Publication
London Pan 1982
ISBN
0330268295 / 9780330268295
Collection
Description
As their holiday unfolds, Colin and Maria are locked into their own intimacy. They groom themselves meticulously, as though there waits someone who cares deeply about how they appear. Then they meet a man with a disturbing story to tell and become drawn into a fantasy of violence and obsession.
Genres
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member Lman
I have seen The Comfort of Strangers, fittingly, described as a ‘long short story’ - yet, such a minimalist amount of words evoked a plethora of confused, mixed emotions within me; upon finishing I was left with quite a hollow feeling, along with a strange sense of incredulity.
The story begins
And from the very beginning Ian McEwan, elegantly and masterfully, weaves into the narrative an oppressive, foreboding mood, with the utter anonymity of it all. The sounds and senses of the city, it could be any city by the sea, for the reader is never allowed full recognition of the exact identity and must continually guess. Mary and Colin, their background is a mystery, they could be any couple, but remain an enigma despite many intimate revelations. The somewhat irritating inability of the pair to communicate with the locals, despite obvious intelligence and lengthy passages of personal conversations; the purposeful omission of other individuals, and the contrived isolation, from an underlying, intense desire by Mary and Colin to distance themselves from everyone; all of this artfully insinuates an ominous, sinister atmosphere into the story. And this obscurity, this ambiguity, the necessity for the reader to constantly speculate, complements cleverly with the double entendre in the title of this tale.
I have to agree absolutely with the blurb on my copy: this is “an exquisite miniature Gothic”; a peculiar but irresistible read. As I sat, numb, horrified and, as mentioned, slightly leery, after reading the last page I heard a news bulletin on my radio detailing a recent unpleasant international incident, and had to smile to myself… for, I realised, though this story in many ways beggars belief, the truth is often much stranger than any work of fiction; even one, especially one, such as this.
The story begins
Show More
in a non-descript hotel room. In a seven-year relationship, defined by no permanent commitment, Mary and Colin are on holiday, and succumbing to a jaded sensitivity – to the surroundings and to each other. Their lack-lustre routine is disrupted one night when, venturing out much later than usual, and becoming totally lost in baffling foreign enclaves, they are aided by a persistent local, Robert. This outwardly innocuous chance encounter, plus the subsequent interactions with Robert and later, his inscrutable wife, Caroline, trigger a profound reversal in Mary and Colin; completely renewing their immediate rapport, intimacy and love, while leading, inevitably, to a devastating conclusion. And from the very beginning Ian McEwan, elegantly and masterfully, weaves into the narrative an oppressive, foreboding mood, with the utter anonymity of it all. The sounds and senses of the city, it could be any city by the sea, for the reader is never allowed full recognition of the exact identity and must continually guess. Mary and Colin, their background is a mystery, they could be any couple, but remain an enigma despite many intimate revelations. The somewhat irritating inability of the pair to communicate with the locals, despite obvious intelligence and lengthy passages of personal conversations; the purposeful omission of other individuals, and the contrived isolation, from an underlying, intense desire by Mary and Colin to distance themselves from everyone; all of this artfully insinuates an ominous, sinister atmosphere into the story. And this obscurity, this ambiguity, the necessity for the reader to constantly speculate, complements cleverly with the double entendre in the title of this tale.
I have to agree absolutely with the blurb on my copy: this is “an exquisite miniature Gothic”; a peculiar but irresistible read. As I sat, numb, horrified and, as mentioned, slightly leery, after reading the last page I heard a news bulletin on my radio detailing a recent unpleasant international incident, and had to smile to myself… for, I realised, though this story in many ways beggars belief, the truth is often much stranger than any work of fiction; even one, especially one, such as this.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
Colin and Mary are unmarried, unhappy lovers on vacation. Bored with each other and frustrated with their foreign holiday destination (probably Venice or Rome), they are constantly having to remind each other and themselves they are on holiday and are supposed to be relaxing and enjoying
Show More
themselves. Their disdain for each other annoyed me at times. For the couple getting lost in the ancient, winding, narrow streets wasn't supposed to be a problem because they have nowhere specific to be. Colin and Mary go on like this until suddenly, the story changes gears after a native enters their bored bubble. That chance meeting changes the course of their lives forever. It is a psychological, violent, erotic second half to the book, full of sex and selfishness. From the moment, Robert, the charismatic stranger, comes into the picture nothing seems normal again. Show Less
LibraryThing member dczapka
Ian McEwan's second novella, much like his first, The Cement Garden, is a slow burn, a haunting work about love and tourism that has moments of tension but gets there by way of a plot that occasionally loses focus. It's a good work, and worth reading, but despite being rather short, it feels like
The novella opens on a discontented couple in an unnamed city that sounds suspiciously like Venice. Colin and Mary seem to have tired of each other, their holiday not having quite rekindled their dying spark, but the longevity of their relationship gives them a comfort and a closeness. Interestingly, this closeness comes off too much as blandness, and it's not until their run-in with the forceful stranger Robert that the reader begins to care about these two benign characters.
