Lost (not) in a Book: “The Sea” by John Banville

Moving in place…
Naomi’s Photos

I feel almost apologetic about it.

Perhaps like the cliché “No, it’s not you, it’s me”. The book won the Man Booker Prize in 2005 and it’s not that I can’t see why.  Banville’s use of language is impressive, his descriptions are rich and I used the dictionary a few times to look up words I had never encountered.

But the skillful use of language was the only thing that kept me reading as far as I did. And that’s not enough.

I found myself not looking forward to my “reading time”.

The combination of the very slow pace of the book,  the fact that very little actually happens ( mostly memories and thoughts) and the fact that the hero is mourning the recent death of his wife was too much for me at this time.

Perhaps if the timing had been different I would have been able to hang in there and see where all these thoughts led the protagonist but there it is.

I have moved on to the next book.

2 thoughts on “Lost (not) in a Book: “The Sea” by John Banville”

  1. Hi Naomi!

    I read this book years ago and found myself saying the same thing – people went on and on about it, and I felt like the odd one out. The language is amazing – but the whole story was sad and if I can say so, a bit empty.

    Hugs,
    Vicky

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