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賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱賵丨丿丞
兀毓乇賮 丕賱賲賵鬲 賲賳匕 賮鬲乇丞 胤賵賷賱丞貙 賱賰賳賴 丕賱丌賳 兀氐亘丨 賷毓乇賮賳賷 兀賷囟賸丕.
賮鬲丨鬲購 毓賷賳賷賻賾 亘丨匕乇 賵乇賲卮鬲購 毓丿丞 賲乇丕鬲. 鬲乇丕噩毓 丕賱馗賱丕賲 亘亘胤亍. 睾乇賮丞 禺丕賱賷丞 賱丕 賷囟賷卅賴丕 爻賵賶 賵賲賷囟 兀噩賴夭丞 廿賱賰鬲乇賵賳賷丞貨 兀禺囟乇 賵兀丨賲乇 丕賱賱賵賳貙 賵卮毓丕毓 囟賵亍 賷爻賯胤 毓亘乇 丕賱亘丕亘 丕賱賲賵丕乇亘. 賴丿賵亍 賲爻鬲卮賮賶 賱賷賱賷. 卮毓乇鬲購 賵賰兀賳賳賷 丕爻鬲賷賯馗鬲 賲賳 丨賱賲 丕爻鬲賲乇 賱兀賷丕賲. 兀賱賲 禺賮賷賮 丿丕賮卅 賮賷 爻丕賯賷 丕賱賷賲賳賶 賵賲毓丿鬲賷 賵氐丿乇賷. 賮賷 乇兀爻賷 氐賮賷乇 賷夭丿丕丿 賯賵丞. 兀卮毓乇 鬲丿乇賷噩賷賸丕 亘賲丕 丨丿孬 賱賷.賱賯丿 賳噩賵鬲購.
賮鬲丨鬲購 毓賷賳賷賻賾 亘丨匕乇 賵乇賲卮鬲購 毓丿丞 賲乇丕鬲. 鬲乇丕噩毓 丕賱馗賱丕賲 亘亘胤亍. 睾乇賮丞 禺丕賱賷丞 賱丕 賷囟賷卅賴丕 爻賵賶 賵賲賷囟 兀噩賴夭丞 廿賱賰鬲乇賵賳賷丞貨 兀禺囟乇 賵兀丨賲乇 丕賱賱賵賳貙 賵卮毓丕毓 囟賵亍 賷爻賯胤 毓亘乇 丕賱亘丕亘 丕賱賲賵丕乇亘. 賴丿賵亍 賲爻鬲卮賮賶 賱賷賱賷. 卮毓乇鬲購 賵賰兀賳賳賷 丕爻鬲賷賯馗鬲 賲賳 丨賱賲 丕爻鬲賲乇 賱兀賷丕賲. 兀賱賲 禺賮賷賮 丿丕賮卅 賮賷 爻丕賯賷 丕賱賷賲賳賶 賵賲毓丿鬲賷 賵氐丿乇賷. 賮賷 乇兀爻賷 氐賮賷乇 賷夭丿丕丿 賯賵丞. 兀卮毓乇 鬲丿乇賷噩賷賸丕 亘賲丕 丨丿孬 賱賷.賱賯丿 賳噩賵鬲購.
328 pages, Unknown Binding
First published February 24, 2016
1,950 people are currently reading
70k people want to read
About the author
Benedict Wells
15听books3,254听followersBenedict Wells was born in Munich in 1984. At the age of six he was sent to a state boarding school due to family and other problems at home. Following his graduation from high school in 2003, he decided not to go to university but instead moved to Berlin to pursue his writing. He made a living doing odd jobs. His fourth novel, 鈥篢he End of Loneliness鈥�, spent more than a year and a half on the Spiegel Bestseller list, was awarded the 2016 鈥篍uropean Union Prize for Literature鈥�, among other awards, and has been published in 38 languages. After several years in Barcelona, Benedict Wells now lives in Zurich.
Three current book recommendations: "Girl, woman other" by Bernardine Evaristo. "Effingers" by Gabriele Tergit. "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin.
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Three current book recommendations: "Girl, woman other" by Bernardine Evaristo. "Effingers" by Gabriele Tergit. "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,892 reviews
January 26, 2019
A well written story affords us the opportunity to feel what the characters are feeling even if their experience is not one that is totally familiar. I know what grief feels like over losing loved ones, but I don鈥檛 know what it鈥檚 like as a child to lose both parents and carry that grief throughout your life. This is a such a well written story that I found myself totally immersed in the grief of Jules, Marty and Liz Moreau, so much so that I cried at times with them and for them. This is such a profound story about loss and loneliness and the effect of losing their parents and the life they knew, but it鈥檚 at the same time about how life goes on, about love, about memories. Even with the pervasive grief that makes this heavy and dark at times, there is hope and there are moments of joy.
Jules is the narrator, so you might say it鈥檚 his story but it鈥檚 also Marty鈥檚 and Liz鈥檚 and Alva鈥檚 story, the woman who has been in Jules鈥� heart from when he was a child at the boarding school the siblings were sent to. I don鈥檛 want to say much about the plot, except that it depicts how they lose themselves and each other and this is the story of their journeys to move forward. Bottom line is that I loved it, the introspective nature of it, the characters鈥� self awareness as they try to cope. It鈥檚 very philosophical as well, raising big questions such as how much does an individual control control his or her feelings and shape their life moving forward. These are some of the most affecting characters I鈥檝e encountered in a while.
I always feel as if I鈥檓 taking a risk when I read a translation of a book, because I think I might not fully get what the author is trying to convey in his or her native language. The beautiful translation of this book felt true to me and it felt like English was the language it was written in, so kudos to Charlotte Collins who translated this book. This will definitely be on my list of favorites for the year.
I read this with the Traveling Sisters and I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin Books through Edelweiss.
February 2, 2020
鈥榯here were things i couldnt say; i could only write them. because when i spoke, i thought; and when i wrote, i felt.鈥�
what a surprise this book is. the kind of quiet surprise that ever so quietly draws closer to you, step by step, until its staring right back at you, making you realise and say, 鈥榦h, there you are. i didnt know how much i needed you.鈥� a story so heartbreakingly tender, so human in its reflection on loneliness, family, love, loss, grief, and hope.
but while this story has a real loveliness to it, i do want to point out that the translation felt a bit off at some points. it makes me sad that im not fluent in every language and cant enjoy novels in their own language, because sometimes translations remove the natural charm of a story in its original form. and while the occasional hiccups of unnatural english werent a deal breaker, sometimes it disrupted the magic of the story, which is unfortunate.
but other than that, this story is so imperfectly perfect.
鈫� 4 stars
what a surprise this book is. the kind of quiet surprise that ever so quietly draws closer to you, step by step, until its staring right back at you, making you realise and say, 鈥榦h, there you are. i didnt know how much i needed you.鈥� a story so heartbreakingly tender, so human in its reflection on loneliness, family, love, loss, grief, and hope.
but while this story has a real loveliness to it, i do want to point out that the translation felt a bit off at some points. it makes me sad that im not fluent in every language and cant enjoy novels in their own language, because sometimes translations remove the natural charm of a story in its original form. and while the occasional hiccups of unnatural english werent a deal breaker, sometimes it disrupted the magic of the story, which is unfortunate.
but other than that, this story is so imperfectly perfect.
鈫� 4 stars
February 2, 2019
My gosh.... the purity of this novel is beautiful. The storytelling MAGNIFICENT!
It鈥檚 a book you want to own - let some time pass - then read it again. A few novels are high on my 鈥榞ift鈥� lists....
鈥淢olokai鈥� by Alan Brennert, 鈥淭o The End of Your Life Book Club鈥�, by Will Schwalbe, and 鈥淭he History of Love鈥�, by Nicole Krause are a few books. - just to name a few- I鈥檝e given away to people many times. I like to bring a book - rather than a bottle of wine to dinner invitations.
I 鈥榓lready鈥� have a friend - Jamie - from Calgary who visits our AirBnB for a few days once a month when here on business), buying this novel for his wife.....( a valentines gift).
This is the type of book - that my long time close friend - Lisi- would call me up and say: READ IT!
I trust a 鈥淟isi says read now鈥� recommendation....NO MORE SAID... NO REVIEW....NO DETAILS...no consideration of cost...
JUST READ IT, Lisi says...and I do! I trusted my friend Peter, the same way.
I should really end my review here 鈥� simply invite EVERY FRIEND I KNOW - male and female - everyone who loves a great literary marvel....to READ THIS BOOK!
Friends can stop here - no need to read another word from me. Other than READ IT!
But for those who want more....
I鈥檒l share a little - but it鈥檚 a book to experience yourself. This slim book captures the complexities of love, desire, and tragedy, brilliantly.
Here is a quote to THINK ABOUT while reading this novel 鈥� try it on. Does this ring true for you - or not:
A father tells his six year old son:
鈥淚t was important to have one true friend 鈥� a soulmate. Someone you鈥檇 never lose, who would always be there for you. He said that was much more important than love鈥�.
Characters you鈥檒l spend your most time with in this novel are: Jules, the narrator ....
Marty and Liz ( siblings of Jules), Toni, and Alva.
These are characters you come to know well. Alva鈥檚 character was the most challenging character for me to 鈥榙eeply鈥� understand for awhile .... but after unraveling of her layers of who she was - I was richly rewarded with knowing her as I would a close friend.
Jules - and I share much in common. He was the youngest in his family - we both had a loss that we鈥檇 never wish for any child. We both sat in the backseat of the family car. We both felt that nobody really expected anything of us as kids.
Our adults and older siblings shared important conversations in the front seat of the car... but nobody thought we munchkins were listening intensely. We were - listening.
Alva asked Jules: 鈥渨hat it had been like for him and his siblings driving to a new home for the first time after his parents death?鈥� I felt I knew what it was like for Jules. Jules was six when his parents died. I was 4 when my father died.
Forgive me - being soooo honest here: I just erased three paragraphs of a story about my life - relating closely with Jules ..... but I change my mind because I realize each reader鈥� *YOU-I-HOPE*- are going to have many of your own stories - triggers - memories - and thoughts arise as you read this novel. It鈥檚 a treat to read this novel....
