Review from The Historical Novel Society:
Set in the 1950s, the book begins with George travelling home on the tube and wondering how he is going to give his wife Dorothy some bad news. As a punishment for his affair with the boss’s daughter, Emma, he has been transferred to Malaya, which is at the moment experiencing upheavals with communist rebels. She does not take the news well.
The scene is set for a slow breakdown of marriage throughout the sea voyage and the heat filled days in Malaya. The couple’s only daughter, Susan, is originally left behind at boarding school but later comes over to Malaya, and we see events of overt violence but also observations of secrets and unspoken feelings through her eyes. The worlds of England and Malaysia are contrasted effectively, and there are strong evocative descriptions of Malaya. The sights, sounds, smells and the alien nature of it for Dorothy means she is increasingly unhappy.
The title was a little confusing, however, as it seems to suggest some great love affair, but I gained little sense of any overwhelming love. George misses Emma and writes her letters but still has time and some emotion left for another affair with someone else. More themes of self harm and lesbianism also appear somewhat unheralded at the end of the novel and didn’t fully coalesce with the rest of the novel for me. The plot explores states of mind and the internal life of characters rather than being action packed, and several parts of the novel were very interesting. It isn’t as cohesive as it could have been, therefore, but nevertheless offers some illuminating and engaging moments.
Welcome to Amanda's home page. Amanda writes full length novels, short stories and poetry. Her characters are often a little different from the norm, outsiders who sometimes feel at odds with the world. She uses locations from the exotic to the everyday, from colonial Malaysia, to a contemporary town suburb in southern England. Her stories reflect historical and political events through which she weaves a narrative.
Wednesday 4 July 2012
Monday 6 June 2011
Review From Bookish Magpie blogspothttp://bookishmagpie.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html
The Eloquence of Desire is a provocative story set in the 1950s, about a family and how they all suffer from the consequences when the husband is unfaithful.
George, his wife Dorothy, and Susan, their twelve-year-old daughter, live a quiet life in England until they all have their lives turned upside down when George has an affair with the daughter of his boss and he is punished by being sent to work in Malaya. Dorothy has no choice but to go with him but they decide to leave Susan in a boarding school in England.
Inevitably, this forced exile puts an immense strain on the family and each of them deals with it in a different way.
George and Dorothy attempt to settle into their new life and deal with the circumstances that have altered their lives so dramatically by maintaining the pretense of a happy marriage but Dorothy becomes a frightened recluse and George becomes involved with another woman. When their daughter subsequently arrives, an incident occurs that affects all of them in a profound way.
The author creates a strong sense of time and place with the exotic setting in Malaya brought to life with vivid descriptions of the birds, the gardens, and the intense heat. The contrast between the lifestyle of the native Malay people and that of the British expats with their live-in servants is also striking.
There is a constant threat from the Communist uprising in the background of the story. That threat plus the hot, humid climate adds an extra layer of tension to the story and a sense of foreboding. Indeed, I had a strong feeling of claustrophobia while reading the story which reflects how the characters feel - trapped in an unhappy marriage and in a place far away from their safe lives in England.
All the characters are superbly drawn although it has to be said that none of them are particularly likeable characters, especially George. However, saying that, the author makes it easy to understand how each of the characters feels and why they react the way they do.
The Eloquence of Desire is about the repercussions of infidelity, and the way individuals cope when their lives start to unravel. Ultimately, it's about how desire and obsessive love can destroy relationships but also about how people can adapt and change.
The Eloquence of Desire is an atmospheric novel with thought-provoking themes,
George, his wife Dorothy, and Susan, their twelve-year-old daughter, live a quiet life in England until they all have their lives turned upside down when George has an affair with the daughter of his boss and he is punished by being sent to work in Malaya. Dorothy has no choice but to go with him but they decide to leave Susan in a boarding school in England.
Inevitably, this forced exile puts an immense strain on the family and each of them deals with it in a different way.
George and Dorothy attempt to settle into their new life and deal with the circumstances that have altered their lives so dramatically by maintaining the pretense of a happy marriage but Dorothy becomes a frightened recluse and George becomes involved with another woman. When their daughter subsequently arrives, an incident occurs that affects all of them in a profound way.
The author creates a strong sense of time and place with the exotic setting in Malaya brought to life with vivid descriptions of the birds, the gardens, and the intense heat. The contrast between the lifestyle of the native Malay people and that of the British expats with their live-in servants is also striking.
There is a constant threat from the Communist uprising in the background of the story. That threat plus the hot, humid climate adds an extra layer of tension to the story and a sense of foreboding. Indeed, I had a strong feeling of claustrophobia while reading the story which reflects how the characters feel - trapped in an unhappy marriage and in a place far away from their safe lives in England.
All the characters are superbly drawn although it has to be said that none of them are particularly likeable characters, especially George. However, saying that, the author makes it easy to understand how each of the characters feels and why they react the way they do.
The Eloquence of Desire is about the repercussions of infidelity, and the way individuals cope when their lives start to unravel. Ultimately, it's about how desire and obsessive love can destroy relationships but also about how people can adapt and change.
The Eloquence of Desire is an atmospheric novel with thought-provoking themes,
Saturday 2 April 2011
e-book
My publishers, Sparkling Books are doing a promotional exercise with The Eloquence of Desire e-book. Hope more people become aware of it and buy it! E-book available at Waterstones and Amazon
Thursday 24 March 2011
E-Book
The Eloquence of Desire is available in hard back, paper back and e-book (Waterstones or Amazon)
The London Book Fair
The Eloquence of Desire will be shown on Sparklin Book's stall at The London Book Fair from April 11-13th 2011. Book bloggers, book lovers, agents, publishers, media...all will be there
Monday 29 November 2010
Short Story The Zoo Keeper has been published on Ether Books
Ether Books have just published my short story, The Zoo Keeper. Available on iPads
http://www.etherbooks.co.uk/Community/?p=393
http://www.etherbooks.co.uk/Community/?p=393
Tuesday 22 June 2010
My novel writing group
Up and running with nine very nice students - all keen to learn and writing well. Great!
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