Robert is the novella's main draw, the flame to which all the rest of the characters are drawn -- including his disabled and strangely subservient wife Caroline. Without Robert, the novel plods at a somewhat uncomfortable pace; with him in the scene, the action races by even in moments of inactivity. As a foil to Colin and Mary, he is perhaps too effective: he is menacing, for sure, but to a certain degree he also highlights how weak the other two are both as characters and as characterizations.
To reveal any of the plot would be to do a great disservice because the novel is so short and, frankly, simplistic. Despite a rich backstory for Robert and Caroline, the revelations of the final encounter are shallower than we might expect. The stunning ending, though, is precisely the payoff the novel needs, building to a point where we as readers managed to be shocked by what occurs while simultaneously understanding the inexorability of what transpires. Not to mention that the climactic act is described in a manner that is as beautiful as it is repulsive.
The novella's twists and turns, slow though they may come, more than make up for the segments where the work plods along, and the anticipation of Robert makes some do for the ordinariness of Colin and Mary as protagonists. While flawed, The Comfort of Strangers manages to rise above and leave the reader with a sense of fear and discomfort that one wishes would have pervaded its main characters from the start.
Show More
it might have worked better if it was shorter still.The novella opens on a discontented couple in an unnamed city that sounds suspiciously like Venice. Colin and Mary seem to have tired of each other, their holiday not having quite rekindled their dying spark, but the longevity of their relationship gives them a comfort and a closeness. Interestingly, this closeness comes off too much as blandness, and it's not until their run-in with the forceful stranger Robert that the reader begins to care about these two benign characters.
Robert is the novella's main draw, the flame to which all the rest of the characters are drawn -- including his disabled and strangely subservient wife Caroline. Without Robert, the novel plods at a somewhat uncomfortable pace; with him in the scene, the action races by even in moments of inactivity. As a foil to Colin and Mary, he is perhaps too effective: he is menacing, for sure, but to a certain degree he also highlights how weak the other two are both as characters and as characterizations.
To reveal any of the plot would be to do a great disservice because the novel is so short and, frankly, simplistic. Despite a rich backstory for Robert and Caroline, the revelations of the final encounter are shallower than we might expect. The stunning ending, though, is precisely the payoff the novel needs, building to a point where we as readers managed to be shocked by what occurs while simultaneously understanding the inexorability of what transpires. Not to mention that the climactic act is described in a manner that is as beautiful as it is repulsive.
The novella's twists and turns, slow though they may come, more than make up for the segments where the work plods along, and the anticipation of Robert makes some do for the ordinariness of Colin and Mary as protagonists. While flawed, The Comfort of Strangers manages to rise above and leave the reader with a sense of fear and discomfort that one wishes would have pervaded its main characters from the start.
Show Less
LibraryThing member booksbooks11
I don't think I can really rate this a 5 for at least another year. In a year will this novel still be creeping around under my skin, invading my thoughts and have me wondering why? I don't know for sure but I suspect it will. If you want to find the essence of suspense it's somewhere hidden in
Show More
this very short but intense book. Show Less
LibraryThing member lauralkeet
Colin and Mary are on an extended holiday in Venice. They spend long, lazy days idling in their hotel or wandering the streets, often getting lost. Late one evening, out in search of a restaurant, they meet a man named Robert who takes them to a nearby bar and, later, to his home. Robert is overly
Ian McEwan has written an expertly crafted thriller; I was riveted from the first few pages. As McEwan drove relentlessly toward the story's almost inevitable conclusion, I was actually relieved that the book was only 125 pages -- the suspense and intensity would have been difficult for me had it been longer. I had picked this book up quite by accident, in need of a short read while waiting for library books. I was very pleasantly surprised by its quality & punch.
