Rating: 
Summary: Very poignant -- and just as well written as "Symphony"
Review: I was just as transfixed by "The Married Man" as I was by "The Farewell Symphony," Edmumd White's previous novel. Although the two books have much in common, the major difference is that while "Symphony" is a decades-long account of White's life, "The Married Man" covers a briefer period, focusing closely upon his relationship with the French lover he met while living in Paris (who was married when White met him, hence the title).When the main character (let's call him "White") meets the French man, Julien, who will become his lover, we're amused at how White can be so attracted to this quirky architect in his shabby lime-green coat. White likes to dwell on telling details, and his ability to describe these details so perfectly is what makes him a writer of such genius. He depicts Julien with affectionate satire, describing the architect's shabby clothing with the same relish that he describes what he loves about him -- from Julien's handsome looks, his child-like joy in traveling and painting and walking their pet dog Ajax, to the earnestness with which he spins tall tales about his "aristocratic" family. The novel becomes much darker as Julein dies of AIDS. Once you've read the account of Julien's last months, months he spends immersed in his painting, the cover of this novel will make sense to you -- you will be very touched by the depiction of the architect and his dog. The painting on the cover is meaningful because it's just like the paintings Julien does in the novel. In addition to being a funny and sad account of his relationship with Julien, "The Married Man" is generally a fine account of White's years in Paris -- the struggles of fitting in to a foreign culture with limited language skills (making friends, finding an apartment, learning his way around the city). I've always loved the way White is capable of making his life seem so exotic while yet depicting himself as so fallible and human -- he describes his own insecurities with startling clarity. White talks about the nervous care with which he goes about assembling a small group of Parisian friends for dinner parties at his apartment; we see his bumbling attempt to enjoy and succeed in his visiting professor position in Providence, Rhode Island, which ends in embarrasment and minor failure; and finally, we see White confused and frustrated as he travels through Morocco with Julien, while Julien is dying of AIDS, while White desperately tries to help Julien keep his dignity as his body fails; it's painful to read of White's attempts to express his love for Julien during their last days together, when Julien's mind is failing. White's spellbinding ability to capture the subtle nuances of characters and situations is in full flower in this novel, just as it was in "Symphony." In just a sentence or two, White can sketch a character so deftly that you feel as though you know them well. White is a master at capturing the quirks, eccentricities, gestures, loves, and irritating tics of the people around him -- and this ability to describe characters so accurately is what brings his novels to life. You will find these gem-like passages on every page of this new novel. In a recently published biography of Edmund White, White is quoted as saying, "All of my plots are only scrapbooks of my life." True to that model, "The Married Man" makes a fine addition to White's series of fictional scrapbooks. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Dull Start
Review: In the early 90s, a middle-aged American finds love in the form of an aristocratic Parisian architect, named Julien. This amuses the American, Austin, for his previous lover (who jilted him), was also named Julien. So, Austin's new lover becomes 'Big Julien', whilst his ex becomes 'Little Julien'. There are a few problems with this new relationship. Firstly, Julien is married, and has a tragic past. Secondly, Austin is HIV positive. So, much of the first part of the novel is concerned with Austin's reluctance to come totally clean with his lover. After all, Austin's already insecure about the age gap between the two men. Would not such a declaration make himself look far less attractive? A middle-aged man, with excellent social contacts in the French aristocracy, but with no real money to show for himself? In the first part of the novel, it is very hard to feel anything for Austin or Julien, since their world is one that is closed off for most of us. It is difficult to feel sympathy for those who move in circles that can quite happily invite Lauren Bacall to a party - it's hard to emphasize with such poor rich folk. And we get to see very little of the romance or bond between Austin and Julien. Since the whole novel revolves around Austin, it seems strange that Edmund White chose not for him to narrate the novel in the first person. So Austin seems more remote than he should, whilst Julien appears almost inscrutable. Sometimes the author is also quite clumsy in referring to the period in which the novel is set. Do we really need to know that White's protagonists fly into France, rather than travelling by train, since the channel tunnel was not yet complete? Once Austin leaves the rarefied setting of France, and goes to teach in Providence in the U.S., the novel improves immeasurably. For a while, it seems to the casual observer that Edmund White could be pandering to the Cultural Studies crowd (in which school his work is often appraised), by his use of language. It's ironic that Austin's French audience jokily accuse him of being too theoretical, since his lack of theory seems to be the one thing holding him back at the American university, as he's caught in the minefield of political correctness. Here, Austin takes a swipe at the deconstructionists, post-structuralists, and gay theorists. It's also in America that we meet another one of Austin's previous lovers, Peter, who is slowly dying of AIDS. Julien dislikes this spoilt, whining American, but Austin cannot abandon the man he'd promised he'd nurse through his illness... Edmund White's characters do come alive, after a while, and the portraits of Josephine and Henry McVay are excellent, along with Ajax, Julien's basset hound. As for the 'Married Man'? At the resolution of this novel, it seems that Edmund White's choice of title could be more complex than it initially appears.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful & moving story but lacked depth
Review: Edmund White has written a very beautiful book on a very dark subject. I agree with most of the 5 star reviews that praised this book and the 2 star reviews that were disappointed with parts of this book. Yes, I am very conflicted about this book. I felt very cheated with the way this book ended. I actually kept looking over the blank pages at the end of the book to make sure an extra chapter or an epilogue wasn't accidently left out. I felt like I didn't get an ending at all. I know, I know, life isn't like that. It goes on and on no matter what tragedies happen in your life. And people do things with no explanations but I wanted an explanation, dang it! But maybe that's me. I read fiction because I want everything nice and neat. A reason for every action. I also wanted a happy ending as impossible as it might be in real life under these settings. I wanted that silver lining. That, I did not get. But I am not at all sorry that I read this book. Far from it, I recommend it. Just know that the ending is very unexpected. I expected it way before or else a reason for going on to that point.
