A Single Man Summary and Reviews

A Single Man
by Christopher Isherwood

A Single Man
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Book Summary Information

Author: Christopher Isherwood
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-04
ISBN: 0816638624
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press
Product features:
  • ISBN13: 9780816638628
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Book Reviews of A Single Man

Book Review: "Overwhelming Sloth of Sadness"
Summary: 3 Stars

This was the most poignant phrase in the book to me - the "overwhelming sloth of sadness." Isherwood's portayal of George, a gay man in California in the '60s going about his life after the sudden death of his partner Jim, lets us glimpse into that mirror of that pervasive sadness veiled by normality; it forces anyone who has ever lost someone important to them to remember that life does go on, despite the fact that it now seems like a facade. And George does remind me of a sloth, albeit a self-medicated one - he is wading through the jungle of his "same old" life as if nothing changed, trying to survive just this one day, and then he'll see what the next one brings, if anything. Who hasn't felt like they are watching themselves just go through the motions after such a deep and affecting grief event? I have seen the ads for the movie that is out now - I haven't seen it yet, and wanted to read the book first; but from what I heard about the movie, the plot line differs significantly. SPOILER: Nowhere in the book does it mention that George is contemplating or planning suicide, although the end result at the book's conclusion is the same (which although fittingly tragic was a disappointingly quick and too-convenient ending for me). I kept waiting for something in the pages to pop up alarmingly regarding the movie's subtext, but it didn't happen, and I closed the book disturbed.

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