Call number
FIC GOR
Collection
Genres
Publication
Pantheon (2011), Edition: First Edition first Printing, 320 pages
Description
This work is a novel about first lovers meeting again after more than thirty years, walking the streets of Rome and reimmersing themselves in their lost past. Miranda and Adam, high school sweethearts now in their late fifties, arrive by chance at the same time in Rome, where they once spent a summer deeply in love, blissfully living together. At an awkward reunion, the two, who parted in an atmosphere of passionate betrayal in the 1960s and haven't seen each other since, are surprised to discover that they may still have something to talk about; they decide that, for these few weeks, they will take daily walks together. As they experience Rome, the pleasures of eye and palate, and the daily drama of the streets, they review their lives (married to others, and with grown children) and gradually explore not just what matters to them now, but what happened to them long ago. Miranda and Adam are masterfully portrayed characters, intent on understanding who they are in relation to who they were. Theirs is a rich and wise story of forgiveness and reckoning.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member mulberrymarsh
This lovely novel revisits a young couple’s adolescent first love, whilst taking a walking tour of Rome at the age of 60. Their young love was torn apart by heart wrenching mistakes the young are wont to make. The story is about Adam, the musician, whose life is ruled from early childhood by his
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musical talents, and Miranda the political activist, who wants to travel the world and do good. They meet by chance in Rome, where they spent time as young adults, and reconnect among the beautiful gardens, fountains and side streets of Rome. They visit classic Bernini sculptures in out of the way locations, whose meaning transcends the centuries, and reflects the emotions with which Adam and Miranda struggle. Upon reflection Adam and Miranda see the light, and finally come to peace with the choices they made and the subsequent outcomes. Throughout Mary Gordon offers a very non-touristy visit to Rome. The characters are well drawn, including an almost evil undercurrent in the woman, Beverly, who ultimately drove them apart. Though it may seem on the surface to be a somewhat light topic her writing makes it gripping and emotionally taut. This story would especially appeal to those who like to contemplate the “what might have been“ aspects of their early loves. Show Less
LibraryThing member SamSattler
Although Miranda would never consider Adam to be the “love of her life,” beyond a doubt, he was the “love of her youth.” Adam, in his turn, feels the same way about Miranda. In what was the first serious experience with love for both of them, Miranda and Adam fell madly in love in the
When, in late 2007, the two of them, now not having spoken for three decades, find themselves in Rome at the same time, each rather reluctantly agrees to a brief reunion there. Adam hopes to find that what he did to Miranda did not destroy her, that she is healthy and happy with the life she created for herself after the shock of his betrayal – most importantly, that an apology from him is not something she needs to hear. Miranda, who takes pride in her personal courage, decides to meet with Adam because she feels that a woman her age should not have anyone in her life that she feels incapable of facing.
Thus begins a series of long walks around the city during which Miranda and Adam have long philosophical conversations about everything but what tore them apart in their early twenties. Both are as reluctant to confront that horrible memory directly as they are to discuss any details or feelings about their families. The more the pair talks during their exploratory walks around Rome, the more the reader begins to wonder whether their relationship was doomed even before Adam’s fatal error – whatever that error may have been.
By alternating flashbacks to the 1960s with scenes from the present, Gordon emphasizes how little Miranda and Adam have changed. As a young man, Adam was focused exclusively on a future as a successful concert pianist; he demanded that his girlfriend (and any future wife) dedicate her life to helping make his dream come true. In Adam’s mind, Miranda’s dreams and ambitions were secondary to his, if they were to be considered at all. The young Miranda, however, believed she could change the world, and she was willing to place herself in danger in order to do so. What she was not willing to do was to view her ambitions as less important than Adam’s.
The Love of My Youth builds slowly, steadily increasing the reader’s curiosity about what really happened, what terrible thing Adam did to destroy the relationship forever. Gordon adds layer after detailed layer to the characters Miranda and Adam until they become very real, if flawed, people. Gordon has, in fact, achieved the difficult task of making this reader care about her two main characters without liking either one of them. Fans of previous Mary Gordon novels are likely to enjoy this one.
Rated at: 4.0
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mid-1960s when both were 16-year-old high school students. They seemed destined to spend the rest of their lives together until Adam made one terrible mistake – a mistake he has felt guilty about for more than thirty years, a betrayal of her trust so terrible that Miranda has never gotten over it.When, in late 2007, the two of them, now not having spoken for three decades, find themselves in Rome at the same time, each rather reluctantly agrees to a brief reunion there. Adam hopes to find that what he did to Miranda did not destroy her, that she is healthy and happy with the life she created for herself after the shock of his betrayal – most importantly, that an apology from him is not something she needs to hear. Miranda, who takes pride in her personal courage, decides to meet with Adam because she feels that a woman her age should not have anyone in her life that she feels incapable of facing.
Thus begins a series of long walks around the city during which Miranda and Adam have long philosophical conversations about everything but what tore them apart in their early twenties. Both are as reluctant to confront that horrible memory directly as they are to discuss any details or feelings about their families. The more the pair talks during their exploratory walks around Rome, the more the reader begins to wonder whether their relationship was doomed even before Adam’s fatal error – whatever that error may have been.
By alternating flashbacks to the 1960s with scenes from the present, Gordon emphasizes how little Miranda and Adam have changed. As a young man, Adam was focused exclusively on a future as a successful concert pianist; he demanded that his girlfriend (and any future wife) dedicate her life to helping make his dream come true. In Adam’s mind, Miranda’s dreams and ambitions were secondary to his, if they were to be considered at all. The young Miranda, however, believed she could change the world, and she was willing to place herself in danger in order to do so. What she was not willing to do was to view her ambitions as less important than Adam’s.
The Love of My Youth builds slowly, steadily increasing the reader’s curiosity about what really happened, what terrible thing Adam did to destroy the relationship forever. Gordon adds layer after detailed layer to the characters Miranda and Adam until they become very real, if flawed, people. Gordon has, in fact, achieved the difficult task of making this reader care about her two main characters without liking either one of them. Fans of previous Mary Gordon novels are likely to enjoy this one.
Rated at: 4.0
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LibraryThing member SalemAthenaeum
A story of young lovers who have been reunited in Rome after having left each other in the same city years before over thoughts of betrayal at the hands of the other. Now that they are both married with grown children, Adam suggests that he and Miranda go for daily walks with one another to learn
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about each other again. But as they learn more about each others' current lives, the more that is found out about the past, and the incident that caused them not to marry. Show Less
LibraryThing member lalbro
The Love of my Youth is a pointed reflection on how first loves look from the vantage of age. Decades refract what once seemed clear.
I thought that the structure of the story worked well to frame the remembering of the past. And anyone who loves Rome will enjoy visualizing the walks taken by the
I thought that the structure of the story worked well to frame the remembering of the past. And anyone who loves Rome will enjoy visualizing the walks taken by the
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two protagonists. Show Less
LibraryThing member lukespapa
A true romance novel (perhaps my first?) I read this book primarily because of the setting (Rome). However, what enjoyment may have been derived from the locale was quickly eradicated by the overly sentimental dialog, pretentious characters and suspended reality. The author, waxing philosophically
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through a chance extended encounter of aged former lovers, seems intent on sharing a vast personal knowledge of life, love, art, and Rome rather than just giving the reader a story to savor. If this seems all to familiar it is likely that you have seen "As Time Goes By" which at least has the better title. Show Less
LibraryThing member sharlene_w
Lovely story of young love interrupted and reconnected. Beautifully connected to the backdrop of Rome. Satisfying reconcilliation with the inevitable--life goes on.
Pages
320
ISBN
0307377423 / 9780307377425