Sebastian Faulks has an unnerving ability to create people who are flawed and human. Sympathetic and repulsive. Intolerable yet compelling. There is little sensationalism even when life's dramas reach crisis point, and extremes of joy or sadness creep up on you quietly and subtly. His style of writing gives me relief from screaming headlines trumpeting the latest tabloid marital martyr, the self-righteously indignant judgment of 'him whose no better than he should be.' As you sit on your sofa, your train or plane and briefly close your eyes to let the words steep through like autumn tea in the big brown pot, you can almost see the rain sodden streets and smell the oppressive fustiness of provincial hospitality. This is a thought provoking and profoundly moving novel. In my opinion, Sebastian Faulks is a master storyteller who conjures character and atmosphere that live on in the memory, making this a deeply satisfying read.
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