli diyaloglar. Diyalog demişken, kitap sadece diyaloglardan ve bir günlükten oluşuyor. Ama bu inanılmaz zekice çünkü olay örgüsünü görme engelli bir adamın gözünden takip ediyoruz. Görmeyen biri de doğal olarak duyduklarını anlatabilir değil mi?
Genelde okuduğum romanlarda ters köşeler çok hoşuma gider. Bu kitabın da bir ters köşesi var sonunda ama sanırım ilk defa bu ters köşe hiç hoşuma gitmedi. Çünkü sanki o ters köşeye kadar kitabın izleği bambaşka gibiydi, sonrasında bambaşka ve bence daha önce hiç ipucu verilmemiş bir noktaya gitti ve ben o noktayı hiç beğenmedim.
Yine de yazar ilk defa okuduğum ve adını duymadığım biriydi, diğer kitaplarını da okuma isteği uyandırdı.
Önce çok beğendiğim taraflarından bahsedeyim. Feud filmini/ oyununu gördüyseniz, hikaye ona çok benziyor. İki kişi arasındaki gerilimli diyaloglar. Diyalog demişken, kitap sadece diyaloglardan ve bir günlükten oluşuyor. Ama bu inanılmaz zekice çünkü olay örgüsünü görme engelli bir adamın gözünden takip ediyoruz. Görmeyen biri de doğal olarak duyduklarını anlatabilir değil mi?
Genelde okuduğum romanlarda ters köşeler çok hoşuma gider. Bu kitabın da bir ters köşesi var sonunda ama sanırım ilk defa bu ters köşe hiç hoşuma gitmedi. Çünkü sanki o ters köşeye kadar kitabın izleği bambaşka gibiydi, sonrasında bambaşka ve bence daha önce hiç ipucu verilmemiş bir noktaya gitti ve ben o noktayı hiç beğenmedim.
Yine de yazar ilk defa okuduğum ve adını duymadığım biriydi, diğer kitaplarını da okuma isteği uyandırdı.
November 20, 2023
#dnf %33
beni içine çeker, meraklanır heyecanlanırım umuduyla okumaya çalıştım ama olduramadım.
sadece diyaloglardan oluşan bir olay örgüsü vardı,ki bu benim için sorun olmazdı ama hiçbir şey içimde uyandırmadı...
beni içine çeker, meraklanır heyecanlanırım umuduyla okumaya çalıştım ama olduramadım.
sadece diyaloglardan oluşan bir olay örgüsü vardı,ki bu benim için sorun olmazdı ama hiçbir şey içimde uyandırmadı...
January 14, 2010
I am a fan of Adair - all of his books are worth reading. His subject matter is extremely varied but the defining link is his interest in deconstruction.
A Clsed Book is clever, very readable but with a fatal flaw in its conception which it would be a shame to divulge as the unexpected nature of the narrative is central. This is a kind of Agatha Christie/Hitchcock thriller which questions the whole art of how a writer creates a world and misleads the reader.
A Clsed Book is clever, very readable but with a fatal flaw in its conception which it would be a shame to divulge as the unexpected nature of the narrative is central. This is a kind of Agatha Christie/Hitchcock thriller which questions the whole art of how a writer creates a world and misleads the reader.
May 14, 2018
Μου είχε φανεί έτσι κι έτσι, αλλά με κράτησε να το διαβάσω ως το τέλος, σε μια περίοδο που είχα πρόβλημα με τα βιβλία. Οπότε, κάποιο ενδιαφέρον το είχε.
July 20, 2024
Überlege gerade die englische Ausgabe zu lesen, auf deutsch ist das schon so lange her.
Read
January 24, 2024most known for his virtuoso translation of la disparition by perec, turns out he could also come up with some pretty wildly creative and fun ideas himself. a blind author hires someone to type up his book and generally describe the world for him. somehow one of the most tense things i've read for ages, which is pretty impressive given that it's a thriller that doesn't even tell you what the stakes were until the last few pages. i think it being entirely through dialogue helped with that you're just constantly on edge about what people mean when they say things and there's nothing else to ground you, it's great
November 13, 2018
Hmm, interesant şi nu chiar un thriller - mai greu de încadrat deşi nici postmodernist pe de-a-ntregul nu as numi acest mic roman ciudăţel al lui Gilbert Adair. Am apreciat naratiunea dialogată care-i dă un aspect de roman teatral ca şi schimbarea de percepţie asupra personajelor din final.