A WONDERFUL book club pick. Much to chat about each character.
I鈥檓 chatting with my daughter about this book - in Canada - 鈥榥ow鈥� - at the SAME TIME I鈥檓 trying to write a half way decent review - I鈥檓 nuts.....really nuts.
But I have so much passion for this book. ( and talking with my daughter while sharing about this amazing book is kinda fun and special)....
I鈥檇 be better at verbally chatting with others about this novel than writing.....but I鈥檓 giving this process my best effort. I look forward to verbal conversations with our friends.
So instead of too many more words from me .... I鈥檒l share a little dialogue from this novel ...
BUT NO SPOILERS.....
...... just some thought provoking dialogue that either I resonated with, or I want to talk about it more, or I was just 鈥榤oved鈥� by the beauty of such intelligent emotional writing.
Jules says:
鈥淭his constantly being alone is killing me鈥�.
Alva says:
鈥淵es, but the antidote to loneliness isn鈥檛 just being around random people indiscriminately, the antidote to loneliness is emotional security鈥�.
鈥淢e, beckoning to the waiter: we鈥檒l drink to that.......
and all this time I couldn鈥檛 stop staring at Alva鈥檚 beautiful 鈥榝ilm noir鈥� face, looking into those big, luminous, pale green eyes; and another drink and we sank into blessed drunkenness, and to my astonishment I said, what I鈥檇 really like to do is leave my job, move away from Berlin and just write. And suddenly it was as if I found my inner voice again, and finally I admitted I missed Alva鈥�.
I LOVED THIS EXCERPT .....( note: who hasn鈥檛 experienced the uncomfortableness of a formal controlled conversation with a person you 鈥榬eally鈥� know well- and they you?: awkward!)....
鈥淔or a moment I felt as if our real selves were far away, and we sent two negotiators to a bar who weren鈥檛 authorized to talk about the really important things鈥�.
Another sweet gem:
鈥淎lva鈥檚 hands, gesticulating as she spoke, or her teeth when she laughed, which she did a lot that evening, she had accepted her slightly crooked front tooth and didn鈥檛 hold up her hand in front of her mouth anymore鈥�.
鈥淭ime isn鈥檛 linear; nor is memory. You always remember more clearly things you鈥檙e emotionally close to you at any given moment鈥�.
Jules says:
鈥淚 hardly knew my father. I often wonder what our relationship would be like if he were alive. Would we have much to do with each other? Or perhaps even be friends? I鈥檇 like to sit in a bar and chat with him, too, as adults. I missed out on everything. Conversations, little moments, father-son stuff鈥�.
Last.....I loved this quote by Jack Kerouac which was on the wall of Liz鈥檚 when she was a teenager:
鈥淭he only people for me are the mad one鈥檚. The ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous at everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say commonplace things, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars鈥�.
This novel is soooooooooo GOOD! Extraordinary depth and beauty!!!
A 2019 BIG TIME FAVORITE!!!
MANY THANKS TO MY BUDDY REFERRAL, *Peter*!
Many thanks to Penguin Press, Netgalley, and Benedict Wells
It鈥檚 a book you want to own - let some time pass - then read it again. A few novels are high on my 鈥榞ift鈥� lists....
鈥淢olokai鈥� by Alan Brennert, 鈥淭o The End of Your Life Book Club鈥�, by Will Schwalbe, and 鈥淭he History of Love鈥�, by Nicole Krause are a few books. - just to name a few- I鈥檝e given away to people many times. I like to bring a book - rather than a bottle of wine to dinner invitations.
I 鈥榓lready鈥� have a friend - Jamie - from Calgary who visits our AirBnB for a few days once a month when here on business), buying this novel for his wife.....( a valentines gift).
This is the type of book - that my long time close friend - Lisi- would call me up and say: READ IT!
I trust a 鈥淟isi says read now鈥� recommendation....NO MORE SAID... NO REVIEW....NO DETAILS...no consideration of cost...
JUST READ IT, Lisi says...and I do! I trusted my friend Peter, the same way.
I should really end my review here 鈥� simply invite EVERY FRIEND I KNOW - male and female - everyone who loves a great literary marvel....to READ THIS BOOK!
Friends can stop here - no need to read another word from me. Other than READ IT!
But for those who want more....
I鈥檒l share a little - but it鈥檚 a book to experience yourself. This slim book captures the complexities of love, desire, and tragedy, brilliantly.
Here is a quote to THINK ABOUT while reading this novel 鈥� try it on. Does this ring true for you - or not:
A father tells his six year old son:
鈥淚t was important to have one true friend 鈥� a soulmate. Someone you鈥檇 never lose, who would always be there for you. He said that was much more important than love鈥�.
Characters you鈥檒l spend your most time with in this novel are: Jules, the narrator ....
Marty and Liz ( siblings of Jules), Toni, and Alva.
These are characters you come to know well. Alva鈥檚 character was the most challenging character for me to 鈥榙eeply鈥� understand for awhile .... but after unraveling of her layers of who she was - I was richly rewarded with knowing her as I would a close friend.
Jules - and I share much in common. He was the youngest in his family - we both had a loss that we鈥檇 never wish for any child. We both sat in the backseat of the family car. We both felt that nobody really expected anything of us as kids.
Our adults and older siblings shared important conversations in the front seat of the car... but nobody thought we munchkins were listening intensely. We were - listening.
Alva asked Jules: 鈥渨hat it had been like for him and his siblings driving to a new home for the first time after his parents death?鈥� I felt I knew what it was like for Jules. Jules was six when his parents died. I was 4 when my father died.
Forgive me - being soooo honest here: I just erased three paragraphs of a story about my life - relating closely with Jules ..... but I change my mind because I realize each reader鈥� *YOU-I-HOPE*- are going to have many of your own stories - triggers - memories - and thoughts arise as you read this novel. It鈥檚 a treat to read this novel....
A WONDERFUL book club pick. Much to chat about each character.
I鈥檓 chatting with my daughter about this book - in Canada - 鈥榥ow鈥� - at the SAME TIME I鈥檓 trying to write a half way decent review - I鈥檓 nuts.....really nuts.
But I have so much passion for this book. ( and talking with my daughter while sharing about this amazing book is kinda fun and special)....
I鈥檇 be better at verbally chatting with others about this novel than writing.....but I鈥檓 giving this process my best effort. I look forward to verbal conversations with our friends.
So instead of too many more words from me .... I鈥檒l share a little dialogue from this novel ...
BUT NO SPOILERS.....
...... just some thought provoking dialogue that either I resonated with, or I want to talk about it more, or I was just 鈥榤oved鈥� by the beauty of such intelligent emotional writing.
Jules says:
鈥淭his constantly being alone is killing me鈥�.
Alva says:
鈥淵es, but the antidote to loneliness isn鈥檛 just being around random people indiscriminately, the antidote to loneliness is emotional security鈥�.
鈥淢e, beckoning to the waiter: we鈥檒l drink to that.......
and all this time I couldn鈥檛 stop staring at Alva鈥檚 beautiful 鈥榝ilm noir鈥� face, looking into those big, luminous, pale green eyes; and another drink and we sank into blessed drunkenness, and to my astonishment I said, what I鈥檇 really like to do is leave my job, move away from Berlin and just write. And suddenly it was as if I found my inner voice again, and finally I admitted I missed Alva鈥�.
I LOVED THIS EXCERPT .....( note: who hasn鈥檛 experienced the uncomfortableness of a formal controlled conversation with a person you 鈥榬eally鈥� know well- and they you?: awkward!)....
鈥淔or a moment I felt as if our real selves were far away, and we sent two negotiators to a bar who weren鈥檛 authorized to talk about the really important things鈥�.
Another sweet gem:
鈥淎lva鈥檚 hands, gesticulating as she spoke, or her teeth when she laughed, which she did a lot that evening, she had accepted her slightly crooked front tooth and didn鈥檛 hold up her hand in front of her mouth anymore鈥�.
鈥淭ime isn鈥檛 linear; nor is memory. You always remember more clearly things you鈥檙e emotionally close to you at any given moment鈥�.
Jules says:
鈥淚 hardly knew my father. I often wonder what our relationship would be like if he were alive. Would we have much to do with each other? Or perhaps even be friends? I鈥檇 like to sit in a bar and chat with him, too, as adults. I missed out on everything. Conversations, little moments, father-son stuff鈥�.
Last.....I loved this quote by Jack Kerouac which was on the wall of Liz鈥檚 when she was a teenager:
鈥淭he only people for me are the mad one鈥檚. The ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous at everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say commonplace things, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars鈥�.
This novel is soooooooooo GOOD! Extraordinary depth and beauty!!!
A 2019 BIG TIME FAVORITE!!!
MANY THANKS TO MY BUDDY REFERRAL, *Peter*!
Many thanks to Penguin Press, Netgalley, and Benedict Wells
January 27, 2019
My first five star read of 2019. Five stars because it gave me a very good story, some great and memorable characters, as well as delivering all the feels. A complimentary side of marshmallow thrown in for good measure.
When the story opens we are introduced to Jules. He is lying in a hospital bed recovering from a motorcycle accident. The reason for the accident is in doubt. He then flashes back to his past, and the reader follows he and his siblings as they are delivered to a just barely serviceable boarding school. Jules is just ten, Marty and Liz, a little older. His parents killed in a car accident, the children barely given time to grieve. Here the siblings will grow apart, but it is also here that Jules will make a wonderful friend that will have a huge impact on his future. His relationship with Alva, also a lonely young woman with a huge grief in her life provide the nucleus of the novel.
Sometimes translated novels can be tricky, meanings changed due to word choices. To be honest, there were a few such incidents here, but it didn't change the meaning of the story, nor affect the way I felt. Early childhood trauma changes us, and this is brilliantly shown in the lives of the siblings. There is sadness, happiness, but also a longing for a reality they can call their own. Steps and missteps in relationships, career choices. Yet, these are well rounded, realistic characters that I came to cherish. Their pain, lonliness, times of happiness, so aptly displayed that these felt like actual people i had come to know. People I felt for and with, wanting them to overcome their loss early in life and find joy. What they go through and whether they accomplish this goal, is the story, one you will have to read yourself. I hope you do.
