Since Wimbledon had just started when I read this, it seemed perfect timing to read a tennis-related story about relationships and competition on and off the court. I loved it! The book follows a tennis-playing couple from their first meeting into marriage. We see what success and failure does to a relationship; and the damage that competition can do.

I really do like Shriver’s style - well written narrative and great characters that have complexity nd are, frankly, interesting to read about, which is pretty key but unfortunately not always a given in novels. If you haven’t read her first novel, We Need To Talk About Kevin, I urge you to do so. It is not always comfortable reading but she has a way of getting to the heart of the most important issues and then doesn’t pussy foot around. She gets stuck in. I will be looking forward to reading whatever she writes next…

I like Shriver, I really do. I think a lot her books have been overshadowed by "We need to talk about Kevin" - which was a brilliant book, but her other books are excellent as well. This one was like watching a train wreck - I knew what was going to happen, but I kept fervently hoping something would happen to change the disaster looming ahead.

Her characters are raw and open - in this case there were very little redeeming features in Willy - but I feel they are more honest and realistic because of this. You might not agree with the characters, or do the same as them in that situation, but you understand their motivations.

I don't think this book will be for everyone, but it is well written and compelling.

Vähän laahaava tarina, mutta kivistävä ja traaginen. Päähenkilön Willyn käytöksestä heräsi monessa kohtaa lähes aggressiivinen ajatus miksi oikein teet noin, havahdu!!, jota ajatellessani aina törmäsin siihen samaan: todennäköisesti samassa tilanteessa minä itse tekisin juuri samoin.

I admire Shriver in so many ways. Yet, I never believe or become immersed in her characters. The obvious social argument being made is at odds with the farce of a marriage, much like the one in her book "We Need to talk About Kevin." In both cases, the characters' traits are at odds with the way the acted in their marriage, or even the fact that had married who they married or stayed in the marriage for that length.

I think I dislike Shriver's outlook on life. I certainly dislike the feeling I have after reading this novel. She writes well, and I think says true things, but she creates powerfully unpleasant characters whom I don't particularly want to get to know. I hated Willy. I hated Eva in We Need to Talk About Kevin. If I ever read another of her books, it won't be for a while.

I could be being unfair to this book as if I had picked it up unknowing as to whom the author is, I might have given it a better chance. Interesting that this was the book immediately before Kevin which is one of my "favourite" books of all times. Sadly, this one didn't grab me and neither did the tennis subplot.

In anticipation of this year's US Open, I cracked this book open to understand tennis players, albeit in a fictional setting. This book is about two tennis players- one on the road to success, the other a fledgling- who met, fell in love, and got married. I was told that's a bad idea because tennis players are extremely temperamental (McEnroe's racket-throwing and Sampras' cusswords) and very competitive (see Serena Williams' face every time she loses a point.

The problems started when the husband (described as someone who plays tennis because he's good at it and not because he loves the sport) overtook the wife in the sport rankings. It is necessary to mention that the wife is raised to think that she's good at tennis and nothing else. She started getting grumpy and moody around her husband because she can't accept the fact that her husband is getting ahead. Yep, she's that shallow- she could come across as annoying but it's not her fault. I guess.

The marriage started to crumble when the wife, while playing in a minor tennis event, tore her ligament and was forced to rehabilitate. To add more insult to her injury, her husband skyrocketed in the rankings and was dubbed as ATP Newcomer of the Year.

What I liked about the novel is the intense dialogues between the couple- their version of hugs and kisses is to volley insults back and forth. They treated their marriage like a tennis game where only one, usually the more confident, assured, and competitive, will win. As a tennis fan, I sat back and enjoyed the game. Recommended.

well written & compelling, but hampered by an unlikeable protagonist...

2.5

Är svag för tennis i romaner och på film. Läser alltid Lionel Shriver med stort nöje bl.a. för språket, som har rytm och thesauruskrävande innehåll.