A good reading.
A good reading.
June 2, 2018
I was sure that this was going to become an all-time favourite until the last 40 pages or so. The story was beyond intriguing. We had insight from a narrator who seemed very confident, helpful and skilled, but we, unfortunately, could view him only through a talented writer's eyes, which had been clouded forever. I flew through his book, flipping the pages incessantly, thinking about it while doing other mundane activities; which doesn't happen to me quite often.
However, the ending was not only shocking but worth quite a few grimaces from me. Perhaps, another would have enjoyed it but it just didn't fit in well with me. Nevertheless, a pretty fantastic read, one which I wouldn't hesitate to pick up again and read up until the last section.
However, the ending was not only shocking but worth quite a few grimaces from me. Perhaps, another would have enjoyed it but it just didn't fit in well with me. Nevertheless, a pretty fantastic read, one which I wouldn't hesitate to pick up again and read up until the last section.
July 30, 2018
Ein blinder Schriftsteller engagiert einen jungen Mann, der mit ihm in seinem Haus in den Cotswolds leben und ihm bei der Verfassung eines autobiografischen Texts helfen soll. Das gesamte Buch besteht aus Dialogen zwischen diesen beiden (nur selten kommen weitere Figuren hinzu), der Stil ist phantastisch. Man ahnt die ganze Zeit ein Geheimnis, aber nicht nur das hält den Leser bei der Stange; auch der Prozess des Schreibens und die Art wie dieser bestimmte Autor schreibt, werden wunderbar karikiert.
Es fällt schwer das Genre zu bestimmen: Literatursatire? Kammerspiel? Krimi?
Auf jeden Fall: Witzig, britisch, boshaft, brillant, spannend!
Es fällt schwer das Genre zu bestimmen: Literatursatire? Kammerspiel? Krimi?
Auf jeden Fall: Witzig, britisch, boshaft, brillant, spannend!
January 16, 2012
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was very clever to only write in dialogue, as the main character is blind and so can only discover what is going on based on what he hears/feels. The dialogue was never boring and it was well thought out and written. The plot was intresting and the twists, whilst I sort of expecting them (it started to fall into place about half way through), it still somewhat shocked me.
October 11, 2017
Ich bin wirklich froh eines schönen Tages über Gilbert Adair gestolpert zu sein, nicht nur wegen der Evadne Mount-Trilogie, sondern auch wegen einer Perle wie Bildband. Die Geschichte des blinden Autoren und seines Gehilfen kommt gänzlich ohne szenische Beschreibungen aus und lebt rein von seinen Dialogen.
Es ist ein stürmischer Abend, an dem Sir Paul, ein einsamer, erfolgreicher und vermögender Schriftsteller, den jungen John Ryder einstellt, damit er ihm beim Schreiben seines neuen Buches hilft. Während seiner Tätigkeit soll Ryder auch bei dem alten Mann wohnen – in einem einsamen Herrenhaus in tiefster englischer Provinz. Sir Paul will ihm seine Autobiographie diktieren, weil er sie selbst nicht mehr schreiben kann. Seit einem Autounfall ist er erblindet und auf Hilfe angewiesen.
Die Atmosphäre in dem Buch ist von Anfang an befremdlich, zuweilen auch grotesk. Das Unheil liegt bereits von Beginn an in der Luft, ohne dass man es an etwas Konkretem festmachen könnte. Im weiten Verlauf scheint sich die düstere Vorahnung zu bewahrheiten, denn es häufen sich irrwitzige Vorfälle, die auf ein sadistisches Spiel schließen lassen. Wer würde einen Blinden wegen eines Puzzles an der Nase herumführen? Wer würde ihm erzählen, Tony Blair sei an AIDS verstorben? Irgendetwas, ahnt der Leser, scheint den Schriftsteller und seinen Adlatus miteinander zu verbinden. Aber auch Sir Paul ist gewiss kein Sympathieträger, sondern verschlagen und arrogant. Spielt John Ryder überhaupt ein falsches Spiel oder bildet sich der alte Mann alles nur ein?