ARC from Penguin Books.
When the story opens we are introduced to Jules. He is lying in a hospital bed recovering from a motorcycle accident. The reason for the accident is in doubt. He then flashes back to his past, and the reader follows he and his siblings as they are delivered to a just barely serviceable boarding school. Jules is just ten, Marty and Liz, a little older. His parents killed in a car accident, the children barely given time to grieve. Here the siblings will grow apart, but it is also here that Jules will make a wonderful friend that will have a huge impact on his future. His relationship with Alva, also a lonely young woman with a huge grief in her life provide the nucleus of the novel.
Sometimes translated novels can be tricky, meanings changed due to word choices. To be honest, there were a few such incidents here, but it didn't change the meaning of the story, nor affect the way I felt. Early childhood trauma changes us, and this is brilliantly shown in the lives of the siblings. There is sadness, happiness, but also a longing for a reality they can call their own. Steps and missteps in relationships, career choices. Yet, these are well rounded, realistic characters that I came to cherish. Their pain, lonliness, times of happiness, so aptly displayed that these felt like actual people i had come to know. People I felt for and with, wanting them to overcome their loss early in life and find joy. What they go through and whether they accomplish this goal, is the story, one you will have to read yourself. I hope you do.
ARC from Penguin Books.
June 1, 2021
At first i was curious about an unusual story by Benedict Wells, so i was excited to read. Benedict Wells has a great writing style. He usualy knows how to handle with words, but did not touch me with his style of writing. The destiny of the main character is directed by the arbitrariness of the autor without surprising moments and changes of tacks.
January 6, 2025
The book opens with the line:
I鈥檝e known Death a long time, but now Death knows me.
Jules wakes in a hospital bed - he鈥檚 been in an accident, and he鈥檚 pretty beaten up. He tries to piece it together: a motorcycle accident, but there鈥檚 something before that, something his mind doesn鈥檛 want to recall. We鈥檒l find out what that is鈥� but not yet, not for quite some time.
We flash back to his childhood and learn that he lost his parents early in life, the result of a car crash. He, his brother Marty, and sister Liz were dispatched to a grim boarding school. The idyllic life they鈥檇 led to this point is gone, replaced by something else. At the school, Jules meets the red-haired Alva, a similarly introverted being; they strike up a friendship. Marty also finds a friend in Toni, who will eventually become a friend to all three siblings. Liz, on the other hand, is a bit of a loner, but wild too: she wants to live life to the full and to experiment. As the book unfolds, we will see how the lives of all five of them play out.
The focus, though, is on Jules, and it鈥檚 through him that we see what happens to each of them. It鈥檚 a truly multi-layered tale this: it鈥檚 predominantly melancholy in tone, as the siblings follow a hard road to their futures, and we really do witness the peaks and troughs a life can deliver. Not only is there the loss of their parents to deal with but also separation as the three of them are split up for the first time in their lives at the boarding school and again later after they鈥檝e gotten together collectively or sometimes in pairings.
There is the agonising over unrequited love and the mistakes they make (that we all make) as they grow up, sometimes leading to longer-term problems or regrets that will continue to haunt them. There鈥檚 also a pervading sense of time running out, things left undone. And there鈥檚 a suspicion that lives can be poisoned from the start (the siblings lost their parents, and Alva lost a sister), stunting the ability to find happiness thereafter. But there are good times too, successes and moments of pure unadulterated happiness.
Apart from enjoying the unfolding of the tale itself, one of the great pleasures of this book for me was the way in which the group wrestle with some of the big philosophical questions in life, such as: do people really have free will and if a different path had been taken would some elements still be the same 鈥� would something still survive, the immutable part?
For Liz, life is about excitement and stimulation, but for Marty and Jules, I sense it鈥檚 more about finding security and contentment. Different strokes for different folks. Do each of them (or any of them) find what they鈥檙e looking for? Well, I鈥檓 not going to answer that, you鈥檙e going to have to read the book and find out for yourselves!
A five-star read, without doubt. This book has been a huge success since it鈥檚 release, winning the 2016 European Union Prize for Literature, and I can see why. Now translated into English it鈥檚 one that you鈥檒l miss at your peril.
My sincere thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jules wakes in a hospital bed - he鈥檚 been in an accident, and he鈥檚 pretty beaten up. He tries to piece it together: a motorcycle accident, but there鈥檚 something before that, something his mind doesn鈥檛 want to recall. We鈥檒l find out what that is鈥� but not yet, not for quite some time.
We flash back to his childhood and learn that he lost his parents early in life, the result of a car crash. He, his brother Marty, and sister Liz were dispatched to a grim boarding school. The idyllic life they鈥檇 led to this point is gone, replaced by something else. At the school, Jules meets the red-haired Alva, a similarly introverted being; they strike up a friendship. Marty also finds a friend in Toni, who will eventually become a friend to all three siblings. Liz, on the other hand, is a bit of a loner, but wild too: she wants to live life to the full and to experiment. As the book unfolds, we will see how the lives of all five of them play out.
The focus, though, is on Jules, and it鈥檚 through him that we see what happens to each of them. It鈥檚 a truly multi-layered tale this: it鈥檚 predominantly melancholy in tone, as the siblings follow a hard road to their futures, and we really do witness the peaks and troughs a life can deliver. Not only is there the loss of their parents to deal with but also separation as the three of them are split up for the first time in their lives at the boarding school and again later after they鈥檝e gotten together collectively or sometimes in pairings.
There is the agonising over unrequited love and the mistakes they make (that we all make) as they grow up, sometimes leading to longer-term problems or regrets that will continue to haunt them. There鈥檚 also a pervading sense of time running out, things left undone. And there鈥檚 a suspicion that lives can be poisoned from the start (the siblings lost their parents, and Alva lost a sister), stunting the ability to find happiness thereafter. But there are good times too, successes and moments of pure unadulterated happiness.
Apart from enjoying the unfolding of the tale itself, one of the great pleasures of this book for me was the way in which the group wrestle with some of the big philosophical questions in life, such as: do people really have free will and if a different path had been taken would some elements still be the same 鈥� would something still survive, the immutable part?
For Liz, life is about excitement and stimulation, but for Marty and Jules, I sense it鈥檚 more about finding security and contentment. Different strokes for different folks. Do each of them (or any of them) find what they鈥檙e looking for? Well, I鈥檓 not going to answer that, you鈥檙e going to have to read the book and find out for yourselves!
A five-star read, without doubt. This book has been a huge success since it鈥檚 release, winning the 2016 European Union Prize for Literature, and I can see why. Now translated into English it鈥檚 one that you鈥檒l miss at your peril.
My sincere thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2019
Persistence
The End of Loneliness is a story that affirms the power of love and the throbbing pain of loss and loneliness. How the heart can be nourished and torn apart, leaving us with an unforgettable and emotional journey.
At 11 years of age, the story's narrators, Jules, and his older brother and sister, Marty and Liz, lose their parents in a car accident. They are re-homed in a boarding school with each drifting apart and trying to adapt to this new alien world. For Jules, he despondently watches his older siblings 鈥渄esert鈥� him and he gradually starts to retreat into himself and his imagination. He makes friends with a girl, Alva, a little older than he, and she is also finding it difficult to socialise and engage with others. Over the years, their mutual loneliness and sadness are only abated as they spend more time together and strike up a close bond. These characters are subtly developed and it's intriguing watching how they share similar traits yet are different, how they are affected by their other relationships yet have a bond that they probably can't fully appreciate. During adolescence Jules starts to realise that his feelings are more intimate than just friendship, but will he risk losing what he has, to gain everything. He reflects that he,
The End of Loneliness takes us on a lifelong cyclic journey of love and loss for each of the characters. The issue of unrequited love is a hugely emotive aspect of the narrative and the writing style delivers this extremely delicately yet dramatically. How would life pan out if we had taken a different course?
I would highly recommend this book and I'd like to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
The End of Loneliness is a story that affirms the power of love and the throbbing pain of loss and loneliness. How the heart can be nourished and torn apart, leaving us with an unforgettable and emotional journey.
At 11 years of age, the story's narrators, Jules, and his older brother and sister, Marty and Liz, lose their parents in a car accident. They are re-homed in a boarding school with each drifting apart and trying to adapt to this new alien world. For Jules, he despondently watches his older siblings 鈥渄esert鈥� him and he gradually starts to retreat into himself and his imagination. He makes friends with a girl, Alva, a little older than he, and she is also finding it difficult to socialise and engage with others. Over the years, their mutual loneliness and sadness are only abated as they spend more time together and strike up a close bond. These characters are subtly developed and it's intriguing watching how they share similar traits yet are different, how they are affected by their other relationships yet have a bond that they probably can't fully appreciate. During adolescence Jules starts to realise that his feelings are more intimate than just friendship, but will he risk losing what he has, to gain everything. He reflects that he,
鈥淣ever had the courage to win her, only ever the fear of losing her.鈥�
The End of Loneliness takes us on a lifelong cyclic journey of love and loss for each of the characters. The issue of unrequited love is a hugely emotive aspect of the narrative and the writing style delivers this extremely delicately yet dramatically. How would life pan out if we had taken a different course?
鈥淚f you spend all your life running in the wrong direction, could it be the right one after all?鈥�If you spend most of your life chasing a dream, is it still a dream when you catch it, and what happens if you let the dream go? The last part of the book is genuinely emotional, especially if you have connected with the characters, which I鈥檓 absolutely sure the reader will. It鈥檚 not a dramatic romance story, but the emotional pull is much more powerful for it. Is life a zero-sum game or do some people just have more than their fair share of bad luck? The book is sad without being depressing, and it has its moments where it is inspiring and heartfelt.
