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Review
`The Intimates manages that all too rare feat of being a deeply psychological character study whilst at the same time playing out as a bonafide page-turner. Excellently paced, insightfully created, and with moments of genuine genius, The Intimates is an opulently written, high concept piece which explores the psychology of human relationships. Mankowski has a timeless style- highly polished and brilliantly evocative.' --A.J. Kirby, author and reviewer for The New York Journal of Books
'A clever conceit and a compelling narrative.' --Edward Stourton, BBC broadcaster, journalist and author.
`A huge accomplishment. With expert prose Mankowski draws the reader into a world where layers of secrets are slowly and skilfully stripped away. Lyrical and yet accessible, with character dynamics to die for.' --Gary Murning, author of `If I Never'
`An intricately wrought and enchanting first novel, The Intimates is a measured, literary piece of work as hauntingly evocative of its setting and characters as Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer prize winner Housekeeping.' --Abigail Tarttelin, actress and author of `Flick'
'From one of the most exciting young authors on the literary scene, this is a fascinating debut novel where love, ambition and jealousy collide. Described as 'the modern Great Gatsby', this is a glamorous read for the train journey to work.' --Rookie Magazine
'Mankowski's ability to construct and develop his characters is formidable and the execution of this skill adds to the compelling nature of the book. The reader is taken on a journey through a vast array of intensive and moving experiences. Fascinating and compelling, 'The Intimates' is a deep and challenging book.definitely worth a read.' -- The View From Here magazine
'An intoxicating story of a dinner party between old friends set in a glamorous, affluent world that seems to be decaying from within. Rich with thoughtful, self-analyzing dialogue, The Intimates is crying out for dramatization.' -- Culture Magazine
The Intimates has been selected as a key title for Read Regional 2011. --readregional.com
The Intimates has been selected as a key title for Read Regional 2011. --readregional.com
'A clever conceit and a compelling narrative.' --Edward Stourton, BBC broadcaster, journalist and author.
`A huge accomplishment. With expert prose Mankowski draws the reader into a world where layers of secrets are slowly and skilfully stripped away. Lyrical and yet accessible, with character dynamics to die for.' --Gary Murning, author of `If I Never'
`An intricately wrought and enchanting first novel, The Intimates is a measured, literary piece of work as hauntingly evocative of its setting and characters as Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer prize winner Housekeeping.' --Abigail Tarttelin, actress and author of `Flick'
'From one of the most exciting young authors on the literary scene, this is a fascinating debut novel where love, ambition and jealousy collide. Described as 'the modern Great Gatsby', this is a glamorous read for the train journey to work.' --Rookie Magazine
'Mankowski's ability to construct and develop his characters is formidable and the execution of this skill adds to the compelling nature of the book. The reader is taken on a journey through a vast array of intensive and moving experiences. Fascinating and compelling, 'The Intimates' is a deep and challenging book.definitely worth a read.' -- The View From Here magazine
'An intoxicating story of a dinner party between old friends set in a glamorous, affluent world that seems to be decaying from within. Rich with thoughtful, self-analyzing dialogue, The Intimates is crying out for dramatization.' -- Culture Magazine
The Intimates has been selected as a key title for Read Regional 2011. --readregional.com
The Intimates has been selected as a key title for Read Regional 2011. --readregional.com
Product Description
The Intimates believe they are the epitome of glamour. For this group of eclectic friends, life is a playground as they sing, act, and write their way to their dream lifestyles.
But not is all as it seems.
Invited to celebrate one evening together, there is a sinister undertone that threatens to expose each of these brilliantly talented failures. Dark secrets unravel, and ugly truths are revealed as each person desperately tries to hide what s buried beneath the shimmering surface.
Each trapped in a pristine image their masks begin to slip and, for some, start to disintegrate in a way that will alter their lives forever.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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The Intimates are a group of friends, all of whom have known each other for years and most since childhood. When we meet Vincent, he is asleep in an empty swimming pool and he then recounts the evening when the group got together for a party. All the Intimates had great promise, but have either peaked in their chosen career or failed in their ambitions. Vincent longs to be a writer, but is held back by his father - a successful playwright, who constantly insults and belittles him. During the evening, secrets are revealed, long held grudges are aired, jealousy and resentment explode.
This novel was originally a novella, which the author has expanded and, in fairness, he could have expanded it still further. I would have liked to see flashbacks, perhaps, giving more depth to the characters. However, the whole story revolves around the party and there are ice sculptures of all the Intimates, which gradually melt during the evening and whose existance mirrors the time passing. The story is very decadent in feel and would work well as a between the wars house party, if the problems encountered by the characters were a little less modern.
Despite feeling that the novel could have been even better, I have to say that I was totally gripped by it. I read it in one sitting and I found that I really cared about the characters, especially Vincent. Although I could say that it was unrealistic in parts, slightly self conscious in others and that the author could have made it longer, the fact is that it worked for me. Wanting a book to be longer is always a good sign! I loved it and would certainly want to read anything else by this author. He shows great promise and I enojoyed this very much.
This novel was originally a novella, which the author has expanded and, in fairness, he could have expanded it still further. I would have liked to see flashbacks, perhaps, giving more depth to the characters. However, the whole story revolves around the party and there are ice sculptures of all the Intimates, which gradually melt during the evening and whose existance mirrors the time passing. The story is very decadent in feel and would work well as a between the wars house party, if the problems encountered by the characters were a little less modern.