Was Blindband auszeichnet, ist nicht einmal der Plot an sich, der zum Ende leider etwas abfällt. Das Besondere ist, dass die Blindheit Sir Pauls die Erzählstruktur vorgibt. Aldair schreibt einen reinen Dialogroman, der ohne erklärende Worte auskommt und nur geringfügig von tagebuchartigen Einschüben Sir Pauls unterbrochen ist. Keine Stimmungen oder Zustände werden beschrieben, keine Physiognomien veranschaulicht. Als Leser sehen wir genausowenig wie der blinde Sir Paul und dennoch hat man nie das Gefühl, dem Buch fehlt etwas Wesentliches.
Es ist ein stürmischer Abend, an dem Sir Paul, ein einsamer, erfolgreicher und vermögender Schriftsteller, den jungen John Ryder einstellt, damit er ihm beim Schreiben seines neuen Buches hilft. Während seiner Tätigkeit soll Ryder auch bei dem alten Mann wohnen – in einem einsamen Herrenhaus in tiefster englischer Provinz. Sir Paul will ihm seine Autobiographie diktieren, weil er sie selbst nicht mehr schreiben kann. Seit einem Autounfall ist er erblindet und auf Hilfe angewiesen.
Die Atmosphäre in dem Buch ist von Anfang an befremdlich, zuweilen auch grotesk. Das Unheil liegt bereits von Beginn an in der Luft, ohne dass man es an etwas Konkretem festmachen könnte. Im weiten Verlauf scheint sich die düstere Vorahnung zu bewahrheiten, denn es häufen sich irrwitzige Vorfälle, die auf ein sadistisches Spiel schließen lassen. Wer würde einen Blinden wegen eines Puzzles an der Nase herumführen? Wer würde ihm erzählen, Tony Blair sei an AIDS verstorben? Irgendetwas, ahnt der Leser, scheint den Schriftsteller und seinen Adlatus miteinander zu verbinden. Aber auch Sir Paul ist gewiss kein Sympathieträger, sondern verschlagen und arrogant. Spielt John Ryder überhaupt ein falsches Spiel oder bildet sich der alte Mann alles nur ein?
Was Blindband auszeichnet, ist nicht einmal der Plot an sich, der zum Ende leider etwas abfällt. Das Besondere ist, dass die Blindheit Sir Pauls die Erzählstruktur vorgibt. Aldair schreibt einen reinen Dialogroman, der ohne erklärende Worte auskommt und nur geringfügig von tagebuchartigen Einschüben Sir Pauls unterbrochen ist. Keine Stimmungen oder Zustände werden beschrieben, keine Physiognomien veranschaulicht. Als Leser sehen wir genausowenig wie der blinde Sir Paul und dennoch hat man nie das Gefühl, dem Buch fehlt etwas Wesentliches.
September 5, 2021
Ce legătură ar putea exista între autoportretul lui Rembrandt, realizat cu două zile înainte de moarte, un scriitor faimos rămas fără vedere în urma unui accident și un tânăr cu un trecut misterios?Să facem împreună un exercițiu de imaginație, reamintindu-ne pentru o clipă cel mai cumplit coșmar al omenirii: un spațiu îngust, cufundat în întuneric. Imposibilitatea oricărei evadări. Asfixierea treptată și agonică. Singurătatea absolută și conștiința morții inevitabile. Legând cele două informații de până acum, obținem indiciul-cheie al cărții lui Adair, un roman sufocant, cumplit, coșmaresc, al rătăcirii prin întuneric și lipsei oricărei certitudini. Plotul este unul simplu, crescând ambiguitatea: un scriitor rămas fără vedere își „cumpără” o pereche de ochi – pe John, un tânăr londonez despre care nu știe mare lucru și care are misiunea de a-i descrie lumea din jur, așa cum o percepe, astfel încât acesta să-și poată scrie ultima carte, niște memorii presărate cu aforisme și cugetări legate, evident, de orbire. Numai că intrarea misterioasei călăuze în viața lui Paul va avea consecințe greu de bănuit dinainte: în încercarea de a reconstitui istoria actuală, Paul va afla despre cele mai năstrușnice schimbări în cursul unei lumi de care se izolase deja de ceva ani – cum ar fi că Tony Blair este homosexual și are SIDA, sau că Dianei i s-a ridicat o statuie în Trafalgar Square. Un soi de solidaritate șchioapă și de amiciție bazată pe unele afinități elective deloc fericite se încheagă între cei doi, dublate în permanență de mizantropia obosită a scriitorului blazat și de un soi de furie mocnindă a tânărului său interlocutor, inexplicabilă până la surpriza majoră din final.