I would highly recommend this book and I'd like to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
February 5, 2019
This was a very moving account of three siblings from Munich, Germany who tragically lost their parents in a car accident. The story is told from the perspective of the youngest son, Jules. As the story begins, a now adult Jules wakes up in hospital realizing he has survived a motorcycle accident. Both Jules' older brother Marty and the hospital psychologist question whether it was an accident or a suicide attempt. From here, the story rewinds to its beginning.
Jules is a carefree, brave and outgoing child of 7. He loves his apartment where he can look down into a pleasant courtyard. His pretty Mom plays a Beatles cassette in the car as they make their annual summer jaunt to visit Grandmother in her ivy-covered house in the south of France. Dad is an aspiring photographer, but in reality is an accountant. He is well thought of at work and has an engaging personality. The Moreau's family life seemed rather idyllic during this early period, and I was easily lured into the story.
As time progresses, the father doesn't seem as sound of spirit as he used to be. He comes home from work later than usual and seems agitated. The parents' marriage doesn't seem quite as loving as it used to be. To that end, the parents go away alone on a trip hoping for a restorative effect on their marriage. Instead, they wind up dying in a car accident. This results in Jules, Marty, and the oldest- sister Liz- being sent to a boarding school. Jules is separated from his older siblings in the building. Still in shock and mourning, Jules is not the same madcap, ebullient personality he used to be...especially in this new environment. Then he meets a girl named Alva.
Jules used to sit towards the back of the class, keeping to himself. Alva started sitting next to him. One rainy day, she came over to his room at the boarding school where he played her a Nick Drake album; one of his Mom's favorites. Alva's passion was reading, and she could always be found sitting in some improbable position atop various pieces of furniture, enthralled in a book. Jules used to have a passion too...for writing stories.
Jules never forgot something his father fervently told him: "The most important thing is that you find your true friend, Jules. Your true friend is someone who's always there, who walks beside you all your life. You have to find them; it's more important than anything, even love. Because love doesn't always last." Jules was certain that person was Alva.
This was a very rich story spanning decades in Jules' pursuit and devotion of Alva. His single-minded focus on her is unwavering. It also follows the interesting and unfolding lives of Jules' siblings, Marty and Liz. The character of Jules is very likeable and sympathetic. He has emotional issues to work on, to come to terms with the last moments he spent with his father before he was snatched by death. This is also a story of a family that is always there for each other, and it was a very touching read.
Thank you to the publisher Penguin Books who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
Jules is a carefree, brave and outgoing child of 7. He loves his apartment where he can look down into a pleasant courtyard. His pretty Mom plays a Beatles cassette in the car as they make their annual summer jaunt to visit Grandmother in her ivy-covered house in the south of France. Dad is an aspiring photographer, but in reality is an accountant. He is well thought of at work and has an engaging personality. The Moreau's family life seemed rather idyllic during this early period, and I was easily lured into the story.
As time progresses, the father doesn't seem as sound of spirit as he used to be. He comes home from work later than usual and seems agitated. The parents' marriage doesn't seem quite as loving as it used to be. To that end, the parents go away alone on a trip hoping for a restorative effect on their marriage. Instead, they wind up dying in a car accident. This results in Jules, Marty, and the oldest- sister Liz- being sent to a boarding school. Jules is separated from his older siblings in the building. Still in shock and mourning, Jules is not the same madcap, ebullient personality he used to be...especially in this new environment. Then he meets a girl named Alva.
Jules used to sit towards the back of the class, keeping to himself. Alva started sitting next to him. One rainy day, she came over to his room at the boarding school where he played her a Nick Drake album; one of his Mom's favorites. Alva's passion was reading, and she could always be found sitting in some improbable position atop various pieces of furniture, enthralled in a book. Jules used to have a passion too...for writing stories.
Jules never forgot something his father fervently told him: "The most important thing is that you find your true friend, Jules. Your true friend is someone who's always there, who walks beside you all your life. You have to find them; it's more important than anything, even love. Because love doesn't always last." Jules was certain that person was Alva.
This was a very rich story spanning decades in Jules' pursuit and devotion of Alva. His single-minded focus on her is unwavering. It also follows the interesting and unfolding lives of Jules' siblings, Marty and Liz. The character of Jules is very likeable and sympathetic. He has emotional issues to work on, to come to terms with the last moments he spent with his father before he was snatched by death. This is also a story of a family that is always there for each other, and it was a very touching read.
Thank you to the publisher Penguin Books who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
October 9, 2020
Leck mich am 脛rmel! Das Buch hat mich ja total mitgenommen. Rein von der Handlung 眉ber Verlust, Traumata, Zusammenhalt und Lebenssinn w眉rde ich sagen, dass sich das Buch nicht wesentlich von anderen Familiengeschichten unterscheidet. Es liegt in erster Linie an der Art, wie Benedict Wells seinen Roman aufbaut und vor allem wie er erz盲hlt. Da sitzt jedes Wort, da ist keine Methapher 眉bertrieben und keine Episode 眉berfl眉ssig. Das Buch ist meines Erachtens einfach in sich stimmig.
Der Ich-Erz盲hler Jules ist der J眉ngste von drei Geschwistern, die beh眉tet in den 70er Jahren aufwachsen. Alle Kinder lieben die Mutter, w盲hrend der Vater etwas unnahbar erscheint. Es h盲tte alles so sch枚n werden, die Kindheit, die Pubert盲t, das Herauswachsen aus dem Elternhaus. Doch die Eltern verungl眉cken t枚dlich als Jules gerade mal 12 Jahre ist. Der Verlust der Eltern, bewirkt den Verlust eines Elternhauses, Verlust des Vertrauens in die Menschen, Verlust der geschwisterlichen Geborgenheit in den folgenden Jahren im Internat. Der R眉ckzug in die Einsamkeit l盲脽t auch kaum Chancen zu, innige Freundschaften zu entwickeln und selbst die getreue Freundin aus Kindertagen kann nicht als feste Bezugsgr枚脽e in den Erwachsenenjahren gehalten werden. Das Leben entwickelt sich zu einem Kommen und Gehen, st盲ndig muss Jules lernen, Menschen wieder loszulassen, an die er sein Herz bindet. Das zieht sich durch das ganze Buch, ohne dass es zu einem Erg枚tzen des Autors am Leid seiner Hauptfigur kommt (wie z.B. in ) oder dass es kitschig wirkt. Die Figuren des Romans wirken absolut authentisch und keineswegs stereotyp.
鈥淓ine schwierige Kindheit ist wie ein unsichtbarer Feind, dachte ich. Man wei脽 nie, wann er zuschlagen wird.鈥�
Es dauert lange, bis sich Jules dieser Schl盲ge bewusst wird und sich auch von ihnen erholt. Und obwohl das Buch gegen Ende sehr traurig wird, schafft es der Autor mit dem letzten Satz Hoffnung der ersch眉tterten Leserschaft zu geben. Ganz toll. Verlust von geliebten Menschen, intensive Geschwisterbeziehungen, fehlendes Selbstwertgef眉hl: es gibt viele Punkte, die mich ganz speziell getriggert haben und mich das Buch st盲rker sp眉ren lie脽 als andere Lekt眉ren. Aber selbst Leser/innen, die nicht so intensiv mit dem Protagonisten mitf眉hlen, kann ich das Buch empfehlen. Es ist eine gro脽e Familiengeschichte auf gerade mal knapp 眉ber 300 Seiten.
Der Ich-Erz盲hler Jules ist der J眉ngste von drei Geschwistern, die beh眉tet in den 70er Jahren aufwachsen. Alle Kinder lieben die Mutter, w盲hrend der Vater etwas unnahbar erscheint. Es h盲tte alles so sch枚n werden, die Kindheit, die Pubert盲t, das Herauswachsen aus dem Elternhaus. Doch die Eltern verungl眉cken t枚dlich als Jules gerade mal 12 Jahre ist. Der Verlust der Eltern, bewirkt den Verlust eines Elternhauses, Verlust des Vertrauens in die Menschen, Verlust der geschwisterlichen Geborgenheit in den folgenden Jahren im Internat. Der R眉ckzug in die Einsamkeit l盲脽t auch kaum Chancen zu, innige Freundschaften zu entwickeln und selbst die getreue Freundin aus Kindertagen kann nicht als feste Bezugsgr枚脽e in den Erwachsenenjahren gehalten werden. Das Leben entwickelt sich zu einem Kommen und Gehen, st盲ndig muss Jules lernen, Menschen wieder loszulassen, an die er sein Herz bindet. Das zieht sich durch das ganze Buch, ohne dass es zu einem Erg枚tzen des Autors am Leid seiner Hauptfigur kommt (wie z.B. in ) oder dass es kitschig wirkt. Die Figuren des Romans wirken absolut authentisch und keineswegs stereotyp.
鈥淓ine schwierige Kindheit ist wie ein unsichtbarer Feind, dachte ich. Man wei脽 nie, wann er zuschlagen wird.鈥�
Es dauert lange, bis sich Jules dieser Schl盲ge bewusst wird und sich auch von ihnen erholt. Und obwohl das Buch gegen Ende sehr traurig wird, schafft es der Autor mit dem letzten Satz Hoffnung der ersch眉tterten Leserschaft zu geben. Ganz toll. Verlust von geliebten Menschen, intensive Geschwisterbeziehungen, fehlendes Selbstwertgef眉hl: es gibt viele Punkte, die mich ganz speziell getriggert haben und mich das Buch st盲rker sp眉ren lie脽 als andere Lekt眉ren. Aber selbst Leser/innen, die nicht so intensiv mit dem Protagonisten mitf眉hlen, kann ich das Buch empfehlen. Es ist eine gro脽e Familiengeschichte auf gerade mal knapp 眉ber 300 Seiten.
February 26, 2019
3.5 and a yawn
This book is fine. Not fine like in fine china. Or fine like in mighty fine. This is more like the fine I utter when my salmon is a little overcooked. It鈥檚 fine, I tell the server, as in, I can still taste a bit of goodness but I definitely won鈥檛 rave about this meal later. It鈥檚 fine; it will do. So this isn鈥檛 a huge endorsement, obviously. And in the same way, I can鈥檛 give a huge endorsement to this book.
