kelby_lake
08-05-2012, 10:50 AM
Better known by Andrew Llloyd Webber's musical incarnation rather than its reputation as a novel (really a novella as it's pretty short), Aspects of Love is by minor Bloomsbury Group writer David Garnett.
There is no real plot to speak of. The novel spans seventeen years, starting with protagonist Alexis as a teenager infatuated with beautiful French actress Rose to a thirty-something who falls in love with Rose's teenage daughter Jenny. Just to add to the sordidness, Rose married Alexis' uncle George and so Jenny is Alexis' cousin. This is set in France, so everybody is very continental and consistently adulterous.
Garnett married his male lover's daughter, hence why there is no condemnation or questioning in the novel, despite the presence of incest. Alexis is a rather unsympathetic protagonist, petulently lusting after Rose and sharing illicit kisses with his underage cousin. George is probably the most sympathetic character, believably distressed by Alexis' behaviour.
The novel was written in 1955. It's sordid but in a very coy way, that is at some moments quite cringy. With a story like this, coy is the last thing you want. The writing is certainly of its time.
The title is a little misleading, seeing as there's not much love going on. It's more like aspects of relationships, focusing mainly on the negative ones.
It's an enjoyable read but doesn't amount to much. The musical is actually not too bad.
There is no real plot to speak of. The novel spans seventeen years, starting with protagonist Alexis as a teenager infatuated with beautiful French actress Rose to a thirty-something who falls in love with Rose's teenage daughter Jenny. Just to add to the sordidness, Rose married Alexis' uncle George and so Jenny is Alexis' cousin. This is set in France, so everybody is very continental and consistently adulterous.
Garnett married his male lover's daughter, hence why there is no condemnation or questioning in the novel, despite the presence of incest. Alexis is a rather unsympathetic protagonist, petulently lusting after Rose and sharing illicit kisses with his underage cousin. George is probably the most sympathetic character, believably distressed by Alexis' behaviour.
The novel was written in 1955. It's sordid but in a very coy way, that is at some moments quite cringy. With a story like this, coy is the last thing you want. The writing is certainly of its time.
The title is a little misleading, seeing as there's not much love going on. It's more like aspects of relationships, focusing mainly on the negative ones.
It's an enjoyable read but doesn't amount to much. The musical is actually not too bad.