Decades now, their friendship. Since college, since the first day of college. They confided in one another, they hugged. Not like men but like friends. Really loving hugs, clutches without irony. People envied them; they measured their lives against what they had.
Amos and Emerson have been the closest of friends since they were roommates at college. Now in their early fifties, they’re both successful, married and with teenage daughters of the same age. Emerson had introduced Claire to Amos whose troubled background is very different from the privileged one his friend and wife share. Both Claire and Retsy are struggling with their sixteen-year-old daughters’ adolescence, relieved when Sophie takes Anna off to her room. The weekend pans out, following a familiar pattern, but when Emerson suffers an injury while playing tennis with Amos, his frustration results in a betrayal whose repercussions will be profound.
But it had never worked for long. Because words were just words. And it wasn’t an idea her thoughts hoped to shut down; it was an unchangeable fact. What he did. What he had done. What would always be true.
Ebbott’s novel gets off to a slow start flitting back and forth between his characters, establishing relationships between them and how they feel about each other. These are people who share the intimacy of decades of friendship, who have seen each other at their worst and, for some, most vulnerable. The bonds between them are tightly woven but there are tensions and power imbalances, not least in Amos’s position as an outsider in terms of class and privilege, something he can’t put aside. The narrative takes off about halfway through after the betrayal which will threaten this relationship needed by both men in their different ways. The question is where do their priorities lie? It’s a great premise, handled interestingly, particularly at the end but I found Ebbott’s style overblown, larded with description and metaphor which got in the way for me. A shame, as the themes of class, privilege, betrayal and loyalty are perennially fascinating ones. I’ll certainly look out for Ebbott’s next novel but will approach it with caution.
Picador Books Books London 9781035055432 320 pages Hardback (Read via NetGalley)
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Hmm. In a straight choice, I tend to prefer style over content. I prefer it when authors get both right. But decision made for the time being. It’s not in the library catalogue.
I think you can safely leave this one.
The premise does sound promising, what a shame. I think we like a similar style so I’ll give this one a miss.
I think you can happily swerve this one!
Not selling it to me either Susan. It’s disappointing when a premise goes off the rails, even if it’s the style rail!
It is, particularly when the premise is so good and so well developed.
I know we both particularly enjoy books/stories about friendship(s). It’s hard to find really satisfying ones though.
Definitely a theme I often return to. I was sorry this one didn’t work so well for me but for fans of this particular writing style it would be worth seeking out.
Good, honest review.
Thank you. Can’t love ’em all!
I’ve just started this (about 40 pages in)… fear I’m already hate-reading – the style is so overblown! And it’s so ‘white male privilege’…!
I stuck with it for the premise but the style is painfully overdone, and you’re right about the privilege.