Show More
friendly and forward, but Colin and Mary are drawn to him in spite of their better judgement. Their time with Robert is inexplicably arousing, so much so that they spend the next few days sequestered in their hotel room. When they emerge they find themselves unconsciously drawn to Robert again. And things get really creepy and evil ... as if they weren't already.Ian McEwan has written an expertly crafted thriller; I was riveted from the first few pages. As McEwan drove relentlessly toward the story's almost inevitable conclusion, I was actually relieved that the book was only 125 pages -- the suspense and intensity would have been difficult for me had it been longer. I had picked this book up quite by accident, in need of a short read while waiting for library books. I was very pleasantly surprised by its quality & punch.
Show Less
LibraryThing member marek2009
I read this after The Daydreamer, as I realised I haven't read any McEwan in a while. the concept behind this is very interesting, but its his 2nd novel, & McEwan is primarily a stlyist, which took time to mature. This cheese is not fedit enough.
LibraryThing member suesbooks
This writing was amazing; one of few books that really is impossible to put down, even though some credibility had to be suspended. Very upsetting.
LibraryThing member TigerLMS
Tourists on holiday meet a couple and spend some time with them; they are invited back and despite the akwardness of the offer, they somehow wind up back with them with disastrous consequences. A harrowing novel with a heavy dose of irony in the title, McEwan shows off his literary abilities in
Show More
this early novel. It's not one I recommend often because of its nature, but it's certainly a story that stays with you long after you turn the last page. Show Less
LibraryThing member CaterhamBookGroup
Although extremely well written it was one of the most horrid stories I have ever read, not one I would recommend to my friends. The characters were gastly!
LibraryThing member rcorfield
I think some of the other reviews here have been a little harsh on this book. One of Ian McEwan's strengths is his descriptive powers and this book contains powerful evocations of mood, atmosphere and place; in this case Venice. He builds and releases tension well but you get a strong feeling of
Sometimes McEwan has a problem with the endings of his books (see Amsterdam), but I didn't think that was the case here. A slim volume and a quick read, but not one I'll forget in a hurry.
Show More
foreboding throughout the book.Sometimes McEwan has a problem with the endings of his books (see Amsterdam), but I didn't think that was the case here. A slim volume and a quick read, but not one I'll forget in a hurry.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hhhiryuu
I have read a number of McEwan's books, starting with the more recent ones and working backward, and I have to say I would recommend one or several of the later ones over The Comfort of Strangers. McEwan's strength for me is always his ability to put you so deeply into the innermost thoughts of his
Show More
characters that you are completely enraptured, plus his discerning observations about sex and relationships. All those elements are present in The Comfort of Strangers, plus a ominous, menacing feeling that permeates the short book. But his later books revisit many of the same themes, and explore them more adroitly and thoroughly: sexual dysfunction in On Chesil Beach, relationship dysfunction in The Child in Time, foreboding menace in Saturday. Also, the main characters in this work are well drawn, but often unquestioning of situations in a way I found unbelievable, which kept knocking me out of the immersion I usual enjoy so much with McEwan's books. However, in the end, it's a short, well-written read, and it will seriously creep you out, so I do recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member rozmarins
It`s Ian Mcewan`s second novel, written in 1981. Read this book in February as additional book to my TBR list. In one word - disgusting. It`s the first feeling after I closed this book. BUT! It doesn`t mean that I didn`t like Comfort of Strangers. There is something tempting in it. Maybe it`s slow
(full review rozmarins.blogspot.com)
Show More
and gentle atmosphere of Venice, maybe it`s that scary feeling (it`s too good to be true...) in the air almost till the end of the book, when Robert and his wife shows their real faces. (full review rozmarins.blogspot.com)
Show Less
LibraryThing member jhedlund
I really struggled with the rating on this book. On the one hand, I didn't like the story at all. On the other, the author didn't intend for readers to like the story and therefore was very effective. The writing is pure brilliance, without a doubt. However, I could have lived without the images
Show More
that will now haunt the rest of my days for having read this book. If I were rating the book on enjoyment alone, the rating would be at least one star fewer. In the end, McEwan's mastery of the craft of writing won out for me, and I had to give it four stars. This is quite a compliment of McEwan's artistry, since writing seldom trumps enjoyment in my rating and reviewing. Show Less
LibraryThing member ratastrophe
An emotionally stirring book, but not one in which McEwan does his usual fine job of exploring his characters deeply. Instead, this book is carried by its mood and tone. While the book's frame and environment are well-constructed, the characters are not.