The story is about Jules, whose parents die when he鈥檚 young. He and his brother and sister end up at a boarding school. Jules is a sad sack for a while, not finding the right street to walk down, and he鈥檚 pining over the girl who got away. There is alienation and blues and happiness and grief. Occasional pieces of wisdom are given, but not thrilling or memorable.
One big item for the Complaint Board: The author got the kids all wrong! Seriously, an 11-year-old would not be kissing girls, which Jules admits to doing. We don鈥檛 see the kisses, but his sister ribs Jules about it:
鈥淎 friend of mine saw you. She said it was right here, outside our building, and you stuck your tongue down the girl鈥檚 throat. Like a pair of Labradors, she said.鈥�
First of all, the sister is 14. Seriously鈥攕he鈥檇 know about French kissing? And a friend saw the tongues sticking down throats? Huh? One doesn鈥檛 really SEE tongues during a kiss鈥攖hey鈥檙e enclosed in the mouths, wouldn鈥檛 you say? And I鈥檓 very sure that a 14-year-old would not make the comment about Labradors. What do kissing and tongues have to do with a pair of Labradors anyway?
In fact, while I was reading the chapters set in the boarding school, the kids鈥� actions and thoughts never seemed to match their age. I鈥檇 be surprised if the author had kids. In any case, he should have done his homework. I spent time going back to try to figure out ages, and I was definitely shaking my head no. It was jarring and annoying.
This book has lots of fans, so I had high hopes: I thought the book would knock my socks off but instead it made me yawn. This is a fine story and a decent character study, but so? I pretty much felt zippo about the main character, Jules, even though he was vivid and sympathetic. Same goes for his sibs and his love, Alva. This story was more than a meh, but not by much.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the advance copy.
This book is fine. Not fine like in fine china. Or fine like in mighty fine. This is more like the fine I utter when my salmon is a little overcooked. It鈥檚 fine, I tell the server, as in, I can still taste a bit of goodness but I definitely won鈥檛 rave about this meal later. It鈥檚 fine; it will do. So this isn鈥檛 a huge endorsement, obviously. And in the same way, I can鈥檛 give a huge endorsement to this book.
The story is about Jules, whose parents die when he鈥檚 young. He and his brother and sister end up at a boarding school. Jules is a sad sack for a while, not finding the right street to walk down, and he鈥檚 pining over the girl who got away. There is alienation and blues and happiness and grief. Occasional pieces of wisdom are given, but not thrilling or memorable.
One big item for the Complaint Board: The author got the kids all wrong! Seriously, an 11-year-old would not be kissing girls, which Jules admits to doing. We don鈥檛 see the kisses, but his sister ribs Jules about it:
鈥淎 friend of mine saw you. She said it was right here, outside our building, and you stuck your tongue down the girl鈥檚 throat. Like a pair of Labradors, she said.鈥�
First of all, the sister is 14. Seriously鈥攕he鈥檇 know about French kissing? And a friend saw the tongues sticking down throats? Huh? One doesn鈥檛 really SEE tongues during a kiss鈥攖hey鈥檙e enclosed in the mouths, wouldn鈥檛 you say? And I鈥檓 very sure that a 14-year-old would not make the comment about Labradors. What do kissing and tongues have to do with a pair of Labradors anyway?
In fact, while I was reading the chapters set in the boarding school, the kids鈥� actions and thoughts never seemed to match their age. I鈥檇 be surprised if the author had kids. In any case, he should have done his homework. I spent time going back to try to figure out ages, and I was definitely shaking my head no. It was jarring and annoying.
This book has lots of fans, so I had high hopes: I thought the book would knock my socks off but instead it made me yawn. This is a fine story and a decent character study, but so? I pretty much felt zippo about the main character, Jules, even though he was vivid and sympathetic. Same goes for his sibs and his love, Alva. This story was more than a meh, but not by much.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the advance copy.
March 16, 2019
4.5
This was a book about siblings Liz, Marty, and Jules.. who at young ages, lost both their parents in a traffic accident, and then were sent to boarding school for many years. They were separated from each other while there and for the youngest, Jules .. it was especially difficult.
This is their story, (mostly focusing on Jules life) and how the sadness of such an early loss affected their entire lives. There are also other great characters in this book to bring about a very meaningful and lovely book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read this!
This was a book about siblings Liz, Marty, and Jules.. who at young ages, lost both their parents in a traffic accident, and then were sent to boarding school for many years. They were separated from each other while there and for the youngest, Jules .. it was especially difficult.
This is their story, (mostly focusing on Jules life) and how the sadness of such an early loss affected their entire lives. There are also other great characters in this book to bring about a very meaningful and lovely book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read this!
July 4, 2023
tears are streaming down my face. good god
February 20, 2019
Described as a Tear Jerker in the magazine review I read but I am afraid this one didn't emotionally affect me in any way and not a tear was shed which may say more about me than the book....... but we do all react differently and as so many of friends found this one a powerful and emotional read, Unfortunately by the end of the novel I was left unmoved and unsatisfied and didn't connect with the characters and to be honest probably wont remember much about this novel a month from now. I do realise that I am in the minority on this one and respect and enjoyed my Goodread's friends 4 and 5 star reviews but I would be lying if I said I even liked it because I didn't and I think that is ok too.
"The story is the account of three siblings: Jules Moreau, the narrator, and his older siblings Liz and Marty. The trio lose their parents in a car accident when Jules is 11, and all move from Munich to boarding school. They grow apart, Marty throws himself into his studies, and Liz falls in with the wrong crowd. Jules retreats into himself until he meets Alva who is dealing with her own family troubles".
This is a quiet story with no great twists and turns just a story about loss and loneliness, family and love. Its quite an easy read and a short book but didn't quite pack the punch I was expecting. I didn't connect with the characters and am sure there is a depth to this book that I just didn't get. The one thing I really do enjoy upon finishing a book like this is reading my friends reviews and learning what about the book they enjoyed and connected with and my friends have been very passionate about this novel so perhaps take time to read their 5 and 4 star reviews before deciding whether the book is right for you.
An ok read, short but not going to be a memorable one for me.
"The story is the account of three siblings: Jules Moreau, the narrator, and his older siblings Liz and Marty. The trio lose their parents in a car accident when Jules is 11, and all move from Munich to boarding school. They grow apart, Marty throws himself into his studies, and Liz falls in with the wrong crowd. Jules retreats into himself until he meets Alva who is dealing with her own family troubles".
This is a quiet story with no great twists and turns just a story about loss and loneliness, family and love. Its quite an easy read and a short book but didn't quite pack the punch I was expecting. I didn't connect with the characters and am sure there is a depth to this book that I just didn't get. The one thing I really do enjoy upon finishing a book like this is reading my friends reviews and learning what about the book they enjoyed and connected with and my friends have been very passionate about this novel so perhaps take time to read their 5 and 4 star reviews before deciding whether the book is right for you.
An ok read, short but not going to be a memorable one for me.
Currently Reading
May 19, 2025nothing impresses me more than pure character-driven writing
(picking this up for a substack post in which i let you guys choose my reads)
(picking this up for a substack post in which i let you guys choose my reads)
January 10, 2019
Well, this utterly wrecked me. What a beautiful book.
, translated from the German by Charlotte Collins, follows three siblings growing up in Munich, whose parents die in a car accident, leaving them orphaned and forced to attend boarding school. The focus is on Jules, the youngest sibling, who's more of an observer than a participant in his own life; after his parents' death he turns inward and fixates on a parallel narrative that he's crafted of what his life would have been like had they survived. At boarding school he meets Alva, another loner who he's able to connect with as he and his siblings grow apart, but after school they lose touch and Jules is once more on his own.
With a focus on the complex dynamics between the three siblings, Benedict Wells deftly explores the ripple effect of loss and grief. He also plays with the fallibility of memory in a way that recalls Kazuo Ishiguro, as Jules is recounting events from his childhood years later, and eventually certain cracks begin to form in his carefully curated narrative that suggest he may have chosen to remember certain events in a way that was convenient to him. This is a deeply melancholy book that gives little respite in its misery, but I found its emotional honesty refreshing. And with Jules' retrospective narration, the grief discussed feels more like a bruise than an open wound (it's a painful book to read, but not as visceral as something like ). It did bring me to tears at one point, but it wasn't the kind of painful that I lost sleep over; it's more of a quiet kind of haunting that slowly seeps under your skin.
My one criticism is that the end gets a bit twee and Wells insists on wrapping everything up a bit too neatly; maybe he's playing with the idea that one of the characters floats around, that life is a zero-sum game; maybe he thinks his characters have all suffered enough to have earned a neat ending. But as a reader I ironically feel less fulfilled with the more closure I get, so I would have preferred things to end on a slightly more somber note. 4.5 stars - rounded down for now but maybe I'll change it depending on how this stays with me.
Also - my advice going into this book is to avoid reading the 欧宝娱乐 summary if possible (or maybe just read the first paragraph), as it essentially gives a paint by numbers account of the entire plot. It's not that I felt spoiled while reading - it's more driven by character than plot anyway - but it's just unnecessary to give that much away when the book is less than 300 pages to begin with.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books for the advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
, translated from the German by Charlotte Collins, follows three siblings growing up in Munich, whose parents die in a car accident, leaving them orphaned and forced to attend boarding school. The focus is on Jules, the youngest sibling, who's more of an observer than a participant in his own life; after his parents' death he turns inward and fixates on a parallel narrative that he's crafted of what his life would have been like had they survived. At boarding school he meets Alva, another loner who he's able to connect with as he and his siblings grow apart, but after school they lose touch and Jules is once more on his own.