September 8, 2024
Необычный триллер, когда интрига раскрывается ближе к финалу.
Главных героев двое. Знаменитый и обласканный наградами писатель Пол, потеряв зрение, решает завершить литературную деятельность автобиографией. Для этой цели он нанимает секретаря, несколько бесцветного и вежливого молодого человека слегка за 30. Пол живет затворником, в дом допускается только экономка с мужем. Секретарю приходится частично выполнять функции камердинера. Писатель хорошо платит, однако отношение к окружающим остается высокомерным, порой он склонен упиваться своим несчастьем.
Некоторые читатели устают от отрывков из книги, диктуемых Полом, и их неоднократным повтором. На самом деле, они показывают характер героя. Будущая автобиография так и кишит пустословием, бесплодными умствованиями, претенциозностью. Ноль живой мысли, ноль интересных наблюдений, ноль оригинальности.
Постепенно мы натыкаемся на звоночки, свидетельствующие о том, что Джон не так прост как кажется. Постепенно они накапливаются и приводят к развязке, корень которой в прошлом героев. Автор придумал еще и ловкий сюжетный поворот, обостряющий ситуацию.
Главных героев двое. Знаменитый и обласканный наградами писатель Пол, потеряв зрение, решает завершить литературную деятельность автобиографией. Для этой цели он нанимает секретаря, несколько бесцветного и вежливого молодого человека слегка за 30. Пол живет затворником, в дом допускается только экономка с мужем. Секретарю приходится частично выполнять функции камердинера. Писатель хорошо платит, однако отношение к окружающим остается высокомерным, порой он склонен упиваться своим несчастьем.
Некоторые читатели устают от отрывков из книги, диктуемых Полом, и их неоднократным повтором. На самом деле, они показывают характер героя. Будущая автобиография так и кишит пустословием, бесплодными умствованиями, претенциозностью. Ноль живой мысли, ноль интересных наблюдений, ноль оригинальности.
Постепенно мы натыкаемся на звоночки, свидетельствующие о том, что Джон не так прост как кажется. Постепенно они накапливаются и приводят к развязке, корень которой в прошлом героев. Автор придумал еще и ловкий сюжетный поворот, обостряющий ситуацию.
March 18, 2024
Wieder ein Buch, bei dem der Klappentext viel zu viel verrät. Da ich den Einband vor dem Lesen abgenommen habe, konnte der mir nichts mehr verraten. Ich war von meiner Vorleserin gewarnt worden, dass die Schreibweise in wörtlicher Rede anstrengend sei. Das fand ich tatsächlich eher erfrischend, anstrengend fand ich nur die Phasen des Diktierens und Korrigierens, aber die waren ja zum Glück nicht so reichlich.
Ich finde es schwierig, einzuordnen, wie gut mir das Buch am Ende gefallen hat. Die Idee fand ich interessant, das Kammerspiel ist durchaus spannend, aber der so dominante Charakter des Autors sehr unsympathisch, am Ende dann völlig abstoßend. Leider ist auch John nicht darauf angelegt, sich beliebt zu machen, daher ist die Lektüre für mich nicht rundum gelungen, war aber interessant.
Ich finde es schwierig, einzuordnen, wie gut mir das Buch am Ende gefallen hat. Die Idee fand ich interessant, das Kammerspiel ist durchaus spannend, aber der so dominante Charakter des Autors sehr unsympathisch, am Ende dann völlig abstoßend. Leider ist auch John nicht darauf angelegt, sich beliebt zu machen, daher ist die Lektüre für mich nicht rundum gelungen, war aber interessant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2019
Sehr interessantes Buch; hauptsächlich in Dialogform geschrieben. Die eine Hauptperson ist blind, wodurch der Leser die Atmosphäre nur durch seine anderen Sinne und Gedanken erfährt, während der Leser sich vom anderen Hauotcharakter John nur durch seine Aussagen ein Bild machen kann.
