The Fall by Simon Mawer
But consider how many relationships survive sewn together with tacit complicity and mutual deception. It’s the cold light of discovery that’s so dangerous. Better to live with the lies. (P. 170)
Book #41 in my 50 book challenge for the year was highly recommended to me by two members of my writing group. One said it was the perfect mix of story and craft. Mostly, I agree. Mawer tells a story that shifts back and forth in time, and back and forth among characters. Nonetheless, he always maintains strict authorial control, and the story unfolds seamlessly. I don’t agree that it is perfect because of characterization. There was one character who became sympathetic only as it served the story. Once it did no longer, she slipped back into her not very complex self. Another character, also a woman, had an almost cruel lack of redeeming qualities. Finally, the main character, Rob, never really seemed a character in and of himself, only as he related to the other characters. The characters never came alive for me, so I found it worthwhile, but not superlative.