The End of the Affair
Published by: AudioGo
Published on: February 2009
Page Count: 192 (Penguin November 1999 edition)
Genre: Fiction, Literature
My Reading Format: Audiobook purchased with credits from Audible.com
Narrator: Michael Kitchen
Audiobook Length: 6 hours 26 minutes
Available Formats: Paperback, eBook, audiobook
My Review
From the first time I discovered that Graham Greene was a Catholic author, I wanted to check out his work. This was years and years ago, but it wasn’t until The End of the Affair was marked down on Audible.com that I finally took the plunge. What a waste of years! The End of the Affair is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
The story of Bendrix’s affair with Sarah and its aftermath are so perfect, so true. Bendrix is never quite certain if his story is about love or hate, despair or hope. It is always one extreme or the other. When he believes his competition for Sarah’s love is her husband or another man, he hates Sarah in his despair and wants to destroy her. He cannot bare not knowing what took her away. It stifles his art and eats him alive. When he ultimately learns the truth about the ending of their relationship, he is elated and at once certain that he can overcome it all.
Michael Kitchen narrated the audio version of this novel and he was no less than superb. This may sound odd (I think it’s odd, but I’ll share anyway), but the way Kitchen used his breath, particularly in exhaling, made it seem like Bendrix was in my car with me. We were having an intimate conversation. I could almost smell his tobacco. The effect was fantastic and could not have happened had Kitchen not been paired with such a gifted author. It was a wonderful way to first experience Graham Greene. If you’ve read The End of the Affair before and are hankering for a reread, I cannot recommend this audio version enough.
Even though I loved the audio, I found that I had to possess the book as well. A Kindle version just wouldn’t do. I immediately turned around and bought the Penguin Classics Deluxe edition of both The End of the Affair and, on Rebecca from The Book Lady’s Blog‘s suggestion, The Quiet American. As soon as they arrived, I hugged them to my chest. It felt so good and was nearly impossible for me to not start rereading The End of the Affair.
When I began reading The End of the Affair, I didn’t know what to expect. What really surprised me was the ending would have a similar affect on me as Gone With the Wind. It was so open ended and I loved every possibility. I cannot rave about it enough. The End of the Affair has got to be the best book I’ve read since I started blogging. More Graham Greene, please. Wow!
Other Voices
You’ve read what I have to say. Why not check out these bloggers’ reviews?
Juxtabook
A Guy’s Moleskin Notebook
Vulpris Libris
Reading Matters