LibraryThing member scatterbrainbucket
Who would of thought a book about incest and family death could be so steamy and romantic! yes this is better than the movie.
LibraryThing member edwinbcn
I have read nearly all of Ian McEwan's novels, this one being an early, short one. Reading this elegant, somewhat stilted novel, I wondered how much later readers would understand of the atmosphere. In my view, the reader should have a good grasp of the 1970s to understand what is going on, and why
The comfort of strangers is a fine novel, full of languid descriptions of Venice. A married couple, somewhat wearied in their relationship, make acquaintance with a handsome, apparently very sympathetic man. At the end of the novel, the story works out in a gruesome twist, typical of McEwan's novels.
This novel would be a very good novel to start reading Ian McEwan, or, as in my case savour the taste of his early works. Very nice.
Show More
this story seems plausible. The novel itself provides very little description.The comfort of strangers is a fine novel, full of languid descriptions of Venice. A married couple, somewhat wearied in their relationship, make acquaintance with a handsome, apparently very sympathetic man. At the end of the novel, the story works out in a gruesome twist, typical of McEwan's novels.
This novel would be a very good novel to start reading Ian McEwan, or, as in my case savour the taste of his early works. Very nice.
Show Less
LibraryThing member caanderson
Loved it! Great suspense, story, and characters.
LibraryThing member stef7sa
Very fine writing as always by McEwan and although the plot isn't that spectacular, even predictable, it is the subtle way the author weaves in the motives and reasons of it that holds the tension of the story till the end.
LibraryThing member chrisblocker
Every time I approach an Ian McEwan review—all but the first time, I guess—I feel some dread. McEwan is an author who garners such strong opinions, good and bad. Some think he is a hack writer, overly elaborate with his prose and plots, offensive to say the least. Others think he has incredible
I throw myself in with those enamored with McEwan. That's not to say I love everything he's written, but I do find myself always thoroughly entertained. Having read some of McEwan's most popular and highly acclaimed works, I've made it a point to read the author's earliest books and work my way through his career. If you've read my reviews of McEwan's first two books, First Love, Last Rites or The Cement Garden, you probably know that old McEwan had a distinctly macabre style once upon a time. In fact, his earliest works remind me considerably of the kinds of stories Stephen King might have written.
The Comfort of Strangers, McEwan's second novel, continues this King comparison, but also shows a break from it. It's not as dark as his earlier efforts, but depravity is still present. The primary difference is that The Comfort of Strangers shows more of McEwan's elaborate style. There was a hint of the literary in McEwan's first books, but here it's strong. The descriptions in The Comfort of Strangers really evoke the setting, pulling the reader in. Even when the story began to disappoint, which it did for me, I wanted to keep reading. Even when I myself began to roll my eyes and recognize the signature overwrought plot, I was so engaged that I couldn't pull away. McEwan is guilty in this one of forcing the characters into the story. It is evident that they have no other path than the one the author makes for them. There's not even an illusion that they have free will. So, in the end, I was disappointed with this story, but there was never a moment I wasn't entertained. And that's something.
Show More
talent, that his stories brim with the kind of details that bring them to life. There's probably truth in both arguments, though in the end they're just opinions. Whatever the general views of McEwan and his stories, reviews of McEwan's work can lead to excessive raising of the eyebrows, eye rolling, and unfriending (though I could be exaggerating).I throw myself in with those enamored with McEwan. That's not to say I love everything he's written, but I do find myself always thoroughly entertained. Having read some of McEwan's most popular and highly acclaimed works, I've made it a point to read the author's earliest books and work my way through his career. If you've read my reviews of McEwan's first two books, First Love, Last Rites or The Cement Garden, you probably know that old McEwan had a distinctly macabre style once upon a time. In fact, his earliest works remind me considerably of the kinds of stories Stephen King might have written.
The Comfort of Strangers, McEwan's second novel, continues this King comparison, but also shows a break from it. It's not as dark as his earlier efforts, but depravity is still present. The primary difference is that The Comfort of Strangers shows more of McEwan's elaborate style. There was a hint of the literary in McEwan's first books, but here it's strong. The descriptions in The Comfort of Strangers really evoke the setting, pulling the reader in. Even when the story began to disappoint, which it did for me, I wanted to keep reading. Even when I myself began to roll my eyes and recognize the signature overwrought plot, I was so engaged that I couldn't pull away. McEwan is guilty in this one of forcing the characters into the story. It is evident that they have no other path than the one the author makes for them. There's not even an illusion that they have free will. So, in the end, I was disappointed with this story, but there was never a moment I wasn't entertained. And that's something.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jonfaith
What tended to happen, to Colin and Mary at least, was that subjects were not explored so much as defensively reiterated, or forced into elaborate irrelevancies, and suffused with irritability.