Unerwarteter Plottwist am Ende. Hätte mir womöglich ein anderen Ende gewünscht. Aber alles in allem ein Mal etwas anderer Roman.
Unerwarteter Plottwist am Ende. Hätte mir womöglich ein anderen Ende gewünscht. Aber alles in allem ein Mal etwas anderer Roman.
April 17, 2025
The book is written mostly in direct speech which makes for an intimate reading experience. The tension and suspense rises so slowly that you don’t even trust it. I deducted one star because I felt the clarification of one of the character’s motives came too abrupt. Liked the little twist afterwards though. Overall a great and immersive experience!
February 15, 2018
Picked this up in a secondhand bookshop attracted by the back cover references to Stephen King and Agatha Christie. It is indeed a bit of both and more. All written in dialogue form which could be off putting but in my view isn’t and adds to the suspension. It’s actually more a 3.5*
July 27, 2020
Still as punchy and fast paced as I remembered it. Great thriller.
January 30, 2021
3.5 Sterne
June 26, 2021
Manages to be a gripping thriller while playing a lot with genre and metafiction. Gripped me enough that I tead this all at a stretch
February 6, 2023
john slays lowkey
April 8, 2023
A fascinating novel told almost entirely through dialogue, telling the story of a blind novelist dictating his memoir to his new assistant. Best to know no more than that! Highly Recommended
December 30, 2025
Dincolo de intrigă, mi-a plăcut felul inteligent în care Adair și-a construit cartea: o narațiune fără narator, metatextualiate, reflecție asupra infirmității, a scriiturii și a scriitorului, relația acestuia cu propria opera și felul în care se raportează la ale altora, imixtiunea ochiului „celuilalt”, suspiciunea, maniile, egoismul. Totul (sau aproape totul, fiindcă există și fragmentele răzlețe, de jurnal manuscris, aparținând lui Sir Paul) se reduce la dialog. Ca și cum ai auzi cartea, nu ai citi-o. Iar ceea ce vezi este doar prin ochii asistentului sau ai doamnei Kilbride, menajera „analfabetă” și „slobodă la gură”, prin ochii căreia lumea se dezvăluie uneori complet diferit față de cei ai lui John Ryder, asistentul. Vezi numai ce solicită Sir Paul să vadă el însuși, deși nu știe/nu știi sigur dacă lucrurile corespund realității.
Un dialog „à l'aveugle” din care cresc în mintea cititorului imagini, asocieri, idei, întâmplări, amintiri, anticipări. Cartea este un puzzle, precum cel pe care scriitorul îi cere secretarului său să-l reconstituie. Nu ai certitudinea nici că este puzzle-ul este cel indicat, nici că recompunerea lui este cea așteptată.
Romanul are, cu siguranță, multe calități stilistice. Doar că, uneori, parcă simți un oarecare manierism, nemaivorbind de ritmul prea lent, pe alocuri. Spre exemplu, atunci când îi dictează lui John, precizându-i cu precizie punctuația, Adair revine de prea multe ori asupra textului (știu că vrea să semnifice multe lucruri, dar excesul devine obositor).
Interesant, sumbru, cu fraze memorabile. O provocare pentru orice cititor.
Un dialog „à l'aveugle” din care cresc în mintea cititorului imagini, asocieri, idei, întâmplări, amintiri, anticipări. Cartea este un puzzle, precum cel pe care scriitorul îi cere secretarului său să-l reconstituie. Nu ai certitudinea nici că este puzzle-ul este cel indicat, nici că recompunerea lui este cea așteptată.
Romanul are, cu siguranță, multe calități stilistice. Doar că, uneori, parcă simți un oarecare manierism, nemaivorbind de ritmul prea lent, pe alocuri. Spre exemplu, atunci când îi dictează lui John, precizându-i cu precizie punctuația, Adair revine de prea multe ori asupra textului (știu că vrea să semnifice multe lucruri, dar excesul devine obositor).
Interesant, sumbru, cu fraze memorabile. O provocare pentru orice cititor.
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