Que dire, que penser !

J'ai adoré certains passages, mais un peu moins d'autres et c'est toujours un peu frustrant quand on pense être tombé sur un livre génial !

Ce livre, c'est l'histoire d'un triangle amoureux entre Stuart, Oliver et Gillian. Bon, vu comme ça, rien d'inédit, et pourtant ! Les points de vues alternent entre chaque personnages et c'est très drôle de voir la même scène racontée par l'un puis par l'autre. L'auteur est bon, (très bon même) et chaque personnage a vraiment sa manière propre de s'exprimer et de parler. Très vite, même si on ne les aime pas, on s'attache et on comprends leur point de vue.
Et pour finir, tant qu'on est dans les qualités du livre, les détails font que ce livre et les relations entre les personnages paraissent si réels ! Ce qui a gâché un peu la lecture, c'est je pense le manque de réelle intrigue. Mais sinon, c'était bien :)

Maybe my problem here was that I read [b:Love, Etc.|45370|Love, Etc.|Julian Barnes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320471718l/45370._SY75_.jpg|2426293] first, but both books stand alone quite well. Talking it Over just wasn't quite up to it's sequel though.

Here Stuart, Oliver and Gillian are all younger and less wise. All 3 were annoying in their way. Stuart is like a worshipful puppy until he isn't. Gillian is like the stereotypical attractive girl who lets things happen to her so she doesn't have to lift a finger (or take the blame). Oliver is just all-around annoying, pompous and self-obsessed. In Love, Etc. all this has tempered. My interest here was held, though, by seeing that arc of development that led to the deeper, more grounded people in Love, Etc.

The central love metaphor here is love is like money: it's an economic exchange. Not nearly as interesting or fruitful as the focus of Love, Etc. (there's love and there's etc. (everything else) - which fuels you?)

Well, I've basically compared the two novels and found this one lacking in every way. Is that fair? Probably not - but it's what I was thinking the whole time I read.

Love triangle

My Julian Barnes bingeing continues and it's still as satisfying as the first bitebook.

What a nice surprise to come across some old friends, the threesome made up of Gillian, Stuart and Oliver, whom I first met in Love, etc., which I listened to a couple of weeks ago. Even better, this book was beautifully narrated by the same extraordinary actors, Steven Pacey, Alex Jennings, Clare Higgins. You see, when I requested this audiobook, I had no idea what it was about.

Despite the fact that the characters and the plot were very familiar, I still enjoyed listening to the three of them bickering, interacting, reminiscing and having their different takes on what had happened. This novel focuses more on the beginning of Gillian's relationship with Stuart, followed by their divorce so that Gillian could marry Oliver, Stuart's best friend.

Again, the narration is absolutely divine, as the three characters are talking directly to us, in some ways pleading their case. I liked Gillian, despite the fact that she'd left the reliable, nice guy, albeit a bit boring, Stuart, for the good-looking charmer, with no substance or work ethic, Oliver.

Julian Barnes is a great observer of people. His intelligence and erudition are more than apparent. His command of the English language is astonishing. I feel smarter just by paying attention to his words. Being entertained and touched by his books is just a bonus.

Again, I take a bow.

3.5, rounded up.

Having only read (and enjoyed) his more recent works, which haven't exactly been laugh riots, I wasn't really prepared for this earlier witty work. The one thing I really appreciated is how each of the three main narrators have distinct 'voices' - which I find is usually my bête noire when it comes to the multiple points of view style. What I didn't find all that successful was the story itself, or the fact that none of the three are easy to like - Stuart and Gillian being a bit - dull, and Oliver being an unmitigated a-hole, even though he somewhat hijacks the narrative with his exuberance. The ending is also a bit muffed, but I liked it enough to continue on to the sequel...

I loved the way the book was presented, a series monologues by the various characters, the characters are wonderfully developed, and a great ending, all you could want.

From BBC Radio 4:
A tale of love's vicissitudes written by Julian Barnes and dramatised by Julia Stoneham.

It is difficult getting over Oliver's irritating voice and trying to like this book... I found myself skimming through the pages where he is the narrator. I didn't particularly take to Gillan's character as well, neither did I think it was all that believable. She didn't come across as a real person. I mean, whoever is ok with wearing the same dress to their two weddings? (sorry about the spoiler). But I still enjoyed the book and read it almost in one sitting and now I find myself looking forward to Love etc. I guess in spite of their unlikeability, you do get involved in the character's lives.