The Post-Birthday World
A Novel
-
-
3.7 • 38 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
“Complex and nervy, Shriver’s clever meditation will intrigue anyone who has ever wondered how things might have turned out had they followed, or ignored, a life-changing impulse.” — People (Critic's Choice)
This dazzling novel from the Orange Prize–winning author of the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin takes a psychological and deeply human look at love and volition
Does the course of life hinge on a single kiss? Whether the American expatriate Irena McGovern does or doesn’t lean into a certain pair of lips in London will determine whether she stays with her smart, disciplined, intellectual American partner Lawrence, or runs off with Ramsey—a wild, exuberant British snooker star the couple has known for years. Employing a parallel-universe structure, Shriver follows Irena’s life as it unfolds under the influence of two drastically different men.
In a tour de force that, remarkably, has no villains, Shriver explores the implications, both large and small, of our choice of mate—a subject of timeless, universal fascination for both sexes.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The smallest details of staid coupledom duel it out with a lusty alternate reality that begins when a woman passes up an opportunity to cheat on her longtime boyfriend in Shriver's latest (after the Orange Prize winning We Need to Talk About Kevin). Irina McGovern, a children's book illustrator in London, lives in comfortable familiarity with husband-in-everything-but-marriage-certificate Lawrence Trainer, and every summer the two have dinner with their friend, the professional snooker player Ramsey Acton, to celebrate Ramsey's birthday. One year, following Ramsey's divorce and while terrorism specialist "think tank wonk" Lawrence is in Sarajevo on business, Irina and Ramsey have dinner, and after cocktails and a spot of hash, Irina is tempted to kiss Ramsey. From this near-smooch, Shriver leads readers on a two-pronged narrative: one consisting of what Irina imagines would have happened if she had given in to temptation, the other showing Irina staying with Lawrence while fantasizing about Ramsey. With Jamesian patience, Shriver explores snooker tournaments and terrorism conferences, passionate lovemaking and passionless sex, and teases out her themes of ambition, self-recrimination and longing. The result is an impressive if exhausting novel.
Customer Reviews
iBooks Version of This Wonderful Book is Incomplete
I love love love this book and so when I saw it was on iBooks I had to have it and read it all over again. I was disappointed to see that the digital version is incomplete...leaving out a good 30-40% of the book and even ending mid-sentence! There doesn't seem to be anyone to contact about the problem and from another review posted in September of 2010 it seems as if it's gone un-rectified for quite some time. I'd love to get my money back or a complete version.
In short, skip the digital book, but this is definitely one to pick up on your next trip to the bookstore. A brilliant read!
Forget the second half
Lots of people writing to complain about the second half of the book being missing. While that IS F'D up, you're really not missing anything. No payoff, no clever or meaningful ending. You're lucky you saved the time.
Incomplete Version
What the f@&$!!! I bought the book thinking that I was getting the whole book, but for my surprise the book finishes in the middle of the story...and I just found that because I was talking to a friend that read the paper version. If you sell part of the book, you should say so!!! And not mentioning when you sell it is the same as you stole part of the book.