This slim weapon is a foggy retreat into the nuptual neuroses during the holiday abroad. All baggage isn't
This slim weapon is a foggy retreat into the nuptual neuroses during the holiday abroad. All baggage isn't
Show More
declared at Customs. The soul is a mule through Passport Control. Regret and doubt are the rogue's liquidity, the same for the spouse. Lifting Blanche's best line will ultimately avail with kinky proposals and a nightlight stilleto. Beware. Show Less
LibraryThing member icolford
In this brief novel (published in 1981 when the author was 33), a British couple, Colin and Mary, are on holiday in an unnamed seaside town that bears more than a passing resemblance to Venice. Their relationship is mutually caring, but also one of powerful erotic allure and private intimacy. Both
Show More
are physically attractive and know it, and Colin in particular spends an inordinate amount of time grooming. McEwan’s omniscient narrator paints a picture of two people so profoundly intertwined in almost every aspect of their waking lives that a cloistered exclusivity has evolved between them, as if they are trying to hold themselves aloof from the rest of humanity. They are preternaturally sensitive to one another’s needs and desires, and—once made aware—are more than willing to cater to those needs and desires. And yet when they are together an odd tension seems to exist between them. Mary is distracted: she has left her two children from a previous marriage in England and keeps in touch with them sporadically by phone. And both Colin and Mary at times seem bored and frustrated, with each other and their holiday, and occasionally assert their independent will by acting contrary to the other’s wishes. One day they get lost while following the town’s canals and traversing the narrow, winding pathways. Thirsty and tired, they allow an insistent stranger named Robert to lead them to a bar, where he regales them with stories of his personal history. Later, their resistance weakened, they go with Robert to his villa, where they meet his wife, Caroline, who has mobility issues and appears to suffer from some physical injury or deformity. At this point the story veers from the mesmerizing and dreamlike pseudo-reality that McEwan has so carefully constructed into a world of obsession and depravity. Robert and Caroline are not what they seem, and once their intentions become clear, it’s too late for Colin and Mary to save themselves or each other. The story ends in the bewildering aftermath of violence, with blood staining the floor and a stunned Mary facing a series of painful, practical realities. The story is briskly told and gripping, if not entirely convincing. McEwan’s prose throughout is richly atmospheric. The narrative is psychologically probing and repeatedly demonstrates McEwan’s skill at evoking states of mind through setting and a character’s observation of physical detail. A haunting and memorable work that reflects McEwan’s preoccupation with deviant behaviours at this early stage of his career. Show Less
LibraryThing member ariadna73
May 15: This is a story about an unmarried couple that goes somewhere for vacation. All the environment feels like they love each other, but something wrong is happening.
June 8: Now the story is turning a little bit more interesting, but also a little bit more nasty. All those descriptions about a
June 26. I don't know why, but this book remembered me another one I read, written by Paul Bowles. The translation of that book's title is something like "hot land". I've never liked stories about people traveling to some exotic places, and having terrible adventures that lead them to death. This novel is exactly like that. I was terribly bored in the beginning, and upset in the end. This is a very famous writer, and maybe people would like his writing, but I don't.
June 8: Now the story is turning a little bit more interesting, but also a little bit more nasty. All those descriptions about a
Show More
little boy suffering from his mean sisters, and the tortures he must face.. It'll be difficult to forget.June 26. I don't know why, but this book remembered me another one I read, written by Paul Bowles. The translation of that book's title is something like "hot land". I've never liked stories about people traveling to some exotic places, and having terrible adventures that lead them to death. This novel is exactly like that. I was terribly bored in the beginning, and upset in the end. This is a very famous writer, and maybe people would like his writing, but I don't.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Tangotango
I have read this book a long time ago, but the sensation that comes to memory is: discomfort.
Is it a reason to discourage someone from reading this book? Not necessarily, but the reader has to choose.
Is it a reason to discourage someone from reading this book? Not necessarily, but the reader has to choose.
Awards
Booker Prize (Longlist — 1981)
Original publication date
1981