Another one I remember reading some years ago, without now recalling its details, but still knowing I enjoyed it. ( )

The writing in this book was almost as interesting as the story itself. The author frequently breaks the fourth wall and speaks of the reasons for some of the characters actions. I was very interested in the 3 main characters, although it was difficult to feel at all close to or understand the title character. The author provided quite a bit of dramatic irony, but was not always clear in presenting it. There was also so much suspense I could not always put the book down when I planned to. I am looking forward to reading more of Fowles. ( )

First, I can't say I cared for the end of this book. However, I suppose a more conventional ending would have been cliché. That doesn't mean it wasn't well-written, engaging, suspenseful, and thoroughly captivating. There are a lot of dubious characters in it. Even the author—who keeps playing with the plot mid-chapter—is guilty of being a bit shifty. When Charles Algernon Henry Smithson, a well-to-do-Victorian gentleman, falls for the mysterious Sarah (a.k.a. the lieutenant's woman), he upends his entire life for allusive happiness. What follows is more of a cat-and-mouse game that nobody wins. The author helpfully inserts verses written by well-known nineteenth-century poets at the beginning of each chapter to prepare the reader for what is to come—or perhaps as a teaser for what is not. Although they didn't benefit me, they were educational and pleasant. I loved the extensive lecturing on the habits of the Victorian era and the author's comparisons to the twentieth century at the time of writing. Nice to know; we have changed so little. ( )

I found this to be a very interesting book.

The story sounds straightforward enough. It takes place in the late 1800's, and Charles is a gentleman engaged to a young wealthy woman. His path crosses with another woman, Sarah, who had a shortlived affair with a French lieutenant. As events unfold, Charles becomes torn between his fiance and Sarah, and he begins to recognize how constrained he is by the expectations of Victorian society.

The story in and of itself is engaging as all the characters are well rounded and both admirable and flawed. What makes it even more interesting is that the story is narrated by the author himself, and he breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the reader from time to time. He also provides a variety of possible scenarios regarding what happens to Charles and Sarah . . .so in effect, the book has both a classic Victorian ending and also an ending that is very different from that.I'm giving the book five stars because it is very clever in that it skewers and also explains Victorian society - - and is written like a classic Victorian novel. The author gives the reader a LOT to think about, and I think I would benefit from re-reading the book from the beginning right now, while the ending is clear in my mind. It's also suspenseful which kept me turning the pages. The character development of Charles is done really well.

The only thing that bothered me is I felt I never quite knew Sarah's motivations - - and I don't know if the author explained them, and I just somehow "missed" it (I swear sometimes when I read right before bed I actually lose a chapter here and there). Or, if I am supposed to infer the motivations, and I just wasn't smart enough. In any event, I went to Cliff Notes for help, and there was no help forthcoming - - so if anyone felt like they have a better grip on this - - help a fellow reader out. I admit ignorance. ( )

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