Tormented sexuality, death, ghosts.... this book has it all!
Written: Dec 06 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Achieves its aim, well written, compelling
Cons: Some people might not like reading about the issues dealt with.
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| melanierose's Full Review: Barbara Vine, Alex Jennings, Shelley Thompson - No... |
Recently, I had to write an essay on a novel for one of my University English courses, Literature of Fear and Suspence. Our class was given a list of novels to choose from. I wanted to do a book by a female author, since we hadn't really studied any in the course. The only book on the list that wasn't out at the library was Barbara Vine's No Night it too Long. At about 315 pages, I knew that this wasn't an easy read. But I enjoyed the little description that I was given of it by the professor... so I decided to go for it. Writing a term paper on an entire novel isn't an easy task, so I knew that I had to read it very carefully in preparation to analysis it.
Like always, I left it go until the last weekend. Our projects were due on a Monday. On the Saturday morning before the due date, I opened up the book for the first time. After reading ten or so pages, I found that I couldn't get it down.
It is amazing when a novel has the capability to draw the reader in right from the get go. I've read books that I had to read at least half of it before I even because the least bit interested in it. This novel grasps your attention and never lets it go.
I had no problem breezing through the novel, and by Sunday night my essay was done. It was relatively easy to write about No Night it too Long. It is written in common, every day dialogue. I hate novels that use 'old english', and rely on huge words that I've never heard of before to tell the story. I really loved being able to read this suspence novel without having a dictionary beside me, referring to it every five seconds.
These two characteristics of the novel impressed me write from the start. Furthermore, the characters are very intricate and believable. You begin thinking of them as real people, despite the fact that they are completely fictious. The book relies on metaphors, vivid description, and complex character to interest the readers. I'd rather not summarize the story. I think that everyone should read it for themselves. What I'm trying to do here is to give you reasons to pick up a copy of it and give it a read.
The book is original and refreshing. It is divided into three parts, each part narrated by a different character. The story is somewhat complicated with various jumps in time. The characters often misunderstand eachother, and this misunderstanding is later revealed to the readers. Despite this, the story is easy to follow. In having three different narrators, the readers are shocked and surprise by new revelations about the story. There were a few times when I actually hung my mouth open in utter surprise.
This is a suspence novel meant to shock, confuse the reader to a degree (all confusion is cleard up in the end), and even spook them a little bit. Such subjects that are components of the story are murder, ghosts, and homosexuality. So, if you don't particularly enjoy book that deal with subject matter such as these, you may not enjoy this book. For everyone else, I really can't see why anyone wouldn't like this novel. Barbara Vine deserves much admiration for No Night it too Long... this novel will always be in my list favorites.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
melanierose
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Member: melanie
Reviews written: 74
Trusted by: 31 members
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