A review by literarylucie
Isabelle in the Afternoon by Douglas Kennedy
4.0
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a dramatic and devastating story of passion, loneliness and a lifelong passion for love.
Before undertaking his Harvard law education, Sam knew he needed a moment of escapism and headed on a solo trip to Paris. With a very emotionally distant father and a deceased mother, Sam was accustomed to loneliness; however he never felt it as strongly as he did in Paris. This is until a chance encounter led him to the beautiful yet complex Isabelle. She was the companion he suddenly knew he needed, yet their relationship was regimented as she only allowed their rendezvous between five and seven in the evening, a few times a week. Sam, despite falling in love with this passionate Parisian woman, couldn’t accept that this restrictive time slot was all their relationship would ever be. For Isabelle was already married to a man of high importance and couldn’t be seen with Sam outside of this messy, intimate apartment. Time passes and Sam must go back to America for his education, but he always feels himself being pulled back to Paris, and to Isabelle, never truly leaving. Life ensues, along with its tragedies and heartaches, but this love affair beginning in a small Parisian bookstore lasts for decades to come.
Transience is one of my favourite themes in any book; the idea that things are temporary and only last a short time before they adapt and change into something new. The transience of life is inevitable and unavoidable, which gives you greater appreciation for the fleeting moments in life; these moments are fragile and should be experienced with intensity to get the most out of them. That’s how I feel these characters go through life, perhaps exaggerated slightly, but I feel like the characters understand that the moments they share together are powerful and should be cherished, especially considering the tragedies they both face along the way.
Their encounters may be temporary, but their love transcends a lifetime.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is truly a stunning book, with characters and relationships that develop with such passion and intensity. But with that intensity there is so much complexity, as love is not a simple and straightforward concept but one that is always changing and evolving. This book will not just make you question the characters relationships, but also the relationship you have with yourself.
Before undertaking his Harvard law education, Sam knew he needed a moment of escapism and headed on a solo trip to Paris. With a very emotionally distant father and a deceased mother, Sam was accustomed to loneliness; however he never felt it as strongly as he did in Paris. This is until a chance encounter led him to the beautiful yet complex Isabelle. She was the companion he suddenly knew he needed, yet their relationship was regimented as she only allowed their rendezvous between five and seven in the evening, a few times a week. Sam, despite falling in love with this passionate Parisian woman, couldn’t accept that this restrictive time slot was all their relationship would ever be. For Isabelle was already married to a man of high importance and couldn’t be seen with Sam outside of this messy, intimate apartment. Time passes and Sam must go back to America for his education, but he always feels himself being pulled back to Paris, and to Isabelle, never truly leaving. Life ensues, along with its tragedies and heartaches, but this love affair beginning in a small Parisian bookstore lasts for decades to come.
Transience is one of my favourite themes in any book; the idea that things are temporary and only last a short time before they adapt and change into something new. The transience of life is inevitable and unavoidable, which gives you greater appreciation for the fleeting moments in life; these moments are fragile and should be experienced with intensity to get the most out of them. That’s how I feel these characters go through life, perhaps exaggerated slightly, but I feel like the characters understand that the moments they share together are powerful and should be cherished, especially considering the tragedies they both face along the way.
Their encounters may be temporary, but their love transcends a lifetime.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is truly a stunning book, with characters and relationships that develop with such passion and intensity. But with that intensity there is so much complexity, as love is not a simple and straightforward concept but one that is always changing and evolving. This book will not just make you question the characters relationships, but also the relationship you have with yourself.