Despite feeling that the novel could have been even better, I have to say that I was totally gripped by it. I read it in one sitting and I found that I really cared about the characters, especially Vincent. Although I could say that it was unrealistic in parts, slightly self conscious in others and that the author could have made it longer, the fact is that it worked for me. Wanting a book to be longer is always a good sign! I loved it and would certainly want to read anything else by this author. He shows great promise and I enojoyed this very much.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I liked this book. A lot. It's clever, it's different and it's ambitious. It won't be everybody's cup of tea. It's unlikely, for example, to be purchased in airports by people heading beachwards, looking for some literary chewing gum. It's too thoughtful and thought-provoking to be an `easy read'.
The use of language can be delightfully unconventional and meaning twists and shifts from what you might expect. I get the impression that this has put one or two people off, but for me it was a perfect representation of the narrator, Vincent's hungover state as he prods and sifts his disjointed recollections of the previous evening.
As you'd imagine from the back cover blurb, this is a novel about intimacy, decay/decadence and the failure of amibition. But the deliberately vivid characters and Vincent's intricate introspection also act a lens to examine the ties of friendship, the avoidance of maturity, the consequences of parental control, and the performance we put on to keep others at bay (to avoid intimacy, if you like). Vincent has long since outgrown his flamboyant friends - an opinion he shares with his father, but neither of them can see their common ground - and he needs to leave the Intimates behind; but at the same time he is unable to betray them without their help and encouragement.
If this is starting to sound too inward for you, then rest assured that the story is also pacey and contains action as well as dialogue - there's a love scene, there's a fight scene, there's a love scene that is also a fight scene... Add in some lovely turns of phrase such as, "...the instinctive guilt of the lapsed Catholic" and what's not to enjoy? So pour yourself a glass of Côtes du Rhône and treat yourself to an evening with the Intimates.
The use of language can be delightfully unconventional and meaning twists and shifts from what you might expect. I get the impression that this has put one or two people off, but for me it was a perfect representation of the narrator, Vincent's hungover state as he prods and sifts his disjointed recollections of the previous evening.
As you'd imagine from the back cover blurb, this is a novel about intimacy, decay/decadence and the failure of amibition. But the deliberately vivid characters and Vincent's intricate introspection also act a lens to examine the ties of friendship, the avoidance of maturity, the consequences of parental control, and the performance we put on to keep others at bay (to avoid intimacy, if you like). Vincent has long since outgrown his flamboyant friends - an opinion he shares with his father, but neither of them can see their common ground - and he needs to leave the Intimates behind; but at the same time he is unable to betray them without their help and encouragement.
If this is starting to sound too inward for you, then rest assured that the story is also pacey and contains action as well as dialogue - there's a love scene, there's a fight scene, there's a love scene that is also a fight scene... Add in some lovely turns of phrase such as, "...the instinctive guilt of the lapsed Catholic" and what's not to enjoy? So pour yourself a glass of Côtes du Rhône and treat yourself to an evening with the Intimates.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book. The interplay between the characters is intruiging and so well captured - the fine details of the way they communicate with each other are very sharply perceived which gives them life and makes it something pretty much anyone can relate to. The relationships between then and the way these are gradually revealed draws you in to the book and I think makes it a real page-turner. Looking forward to the next one.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bright Young Things
This is an intriguing first novel, by an author with an intriguing past. His biography says that he was once part of a "Dickensian pop band", which sounds like fun. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rob Spence
Charming.
A delicious narrative with twists and intrigues enough to continuously excite the minds pallet. Impossible to put down - even to make a cup of tea.
Published 7 months ago by Pavlova21
Not my kind of thing...
I've seen a number of very positive reviews for this book and I can appreciate it's construction as a story but it just didn't fire my imagination. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ben Whitehouse
review of the intimates
With a beautiful and characterful style of writing, Mankowski tells the story of the `Intimates'. This is a thought-provoking book about relationship with friends and one's own... Read more
Published 10 months ago by s81
More than just an excellent first novel...
I have always been a little mistrustful about first novels. For every `Mockingbird', there are myriad examples where you sense the author has yet to grow into their skin, find... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Chrisy
A colossal talent.
Think Sarah Kane's `Crave', but alluringly saturated in lyrical beauty and psychological intrigue. The Intimates is an incredibly accomplished debut novel from my new favourite... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Merrington
I've been to a Marvellous Party (I couldn't have liked it more)
I read somewhere - perhaps on this very forum - that The Intimates is reminiscent of Waugh's `Vile Bodies'. I'm not sure that I agree. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Matthew
Inmates
A group of friends being brought together for a party to gauge their successes and failures should be quite an interesting plot. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. B. W. Haynes
Obviously a talented writer, but not yet a talented novelist
In a country home a group of friends meet up for a party to ostensibly celebrate the launch of one of their number's debut novel. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Victor Ward
People who think they're it
We start with a man waking up in an empty swimming pool. For some reason I decided that he must be in Los Angeles, but as the book went on wasn't so sure, and I'm still not sure... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mrs. R.
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