Mr White is a very detailed story-teller full of rich descriptions and a very clear easy-to-picture images. But I never felt like I knew who the main character Austin was. I know what foods he served when he entertained but not how he felt about always being on the giving end. Austin's lover Julian I knew even less. How did Austin really feel about Julian? What did Julian really think about Austin? Sure, I knew all about the motions they went thru but the dialogue between them was lacking at best.
Both Austin and Julian seemed almost shallow only because I knew what clothes they wore more than what they really felt. This book read more like a non-fiction (detailed descriptions)than a fiction (detailed emotions and feelings). Heck, I knew more about how Austin felt about a past lover of his than how he really felt about his current lover who he was with all throughout this book.
When I finished reading the Married Man, I knew I enjoyed reading the book but I didn't have that satisfied full feeling. I felt cheated somehow. I wanted more revealing emotions. I want to write Mr White and ask him a million questions about Julian's motivation for his deception or his lack of explanations. Again, I know things in real life are not spelled out just as it was in this book and we should draw the obvious conclusions based on the few details and hints that were revealed to us. Julian would probably call me a spoiled lazy helpless American who has to be spoon-fed everything.
For those of you who would rather draw your own conclusions, connect your own dots and would consider it an insult to have to be spoon-fed the obvious will really devour The Married Man and the realistic story-telling of this exotic book.
On a pet-peeve side note: I really liked the hardback cover of the man and his dog.(It also relates to, and fits the overall mood of the story) I wish the cover art had not been changed on the paperback edition.
Rating:
Summary: Henry James with a homosexual twist
Review: Austin Smith has picked the wrong century to be a furniture scholar and intellectual. He's pushing fifty, lacking direction, and his biggest claim to fame is hosting parties for the Parisian youth in his apartment on the Île St. Louis, or irritating PC maniac students of American universities. His largest commitment in life is to his former lover Peter, dying of AIDS. Until he meets younger married architect Julien, whose lack of known-last-name typifies his character. He is an enigma for much of the book, steadfast only in his devotion to his secrets and to Austin, to whom he says during an intimate pillow-talk session, "I chose you, Petit, and after that there were no other choices to make." The master of artifice who dislikes American big-toothed girls, Julien shows depth by telling Austin, when he discovers Austin's HIV status, "I'm going to stay with you. I'll take care of you...You're the way a man your age should look. I don't want a starved little queen." However, in an elaborate twist of irony, Julien develops AIDS and needs Austin's constant devotion.
Acclaimed award-winning writer Edmund White pens a deeply moving love story of two individuals with illusions about their own lives that create a real, solid and enduring love.
Rating:
Summary: a most beautiful book
Review: I loved this book. I loved the writing, and read it very slowly to savor the language. How could it be that a story so ulitmately tragic, could be so rich and full of life? It dazzled me.
Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: I guess I looked for White to provide thought provoking insight into the older/younger gay relationship. I found the book dull and lacking any real direction. The characters were uninteresting and one demensional. The plot dragged on and on and never really went anywhere. I actually found myself skipping paragraphs trying to get to the point of the story. I apologize to anyone who might find this review offensive, but I didn't enjoy this book at all.
Rating:
Summary: A Tad Depressing Tragic Tale of Love
Review: I must grant Edmund White with a wonderful writing style. He got us to know know and like the key characters in this book, Julien & Austin. The storyline lacked stories behind the stories. It seemed a little too blanketed/general. There was something missing. I enjoyed it and did read it to the end, getting some worthwhile lines out of the writer. The character who was dying of AIDS made me feel a bit depressed. I haven't read a lot of books along these lines but I know there are a lot of them on this subject matter. If any reader has already gone there (where a key character dies of AIDS) there's no point in re-visiting...just a warning.
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