Her Nose Stuck In A Book

'The Comfort of Strangers' by Ian McEwan

One of my modules for the next academic year is all about the novel and geographical space, it's called 'European Literacy Legacy: Writing the City' and is about my one of my favorite places: Venice. The module isn't until my second semester (after Christmas) but I'm trying to get all my reading done before September, fingers crossed, and started with Ian McEwan's 'The Comfort of Strangers'.

The Comfort of Strangers, Ian McEwan (Vintage)
This is the copy that I have, it was originally published in 1981.

The Blurb:

 As their holiday unfolds, Colin and Mary are locked into their own intimacy. They groom themselves meticulously, as though there awaits someone who cares deeply about how they appear, When they meet a man with a disturbing story to tell they become drawn into a fantasy of violence and obsession. 

My initial thoughts: 

• The style of writing is classic McEwan. The narrative captures you and with the excessive detail you are almost a participant in the story, travelling through the streets of the unnamed city (obviously Venice) with the main characters and even becoming lost with them in the dark streets. 
• There is an danger lurking that is almost indescribable and when it makes itself known is completely unexpected and expected at the same time. I know it doesn't make sense.
• The characters are real. The couple, Colin and Mary, our main characters, are so close that they 'often forget that they are two separate people' after seven years together unlike the strange couple that they are introduced to later in the novel, Robert and Caroline, who seem to almost lurk in the shadows.

The novel captured me and I was unable to put it down. The descriptions, though lengthy, as McEwan often is, are worth reading to get a clear picture of the scene and characters, each detail is as important as the next. There are the main characters, Colin and Mary, a couple that are so close that they 'often forget that they are two separate people' and after seven years are more than comfortable with each other, that we follow from their hotel room to the streets of Venice. Robert and Caroline are the opposite of our protagonists, a sadistic man and submissive woman, their role in the story is to provide a different perspective on human sexuality, as both raw and haunting, as opposed to the intimacy that the reader experiences with Colin and Mary. 

Robert literally appears out of the shadows and 'saves' the couple, providing them with a place to drink and eat while he shares with his story of his childhood, his violent father, submissive mother and older, powerful sisters. The couple are drawn in and upon meeting him again they are taken to his house, where his wife watches them sleep. There is an odd niggling feeling at the back of the mind by now (or before that, really, this man is obviously crazy) and the couple are plunged further and further into this comfort between the strangers (see what I did there? Haha). 

The twist or ending (SPOILERS ALERT!!!) is in the final meeting of the couple, meant to be a dinner, it becomes a ultimate test of love for Colin and Mary. Robert gives Colin a choice, watch Mary die or let them do whatever they want to him, he chooses the later and they murder him, slitting his throat while a drugged Mary watches. When she wakes she is alone and he is dead. The novel finishes with her identifying the body in a hospital.

So yes, this is a twisted tale. 

I don't know what else to say. McEwan is absolutely amazing at delving into the human mind and condition, bringing to light things that are normally left to fester in the dark. 

If you haven't read any McEwan before I suggest starting with 'Enduring Love'. The story of a man that is swept into a tragic accident and along with it the growing threat of the human mind. 

After finishing the novel I decided to watch the film version, to get a clearer image of the city and how it is used to accentuate the story.

The film cover. 

A still from the film adaptation.

All in all the film is rather good. It is a little dated, made in 1990, it tries and succeeds to create an atmosphere of both suspense and hidden terror. This is done by the repetition of the dialogue: "Let me tell you something: My father was very big man, And all his life he wore a black mustache. When it was no longer black, he used a small brush, such as ladies use for their eyes. Mascara."
The above quote is used the the beginning of the film, the middle when Robert tells the story of his childhood and again at the end, to reinforce this image of Robert as a man very much influenced by his past and the image of his father as a 'man', dominant and uncontrolled by women.
The biggest change is the ending of the story. Instead of the haunting image of Mary leaving the hospital after identifying Colin's body, we are left with the image of Robert being interviewed by police, unfazed by their questions and repeating this earlier dialogue.

I would recommend this novel to others, but I am fully aware that it is not everyone's cup of tea.
Speaking of tea, I'm going to have a cup,
Farewell and thank you for reading, love Tiffani.

P.S. This blog is not dedicated to book or film reviews,it will have others posts too when something interesting happens or I am equally inspired.