The book could be best described by the word “discomfort”. Throughout the entirety of the book, there wasn’t a single moment where I could truly feel “safe”. Even in the sequences where Camilla and Julian are the main focus, it gave off an impression that Richard was overromanticizing them, that his perception couldnt have been the reality even if we wanted to believe it. (He even admits it himself by the end.)
Richard is one of my favorite narrators of all time. He is a liar and an accessory to murder. However, one simply can’t help but sympathize with his action as this “sacred” group is the only place where he could feel like he belongs.
On the other hand, the endless description of alcohol and cigarettes impressed (but also somewhat annoyed) me at first. However, as the story continued on, they began to feel like a reminder of the terrible fates these beloved characters will face. Poor Charles. I was sure he was going to poison himself to death.
The ending. (My god, the ending.) Each character deserved what came upon them. Richard, especially. It’s sort of fitting for him to be in a continuous state of discomfort and need for belonging after all that happened.
Anyways, I love this book and I have nowhere to rant my appreciation for it so I’d like to thank whoever is reading this.
by TheStorytellerArter