With a focus on the complex dynamics between the three siblings, Benedict Wells deftly explores the ripple effect of loss and grief. He also plays with the fallibility of memory in a way that recalls Kazuo Ishiguro, as Jules is recounting events from his childhood years later, and eventually certain cracks begin to form in his carefully curated narrative that suggest he may have chosen to remember certain events in a way that was convenient to him. This is a deeply melancholy book that gives little respite in its misery, but I found its emotional honesty refreshing. And with Jules' retrospective narration, the grief discussed feels more like a bruise than an open wound (it's a painful book to read, but not as visceral as something like ). It did bring me to tears at one point, but it wasn't the kind of painful that I lost sleep over; it's more of a quiet kind of haunting that slowly seeps under your skin.
My one criticism is that the end gets a bit twee and Wells insists on wrapping everything up a bit too neatly; maybe he's playing with the idea that one of the characters floats around, that life is a zero-sum game; maybe he thinks his characters have all suffered enough to have earned a neat ending. But as a reader I ironically feel less fulfilled with the more closure I get, so I would have preferred things to end on a slightly more somber note. 4.5 stars - rounded down for now but maybe I'll change it depending on how this stays with me.
Also - my advice going into this book is to avoid reading the 欧宝娱乐 summary if possible (or maybe just read the first paragraph), as it essentially gives a paint by numbers account of the entire plot. It's not that I felt spoiled while reading - it's more driven by character than plot anyway - but it's just unnecessary to give that much away when the book is less than 300 pages to begin with.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books for the advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2019
鈥淎 difficult childhood is like an enemy. You never know when it will strike.鈥�
This quote pretty much sums up what The End of Loneliness is all about. Jules is the youngest of three siblings. His parents die when he is 11 years old, and he and his siblings go live in a boarding school. Later in life, Jules looks back on different points in his life 鈥� how he and his siblings distanced themselves from each other and slowly came back together. But, always, for Jules and his siblings, the early loss of their parents affects their relationship to the world and to each other. Knowing young that terrible things can happen leaves lasting scars. And experiencing a terrible loss at a young age doesn鈥檛 immunize anyone from further terrible losses. The prose is simple and the story is narrated in a understated way, but this short novel packs a lot of emotions. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
This quote pretty much sums up what The End of Loneliness is all about. Jules is the youngest of three siblings. His parents die when he is 11 years old, and he and his siblings go live in a boarding school. Later in life, Jules looks back on different points in his life 鈥� how he and his siblings distanced themselves from each other and slowly came back together. But, always, for Jules and his siblings, the early loss of their parents affects their relationship to the world and to each other. Knowing young that terrible things can happen leaves lasting scars. And experiencing a terrible loss at a young age doesn鈥檛 immunize anyone from further terrible losses. The prose is simple and the story is narrated in a understated way, but this short novel packs a lot of emotions. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
March 23, 2021
W盲hrend ich seit einer guten Stunde immer und immer wieder mein Geschriebenes l枚sche, weil ich mir laufend die Frage stellen muss: 鈥濿ie rezensiere ich ein Buch, das mich sprachlos zur眉ckgelassen hat?鈥�, entscheide ich mich genau daf眉r als Anfang.
Dabei m枚chte ich festhalten, dass ganz gleich was ich schreiben werde, es wird diesem Roman nicht im Entferntesten gerecht werden.
鈥濪as Leben ist kein Nullsummenspiel. Es schuldet einem nichts, und die Dinge passieren, wie sie passieren. Manchmal gerecht, so dass alles einen Sinn ergibt, manchmal so ungerecht, dass man an allem zweifelt. Ich zog dem Schicksal die Maske vom Gesicht und fand darunter nur den Zufall.鈥�
Dieses Zitat war der Ansto脽 eines gro脽artigen Leseerlebnisses. Es sorgte daf眉r, dass Benedict Wells neuer Roman meine volle, ungeteilte Aufmerksamkeit bekam. Wie man bisher unschwer erahnen kann, wurden meine Erwartungen nicht entt盲uscht. Dar眉ber hinaus m枚chte ich vorweg nehmen, dass es definitiv die Chance hat, dass beste Buch des Jahres zu werden. Es weckt in mir den Wunsch es jedem zu empfehlen, der bereit ist sein Herz f眉r 鈥濾om Ende der Einsamkeit鈥� zu 枚ffnen.
Doch worauf l盲sst man sich bei dieser Geschichte ein?
Nun, wir lernen Jules und seine beiden Geschwister Marty und Liz kennen, als Jules elf Jahre alt ist und die Geschwister ihre Eltern durch einen Autounfall verlieren. Sie verlieren ihre Eltern, das gewohnte Umfeld, eigentlich sogar ihr eigenes Leben, denn als sie nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern auf ein staatliches Internat m眉ssen, ver盲ndert sich alles. Die Geschwister verlieren sich immer mehr und versuchen auf ihre Art mit der neuen Situation fertig zu werden. Jules, der sich immer mehr zur眉ckzieht, findet nur in Alva eine Freundin.
Nach den ersten Eindr眉cken 眉ber die Familie und das neue Leben im Internat, begleiten wir die Charaktere 眉ber die Jahre hinweg bis sie selbst Erwachsen sind. Jeder von uns wird sich in einem dieser Charaktere wiederfinden. Um ein paar Beispiele zu nennen: Jules ist auf der Suche. Liz ist wie eine rebellierende Reisende ohne Boden unter den F眉脽en. Und dann haben wir noch Alva, die alles mit sich selbst ausmacht.
Wir bekommen im weiteren Verlauf der Geschichte immer wieder einen Einblick in Jules Leben, aber es folgen auch Zeitspr眉nge. Diese Unterbrechungen in der Erz盲hlung waren f眉r mich w盲hrend des Lesens sehr wichtig und willkommen, da sie einem die Zeit verschaffen um aufzuatmen und Revue passieren zu lassen. Sowieso habe ich immer wieder nachgedacht, reflektiert, genossen.
鈥濾om Ende der Einsamkeit鈥� birgt, neben einer grandiosen Handlung, eine ungeheure Melancholie. Wie sonst soll man einen Roman 眉ber Verlust, Einsamkeit, Familie und die Liebe schreiben?
Es ist w眉nschenswert, dass man dieser Geschichte sein Herz 枚ffnet. Die Figuren sind so facettenreich gezeichnet, dass sie die N盲he zum Leser brauchen und verdient haben. Sie sind in ihrem ganzen Sein und Handeln einfach menschlich, nicht 眉berzogen oder gar besch枚nigt.
Benedict Wells ist ein wahres Meisterwerk gelungen. Die Figuren sind absolut bemerkenswert, die Geschichte eindringlich und trotz der Schwere abwechslungsreich und der Erz盲hlstil so m眉helos und ausgereift, dass jede Zeile puren Lesegenuss darbietet.
Zusatz nach dem zweiten Mal lesen: Alles nochmal ganz anders wahrgenommen, anders lieben gelernt. Ein echtes Lese-Lebenshighlight.
Dabei m枚chte ich festhalten, dass ganz gleich was ich schreiben werde, es wird diesem Roman nicht im Entferntesten gerecht werden.
鈥濪as Leben ist kein Nullsummenspiel. Es schuldet einem nichts, und die Dinge passieren, wie sie passieren. Manchmal gerecht, so dass alles einen Sinn ergibt, manchmal so ungerecht, dass man an allem zweifelt. Ich zog dem Schicksal die Maske vom Gesicht und fand darunter nur den Zufall.鈥�
Dieses Zitat war der Ansto脽 eines gro脽artigen Leseerlebnisses. Es sorgte daf眉r, dass Benedict Wells neuer Roman meine volle, ungeteilte Aufmerksamkeit bekam. Wie man bisher unschwer erahnen kann, wurden meine Erwartungen nicht entt盲uscht. Dar眉ber hinaus m枚chte ich vorweg nehmen, dass es definitiv die Chance hat, dass beste Buch des Jahres zu werden. Es weckt in mir den Wunsch es jedem zu empfehlen, der bereit ist sein Herz f眉r 鈥濾om Ende der Einsamkeit鈥� zu 枚ffnen.
Doch worauf l盲sst man sich bei dieser Geschichte ein?
Nun, wir lernen Jules und seine beiden Geschwister Marty und Liz kennen, als Jules elf Jahre alt ist und die Geschwister ihre Eltern durch einen Autounfall verlieren. Sie verlieren ihre Eltern, das gewohnte Umfeld, eigentlich sogar ihr eigenes Leben, denn als sie nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern auf ein staatliches Internat m眉ssen, ver盲ndert sich alles. Die Geschwister verlieren sich immer mehr und versuchen auf ihre Art mit der neuen Situation fertig zu werden. Jules, der sich immer mehr zur眉ckzieht, findet nur in Alva eine Freundin.
Nach den ersten Eindr眉cken 眉ber die Familie und das neue Leben im Internat, begleiten wir die Charaktere 眉ber die Jahre hinweg bis sie selbst Erwachsen sind. Jeder von uns wird sich in einem dieser Charaktere wiederfinden. Um ein paar Beispiele zu nennen: Jules ist auf der Suche. Liz ist wie eine rebellierende Reisende ohne Boden unter den F眉脽en. Und dann haben wir noch Alva, die alles mit sich selbst ausmacht.
Wir bekommen im weiteren Verlauf der Geschichte immer wieder einen Einblick in Jules Leben, aber es folgen auch Zeitspr眉nge. Diese Unterbrechungen in der Erz盲hlung waren f眉r mich w盲hrend des Lesens sehr wichtig und willkommen, da sie einem die Zeit verschaffen um aufzuatmen und Revue passieren zu lassen. Sowieso habe ich immer wieder nachgedacht, reflektiert, genossen.
鈥濾om Ende der Einsamkeit鈥� birgt, neben einer grandiosen Handlung, eine ungeheure Melancholie. Wie sonst soll man einen Roman 眉ber Verlust, Einsamkeit, Familie und die Liebe schreiben?
Es ist w眉nschenswert, dass man dieser Geschichte sein Herz 枚ffnet. Die Figuren sind so facettenreich gezeichnet, dass sie die N盲he zum Leser brauchen und verdient haben. Sie sind in ihrem ganzen Sein und Handeln einfach menschlich, nicht 眉berzogen oder gar besch枚nigt.
