- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan (21 Aug 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0333582446
- ISBN-13: 978-0333582442
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,759,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Ben, a master of the art of self-creation, seems to have slammed the door on the memories of a childhood in wartime Central Europe. But a limb that has been amputated sometimes continues to ache and he finally sees that he is late for everything he has truly wanted. By the author of "Wartime Lies".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In prose beautiful for its sheer economy as well as its clarity, here is the story of the genteel life adopted by a survivor of the least genteel event of the century. There are hidden costs associated with the comforts of Ben's chosen path, not least of which is his self-image, as a man who is perpetually late to realize the existential significance of major choices, and late to act thereupon; a man who misses chances; a man out of sync with his own life.
This is simply an extraordinary story, told with a courtliness and understatement evocative of William Maxwell and Ford Madox Ford.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
This is an extraordinary book
17 Dec 1998
Format:Paperback
In prose beautiful for its sheer economy as well as its clarity, here is the story of the genteel life adopted by a survivor of the least genteel event of the century. There are hidden costs associated with the comforts of Ben's chosen path, not least of which is his self-image, as a man who is perpetually late to realize the existential significance of major choices, and late to act thereupon; a man who misses chances; a man out of sync with his own life.
This is simply an extraordinary story, told with a courtliness and understatement evocative of William Maxwell and Ford Madox Ford, from the author of About Schmidt, Schmidt Delivered, Shipwreck, Mistler's Exit, Wartime Lies, and As Max Saw It.
This is simply an extraordinary story, told with a courtliness and understatement evocative of William Maxwell and Ford Madox Ford, from the author of About Schmidt, Schmidt Delivered, Shipwreck, Mistler's Exit, Wartime Lies, and As Max Saw It.
6 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Good writing, no story
29 Jan 2002
Format:Paperback
Although this book is about Ben, his story is told by his college friend, Jack. Why? I have no idea. Jack's life is orderly and traditional. Ben, a ..survivor, finds love and rejects it. Jack knows all through reading Ben's journal and because Ben tells him all at their occasional lunches.
I just didn't get this book. I've read three others by Begley. All were excellent, told believable stories, had interesting characters and satisfying conclusions. I finished this one only because I started it.
Also, there is way too much male fantasy [stuff]. How many scenes of anonymous or paid for intercourse must a reader witness to get the point? And I am certainly tired of "beautiful" but problematic women and the repetitive descriptions of ..[them]. Enough already!
Many sharp details do not a novel make. If you want to sample Begley, read "About Schmidt."
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