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,
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.
Monday, 6 June 2011
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!
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
New Novel Writing Course
A 10 session course led by Amanda Sington-Williams
Location: The Hanover Community Centre,
33 Southover Street
Brighton
BN2 9UD
Time 19.00 -21.00
Start Date: 2nd June 2010 and alternate Wednesdays with a break in August. Final session 3rd November 2010.
£70.00 for ten sessions. A maximum of 8 places available.
This 10 session course is designed for people who are planning or have started a novel. The course will cover characterisation, plot, tension, structure, narrative voice, location, the process of editing, and preparing a synopsis. Feedback on current writing projects will be incorporated into the sessions in order to build confidence
Amanda Sington-Williams is a published novelist and an experienced teacher. She has an MA in Creative Writing and Authorship from Sussex University
http://www.amandasingtonwilliams.co.u/
For enquiries please contact info@amandasingtonwilliams.co.uk or amandajanewilliams1@yahoo.co.uk
Location: The Hanover Community Centre,
33 Southover Street
Brighton
BN2 9UD
Time 19.00 -21.00
Start Date: 2nd June 2010 and alternate Wednesdays with a break in August. Final session 3rd November 2010.
£70.00 for ten sessions. A maximum of 8 places available.
This 10 session course is designed for people who are planning or have started a novel. The course will cover characterisation, plot, tension, structure, narrative voice, location, the process of editing, and preparing a synopsis. Feedback on current writing projects will be incorporated into the sessions in order to build confidence
Amanda Sington-Williams is a published novelist and an experienced teacher. She has an MA in Creative Writing and Authorship from Sussex University
http://www.amandasingtonwilliams.co.u/
For enquiries please contact info@amandasingtonwilliams.co.uk or amandajanewilliams1@yahoo.co.uk
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