Benedict Wells ist ein wahres Meisterwerk gelungen. Die Figuren sind absolut bemerkenswert, die Geschichte eindringlich und trotz der Schwere abwechslungsreich und der Erz盲hlstil so m眉helos und ausgereift, dass jede Zeile puren Lesegenuss darbietet.
Zusatz nach dem zweiten Mal lesen: Alles nochmal ganz anders wahrgenommen, anders lieben gelernt. Ein echtes Lese-Lebenshighlight.
March 13, 2024
Small rant incoming...
I鈥檓 proud to say that I made it until June this year before encountering a book I didn鈥檛 just dislike but actively hated. That book was The End of Loneliness. Obligatory disclaimer before you come for me: please know this is my opinion based on my experiences, and I'm not trying to insult anyone. If you love this book I'm happy for you, but I just have many problems with it...
I realise that it鈥檚 an unpopular opinion, and I honestly don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 just this book I dislike, but this entire subgenre which I鈥檝e come to name 鈥渢ragedy-porn鈥�.
Most famous for its posterchild and most egregious offender , this genre has one goal only: to make its reader cry. How, you ask? Oh simple: just by chugging as much tragedy and sadness the protagonists way possible. Death of a parent: awesome! Life threatening illness: sure! Abandonment by loved one: yes please! What more can we add to make sure the audience knows our protagonist has a SAD life鈥�?
It鈥檚 tragedy for the sake of tragedy. For the sake of manipulating an emotional response out of the reader, and I for one don鈥檛 respond well to it.
I鈥檓 all for katharsis through stories: finding your way through your own grief and difficulties in life by way of living through them vicariously via fictional characters. I never feel that Tragedy Porn lends itself to that however. It falls in the same category as 鈥渟ick lit鈥�: written by able-bodied people, for able-bodied people, to feel sad for the poor characters in the book, only to realise their own lives aren鈥檛 so bad after all.
As someone who deals with disability and tragedy every day professionally, I know how real these kind of stories are. People with lives like this exist, and they deserve a better representation that a one-dimensional cardboard cut-out for readers to 鈥渁www鈥� over.
I鈥檓 proud to say that I made it until June this year before encountering a book I didn鈥檛 just dislike but actively hated. That book was The End of Loneliness. Obligatory disclaimer before you come for me: please know this is my opinion based on my experiences, and I'm not trying to insult anyone. If you love this book I'm happy for you, but I just have many problems with it...
I realise that it鈥檚 an unpopular opinion, and I honestly don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 just this book I dislike, but this entire subgenre which I鈥檝e come to name 鈥渢ragedy-porn鈥�.
Most famous for its posterchild and most egregious offender , this genre has one goal only: to make its reader cry. How, you ask? Oh simple: just by chugging as much tragedy and sadness the protagonists way possible. Death of a parent: awesome! Life threatening illness: sure! Abandonment by loved one: yes please! What more can we add to make sure the audience knows our protagonist has a SAD life鈥�?
It鈥檚 tragedy for the sake of tragedy. For the sake of manipulating an emotional response out of the reader, and I for one don鈥檛 respond well to it.
I鈥檓 all for katharsis through stories: finding your way through your own grief and difficulties in life by way of living through them vicariously via fictional characters. I never feel that Tragedy Porn lends itself to that however. It falls in the same category as 鈥渟ick lit鈥�: written by able-bodied people, for able-bodied people, to feel sad for the poor characters in the book, only to realise their own lives aren鈥檛 so bad after all.
As someone who deals with disability and tragedy every day professionally, I know how real these kind of stories are. People with lives like this exist, and they deserve a better representation that a one-dimensional cardboard cut-out for readers to 鈥渁www鈥� over.
June 19, 2024
Auch wenn "Vom Ende der Einsamkeit" sich einen Schritt weit au脽erhalb meiner Komfortzone befindet (sowohl inhaltlich als auch stilistisch), wurden meine Erwartungen in gewisser Hinsicht erf眉llt. Es gab viele Aussagen und Gedanken, die ich wertsch盲tzen konnte. Die Erinnerungen aus dem Leben des Protagonisten habe ich fasziniert verfolgt, bis sich die Bruchst眉cke zusammensetzten. Die Beschreibungen sind lebhaft, klug ausgeschm眉ckt. Die Figuren werden subtil charakterisiert, sodass ich das Gef眉hl hatte, sie als Personen kennenzulernen und einsch盲tzen zu k枚nnen. Das Erz盲hlen an sich gestaltete sich sprunghaft/ fragmentiert im Sinne von gro脽en Zeitspr眉ngen. Bei mir sorgte das zum Teil f眉r Verwirrung und eine emotionale Distanz. Von einigen Zitaten und Momenten konnte ich nichtsdestotrotz ber眉hrt werden. Ich empfehle es weiter, auch wenn es aufgrund von pers枚nlichem Geschmack kein Lieblingsbuch f眉r mich wird.
March 9, 2019
What da heck did I just read? Why da heck does this book have such high reviews, and why did it win a prize?
There's a lot of thoughts I have about this book that I'll need to carefully gather and possibly elaborate more on later, but first of all: I could definitely tell this book was written by a man, even if I didn't know that already. The female characters are ridiculously flat and stereotyped--the damsel in distress who's ~damaged~ and needs ~saving~, the femme fatale who wants a man who doesn't respect her, both of them ~friend-zoning~ good men, the good men waiting for them to change their minds like the upstanding hopeless romantics they are.. not to mention the other ridiculous plot devices. This was marketed as a tearjerker. The only tears I shed are for my own precious time wasted when I could have been reading an honest, authentic piece of work by someone else.
The problematic-ness of it all! I can't *fans face*. I need a palate cleanser.
There's a lot of thoughts I have about this book that I'll need to carefully gather and possibly elaborate more on later, but first of all: I could definitely tell this book was written by a man, even if I didn't know that already. The female characters are ridiculously flat and stereotyped--the damsel in distress who's ~damaged~ and needs ~saving~, the femme fatale who wants a man who doesn't respect her, both of them ~friend-zoning~ good men, the good men waiting for them to change their minds like the upstanding hopeless romantics they are.. not to mention the other ridiculous plot devices. This was marketed as a tearjerker. The only tears I shed are for my own precious time wasted when I could have been reading an honest, authentic piece of work by someone else.
The problematic-ness of it all! I can't *fans face*. I need a palate cleanser.
October 8, 2024
I am pretty easily impacted by books. I have strong feelings and I also feel deeply鈥� even hard and complicated feelings. It鈥檚 the Pisces in me (I鈥檓 told any way). That being said, it鈥檚 not often that a book impacts me so greatly that I sit with my feelings for long after I finish鈥� but this one has done that. I laid in bed for an hour this morning just thinking about this book before I started to write this review. This is also, dare I say, the first book I finished where I wanted to immediately start it over and read it again鈥� this time to annotate, which is something I never do.
The End of Loneliness is a character driven story that spans 4 decades. Told by Jules, the youngest of three siblings who鈥檚 narrating his life after the sudden and tragic death of his parents when he鈥檚 seven years old. He鈥檚 reflecting on his life from a hospital room after a near death experience of his own when he crashes his motorcycle in his forties.
This is a book about life, loss and love鈥� it鈥檚 about memories and how they can haunt us, but also propel us forward, or maybe hold us back. This book is incredibly beautiful because it really does show how life can be so hard, so unfair, and so tragic. But I鈥檓 also a believer that life is a blessing, despite our hardships鈥� and we get one. This is about making the choice to take it, and live it, despite the memories that haunt us.
The End of Loneliness is a character driven story that spans 4 decades. Told by Jules, the youngest of three siblings who鈥檚 narrating his life after the sudden and tragic death of his parents when he鈥檚 seven years old. He鈥檚 reflecting on his life from a hospital room after a near death experience of his own when he crashes his motorcycle in his forties.
This is a book about life, loss and love鈥� it鈥檚 about memories and how they can haunt us, but also propel us forward, or maybe hold us back. This book is incredibly beautiful because it really does show how life can be so hard, so unfair, and so tragic. But I鈥檓 also a believer that life is a blessing, despite our hardships鈥� and we get one. This is about making the choice to take it, and live it, despite the memories that haunt us.
December 9, 2021
Ein absolutes Highlight, mir fehlen immer noch die Worte. Dies ist wirklich die Geschichte vom Ende der Einsamkeit, denn diese kann man nur gemeinsam bew盲ltigen. Eine unglaublich ergreifende Geschichte 眉ber tiefe Wunden, 眉ber Schweigen und Selbstliebe, 眉ber die Liebe, das Leben und das Abschiednehmen,das unweigerlich auf uns alle wartet. Das Schicksal,dass manchmal zuschl盲gt und uns an den Rand des Ertr盲glichen treibt....um das Alles geht es in diesem wunderbaren Roman. Ich konnte den Protagonisten, v.a. Jules, so nahe kommen und konnte die Gef眉hle so mitf眉hlen. Ganz grosses Kino鉂わ笍鉂わ笍鉂わ笍鉂わ笍
December 27, 2023
Oh my god this was beautiful
April 19, 2019
Wow! This book thoroughly absorbed me. I will remember it for a very long time. It took quite awhile to read as I did keep pausing so many times to reflect on the complex thoughts of the lonely Jules, his struggles with low self esteem and self examination, his attempts to understand the motives of others and especially the love of his life. I made personal notes and re-read sentences, paragraphs and often whole chapters for I felt the complexity of his loneliness so intensely. The book touched my heart over and over again. The theme of loneliness was there, implicit in all his thoughts and actions but not just in Jules himself.
The characters are so beautifully drawn and fascinating too. Loneliness was not the priority of Jules alone. It is there, implicit, in most of his characters,with their restlessness and personal struggles with life especially Alva of course.. They are so human and I felt drawn to them many times as I read their thoughts, words and actions. The love story between the two main characters is intriguing, complex, but really beautiful. I loved the ending too.
