lady___lazarus's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
juannaranjo's review against another edition
3.0
Cuando te enamoras de un autor que no conocías de antes, alguien debería darte una especie de manual de uso... y es que si empiezas por su mejor obra ("Mientras Inglaterra duerme"), las demás te parecen un poco decepcionantes.
La especialidad de Leavitt son las radiografías de las relaciones familiares y sentimentales, y en esta obra suya (una de las más famosas) nos introduce en la vida de una familia americana (madre moribunda, padre mujeriego y fracasado, hija estrella lésbica de la canción protesta, hijo abogado gay de NY), y analiza la historia y el presente de los distintos vínculos dentro de la misma familia. Sin embargo, se centra demasiado en la enfermedad de la madre, y a mí se me ha hecho un poquito largo.
La especialidad de Leavitt son las radiografías de las relaciones familiares y sentimentales, y en esta obra suya (una de las más famosas) nos introduce en la vida de una familia americana (madre moribunda, padre mujeriego y fracasado, hija estrella lésbica de la canción protesta, hijo abogado gay de NY), y analiza la historia y el presente de los distintos vínculos dentro de la misma familia. Sin embargo, se centra demasiado en la enfermedad de la madre, y a mí se me ha hecho un poquito largo.
nikolirma's review against another edition
5.0
The Puzzle of Life
In front of the eyes of the reader, David Leavitt paints a blurry family portrait. The blank canvas slowly fills with people – first they are represented by mere outlines; then, slowly, they acquire sharp details, both beautiful and ugly. Just as in real life – and in a human mind – the novel jumps from one person to another; from a fantasy to a memory; from past to present. The tone is bittersweet, yet not sentimental; the metaphors novel and engaging. In front of the reader slowly emerge people entangled in complex relationships; people haunted and influenced by their past, their memories and their desires. The brighter the picture gets, the more cracks in it appear. But the overall feeling we are left with is not in the least depressive; if anything, then it is civil, vibrant, sincere and – in the long run – hopeful. People and life in general, Leavitt seems to be suggesting, are far from being perfect, but when there's love, there's always hope.
In front of the eyes of the reader, David Leavitt paints a blurry family portrait. The blank canvas slowly fills with people – first they are represented by mere outlines; then, slowly, they acquire sharp details, both beautiful and ugly. Just as in real life – and in a human mind – the novel jumps from one person to another; from a fantasy to a memory; from past to present. The tone is bittersweet, yet not sentimental; the metaphors novel and engaging. In front of the reader slowly emerge people entangled in complex relationships; people haunted and influenced by their past, their memories and their desires. The brighter the picture gets, the more cracks in it appear. But the overall feeling we are left with is not in the least depressive; if anything, then it is civil, vibrant, sincere and – in the long run – hopeful. People and life in general, Leavitt seems to be suggesting, are far from being perfect, but when there's love, there's always hope.
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This took me by surprise. I loved 'The Lost Language of Cranes', but staved off reading this book for a long time because I was sure nothing could compare; I was halfway through it before I was proven wrong.
Equal Affections is well named its title taken from W.H. Auden's "The More Loving One", quoting it for the epigraph:
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
The novel centers on Louise and her family. A stay-at-home mother and faculty wife, she has been living under the shadow of cancer for twenty years. Her husband Nat, once devoted to her, has become distant as he is left behind in his field of computer science. Her two grown children, April and Danny, are both gay, something her eccentric sister sends her psychological articles about. April found brief fame as a counter-culture singer/songwriter and Danny managed her career in the lesbian festival circuit until he met law student Walter and became a lawyer himself. Walter is a porn addict and frequents sex chat-rooms. Leavitt goes at great lengths to portray how each of the characters' feelings wax and wane never seeming to meet at the same level at the same time.
Leavitt goes to such great lengths that the book threatened to become an elaborate character study without much to go on - but, things happen. Reading on the bus, mildly entertained, I was suddenly overcome. The novel had reeled me in slowly and from that point on I hated to pause for anything. The book is not as powerful as 'The Lost Language of Cranes', but it was not all that Leavitt has to offer a reader.
Equal Affections is well named its title taken from W.H. Auden's "The More Loving One", quoting it for the epigraph:
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
The novel centers on Louise and her family. A stay-at-home mother and faculty wife, she has been living under the shadow of cancer for twenty years. Her husband Nat, once devoted to her, has become distant as he is left behind in his field of computer science. Her two grown children, April and Danny, are both gay, something her eccentric sister sends her psychological articles about. April found brief fame as a counter-culture singer/songwriter and Danny managed her career in the lesbian festival circuit until he met law student Walter and became a lawyer himself. Walter is a porn addict and frequents sex chat-rooms. Leavitt goes at great lengths to portray how each of the characters' feelings wax and wane never seeming to meet at the same level at the same time.
Leavitt goes to such great lengths that the book threatened to become an elaborate character study without much to go on - but, things happen. Reading on the bus, mildly entertained, I was suddenly overcome. The novel had reeled me in slowly and from that point on I hated to pause for anything. The book is not as powerful as 'The Lost Language of Cranes', but it was not all that Leavitt has to offer a reader.
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