I wanted to love this. In fact, I tried to read it a few times before it stuck and I made it through!
The writing was very enthralling, the characters are...terrible and wonderful at the same time, and it did evoke emotion in me, however I did not have the connection that I have had with other books of a similar ilk which made it a trial to read ultimately.

“Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, expansive, layered novel, Lauren Groff presents the story of one such marriage over the course of twenty-four years.

At age twenty-two, Lotto and Mathilde are tall, glamorous, madly in love, and destined for greatness. A decade later, their marriage is still the envy of their friends, but with an electric thrill we understand that things are even more complicated and remarkable than they have seemed.”

This first half of this book tells the story of Lotto and the second, that of his wife Mathilde over the course of their 24 year marriage. Lauren Groff achieves something masterful by telling a story from two very different perspectives. There is jealousy, betrayal, revenge, redemption, tragedy, passion, love and many secrets. An engrossing masterpiece of a novel.

An ambicious and engaging study of marriage, love, frienship and many more things, with two very well-developed characters and an original Rashomonesque structure as a plus.

Recently, I really enjoyed Lauren Groff's debut short story collection, 'Florida', and the way it deals with the Sunshine State in so many different ways. Even though 'Fates and Furies' has had much positive acclaim, I didn't enjoy it as much; but I can't quite put my finger on why. It didn't grab me from the outset and it's a book I will, hopefully. return to at some point.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, expansive, layered novel, Lauren Groff presents the story of one such marriage over the course of twenty-four years.
At age twenty-two, Lotto and Mathilde are tall, glamorous, madly in love and destined for greatness. A decade later, their marriage is still the envy of their friends, but with an electric thrill we understand that things are even more complicated and remarkable than they have seemed. With stunning revelations and multiple threads, and in prose that is vibrantly alive and original, Groff delivers a deeply satisfying novel about love, art, creativity and power that is unlike anything that has come before it. Profound, surprising, propulsive and emotionally riveting, it stirs both the mind and the heart.

Disappointed is the only way to describe how I felt after finishing this.

Layers and layers of beautiful writing hide the fact that there is nothing underneath. Characters that I just despised. No real plot that I could find. Underage sex that was quite disturbing - actually the descriptions of some of the personal moments were just pretentious, wordy rubbish. Can't think of a better way to say it. This book is rife with metaphors - but not plot or character.


Paul
ARH