I do wish I was able to find the words to explain how this book touched me so deeply. The unpredictable, beautiful, mundane and often cruel way life treats us all...fate? It is all there in this unique book. It is said that "No man is an island" yet loneliness lives in all of us. It's all there in this book. I will always remember it and yes I will definitely re-read it. I'm not sure I have done it justice. Thank you so much to JV for recommending it.
The characters are so beautifully drawn and fascinating too. Loneliness was not the priority of Jules alone. It is there, implicit, in most of his characters,with their restlessness and personal struggles with life especially Alva of course.. They are so human and I felt drawn to them many times as I read their thoughts, words and actions. The love story between the two main characters is intriguing, complex, but really beautiful. I loved the ending too.
I do wish I was able to find the words to explain how this book touched me so deeply. The unpredictable, beautiful, mundane and often cruel way life treats us all...fate? It is all there in this unique book. It is said that "No man is an island" yet loneliness lives in all of us. It's all there in this book. I will always remember it and yes I will definitely re-read it. I'm not sure I have done it justice. Thank you so much to JV for recommending it.
December 23, 2024
2,75 stars
The book felt pretty simple in its storytelling, but the writing was so beautiful. I think I鈥檝e been reading a lot of books with similar themes lately, so this one didn鈥檛 really stand out to me as much as I hoped it would. I was expecting something a bit deeper, especially in terms of the background and emotional complexity, but it just didn鈥檛 quite deliver for me.
I really loved the overall vibe while I was reading it. There鈥檚 something quiet and comforting about the tone鈥攊t鈥檚 subtle but still hit me in certain moments. Even though it didn鈥檛 blow me away, it had this charm that kept me hooked. Maybe if I hadn鈥檛 already been into similar stories, it would鈥檝e left a bigger impact.
All in all, it wasn鈥檛 life-changing for me, but I can still appreciate how thoughtfully it was written. It鈥檚 the kind of book that鈥檚 perfect if you鈥檙e in the mood for something low-key and reflective.
my playlist:
The book felt pretty simple in its storytelling, but the writing was so beautiful. I think I鈥檝e been reading a lot of books with similar themes lately, so this one didn鈥檛 really stand out to me as much as I hoped it would. I was expecting something a bit deeper, especially in terms of the background and emotional complexity, but it just didn鈥檛 quite deliver for me.
I really loved the overall vibe while I was reading it. There鈥檚 something quiet and comforting about the tone鈥攊t鈥檚 subtle but still hit me in certain moments. Even though it didn鈥檛 blow me away, it had this charm that kept me hooked. Maybe if I hadn鈥檛 already been into similar stories, it would鈥檝e left a bigger impact.
All in all, it wasn鈥檛 life-changing for me, but I can still appreciate how thoughtfully it was written. It鈥檚 the kind of book that鈥檚 perfect if you鈥檙e in the mood for something low-key and reflective.
my playlist:
April 16, 2022
I have no words that can accurately describe my love for this book. Gorgeous writing, a deeply moving plot, and characters that were flawed yet intriguing.
This is the story of three siblings who lose their parents suddenly and are sent to a boarding school. The narrative is told through the eyes of the youngest child, Jules. The three siblings Marty, Liz, and Jules are somewhat divided in their youth and grow up to all take very different directions in life. Liz is beautiful and seems to use her beauty to her advantage at every opportunity. Marty, a straightforward genius does tremendously well for himself. Jules focused on becoming a writer struggles to find a sense of self.
The End of Loneliness is a stunning saga of love, loss, and the will to go on. Jules meets and falls for a girl named Alva while at boarding school. Alva, who is also reeling from her grief finds a commonality with Jules. Their friendship is a solid foundation for which Jules sets himself steady.
However, when Jules and Alva are separated for many years, Jules tries to go on, wandering through life. He reconnects with his siblings but continues with a fractured understanding of what life is all about.
The Author Benedict Wells, (my first time reading his work) is magnificent and generous with his words. Wells perfectly crafts a story of survival and love between siblings: a story that you will want to savor. He can capture the characters' feelings so wonderfully, evoking every emotion possible.
I want to scream from the top of a building and bid everyone to read this book. It is stunningly written and much too gorgeous to ignore.
I am in love, for sure.
I will be reading this book again. Thank you, Benedict Wells! I can't wait to read more of your novels.
5/5 luminous stars for a work of art.
This is the story of three siblings who lose their parents suddenly and are sent to a boarding school. The narrative is told through the eyes of the youngest child, Jules. The three siblings Marty, Liz, and Jules are somewhat divided in their youth and grow up to all take very different directions in life. Liz is beautiful and seems to use her beauty to her advantage at every opportunity. Marty, a straightforward genius does tremendously well for himself. Jules focused on becoming a writer struggles to find a sense of self.
The End of Loneliness is a stunning saga of love, loss, and the will to go on. Jules meets and falls for a girl named Alva while at boarding school. Alva, who is also reeling from her grief finds a commonality with Jules. Their friendship is a solid foundation for which Jules sets himself steady.
However, when Jules and Alva are separated for many years, Jules tries to go on, wandering through life. He reconnects with his siblings but continues with a fractured understanding of what life is all about.
The Author Benedict Wells, (my first time reading his work) is magnificent and generous with his words. Wells perfectly crafts a story of survival and love between siblings: a story that you will want to savor. He can capture the characters' feelings so wonderfully, evoking every emotion possible.
I want to scream from the top of a building and bid everyone to read this book. It is stunningly written and much too gorgeous to ignore.
I am in love, for sure.
I will be reading this book again. Thank you, Benedict Wells! I can't wait to read more of your novels.
5/5 luminous stars for a work of art.
March 1, 2018
2.5 Sterne
Wieder mal so ein Buch, bei dem ich den Hype 眉berhaupt nicht verstehen kann. Auf mich wirkte die Geschichte so, als h盲tte sich der Autor beim Schreiben st盲ndig selbst auf die Schulter geklopft und zu seinem tollen Buch gratuliert.
Die Figuren sind laufende Klischees, zerflie脽en andauernd nur so in Selbstmitleid. Vor allem der Teil im Schweizer Chalet kam mir sehr aufgesetzt vor. Wer bitte w眉rde jemals so ein Leben f眉hren?
Bei der Handlung hat mich vieles irritiert. Die Figuren haben sich in meinen Augen seit ihrer Jugend nicht weiterentwickelt. Au脽erdem passt der Titel nicht wirklich zur Geschichte. Es war eher ein Suhlen in Einsamkeit, weil der Protagonist schlichtweg nicht gl眉cklich sein wollte.
Meine doch relativ hohen Erwartungen wurden also herbe entt盲uscht. Der Schreibstil war das einzige, was mich am Lesen gehalten hat.
Wieder mal so ein Buch, bei dem ich den Hype 眉berhaupt nicht verstehen kann. Auf mich wirkte die Geschichte so, als h盲tte sich der Autor beim Schreiben st盲ndig selbst auf die Schulter geklopft und zu seinem tollen Buch gratuliert.
Die Figuren sind laufende Klischees, zerflie脽en andauernd nur so in Selbstmitleid. Vor allem der Teil im Schweizer Chalet kam mir sehr aufgesetzt vor. Wer bitte w眉rde jemals so ein Leben f眉hren?
Bei der Handlung hat mich vieles irritiert. Die Figuren haben sich in meinen Augen seit ihrer Jugend nicht weiterentwickelt. Au脽erdem passt der Titel nicht wirklich zur Geschichte. Es war eher ein Suhlen in Einsamkeit, weil der Protagonist schlichtweg nicht gl眉cklich sein wollte.
Meine doch relativ hohen Erwartungen wurden also herbe entt盲uscht. Der Schreibstil war das einzige, was mich am Lesen gehalten hat.
December 26, 2024
A beautiful, tender book. Why is it the ones that break the heart become unforgettable? Surely among my top three of the year.
February 9, 2020
"Nie den Mut gehabt,sie zu gewinnen, immer nur die Angst, sie zu verlieren."
Dieses kleine B眉chlein von Benedict Wells lag schon sehr lange auf meinem SuB, aber ich habe mich nie wirklich an das Buch getraut, da ich so gro脽e Erwartungen hatte und nicht entt盲uscht werden wollte und wie soll ich sagen? Ich wurde nicht einmal ansatzweise entt盲uscht.
Das Buch habe ich in 1,5 Tagen gelesen und das mitten in der Klausurenphase, weil ich es nicht weglegen konnte. Es war nicht so, dass ich unbedingt wissen wollte, wie es weiter geht, aber Wells schreibt so sch枚n, dass ich nicht aufh枚ren wollte seine Worte zu lesen. Einen Protagonisten zu haben, der in einer Art seine Worte verloren hat, aber seine Geschichten wundersch枚n in diesen verpackt wurden.
Auch inhaltlich hat mich das Buch ber眉hrt und ich musste an einigen Stellen auch weinen.
Ich liebe B眉cher bei denen ich das Gef眉hl habe ich lerne etwas durch sie 眉ber mich und das war hier defintiv der Fall.
Dieses kleine B眉chlein von Benedict Wells lag schon sehr lange auf meinem SuB, aber ich habe mich nie wirklich an das Buch getraut, da ich so gro脽e Erwartungen hatte und nicht entt盲uscht werden wollte und wie soll ich sagen? Ich wurde nicht einmal ansatzweise entt盲uscht.
Das Buch habe ich in 1,5 Tagen gelesen und das mitten in der Klausurenphase, weil ich es nicht weglegen konnte. Es war nicht so, dass ich unbedingt wissen wollte, wie es weiter geht, aber Wells schreibt so sch枚n, dass ich nicht aufh枚ren wollte seine Worte zu lesen. Einen Protagonisten zu haben, der in einer Art seine Worte verloren hat, aber seine Geschichten wundersch枚n in diesen verpackt wurden.
Auch inhaltlich hat mich das Buch ber眉hrt und ich musste an einigen Stellen auch weinen.
Ich liebe B眉cher bei denen ich das Gef眉hl habe ich lerne etwas durch sie 眉ber mich und das war hier defintiv der Fall.
February 7, 2019
5+++ Stars.
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