Monday 14 December 2009

THE SEA by John Banville (Man Booker Prize 2005)

An effete old geezer, art historian no-less, after the death of his wife from cancer goes back to visit scenes from his adolescent life. He rents a room with Miss Vavassar and copes with the jealousy of the other lodger, a retired major, wouldn't you guess? Our lonely old widower relives in his mind the longeurs of teenage holidays and his obsession with the family of  Mr and Mrs Grace, twins Chloe and Myles plus Rose, the nanny. He is now lodging in the house this family used to rent for the summer.

In that past of glorious summers by the sea
he was accepted by the family as a constant companion.............

There is tragedy to follow ............unluckily.........

And guess who Miss Vavassar turned out to be? I think he knew before he lodged with her, or guessed.

Nine out of ten, I've read it twice. (When I find out who has borrowed my book - I'll add the usual photograph)

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