Faithful : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: As moving as it is smart
Review: The really remarkable thing about this book is not its frank sexuality (though that's certainly a noteworthy feature) but its emotional truth. Author Davitt Sigerson displays an almost frightening insight into the cruel but common human inclinations that can so quickly transform our greatest joys into our greatest sources of anguish. While reading one particularly poignant section during my evening commute, I found myself crying openly - something I generally try to avoid doing on crowded trains. But such is the power of this novel's honesty about the wrenching task of recovering from personal calamity.

Rating:
Summary: SAD BUT YET TRUE
Review: This book had me on the verge of tears. The book looks into the life of Nick and him getting married after a two month affair with marketing executive call 'trish' real name Patricia. Nick is a trader in London who cannot believe his good luck on finding such a wonderful woman. The book gets into detail of their sexual encounters. Trish becomes pregnant nearly immediately and the couple is excited. Just when you were start thinking this an interesting version of a romance book reality kicks in and in walks Joe Sommervile Trish ex who wants her back.
The story is shown from the angle of Nick who know has to deal with his wife choosing him or her ex. What I like about this book was how realistic it was about human pain, suffering and torment in relationships. In many scenes it showed trish going back and forth sexual with Nick like not only was she confused emotionally but sexually as well. I felt this element played very real though she was hurting her husband by doing so. I wanted to hate her for putting her husband through the torture and I wanted to be angry at Nick for allowing his wife to enter in and out of his life and having him sexually which i felt did not allow him to move on. I could feel Nick's pain Trish betrayal and Joe (...)for making her choose. I think its a great debut novel from this author and I look forward to his next novel.

Rating:
Summary: An infuriatingly wonderful novel.
Review: This is an utterly affecting and infuriatingly wonderful novel. What a pleasant surprise to read a story of relationship that doesn't invoke every cliche; rather, questions the very meaning of love, sex, fidelity, and most importantly, morality. As the story unfolds, one finds oneself infuriated with and thrilled by the characters at the same time, but that is ultimately what makes the story so human (pardon the cliche). Unless one subscribes to the Taliban code (in which case Mr. Sigerson would need to die for his sins), I don't know how Trish and Nick can fail to move you, and to move you to consider your own concepts of what is "faithful". The prose blew me away...it's about the most elegant piece of writing I have encountered in years, and for those who enjoy the beauty of our language (hopefully there are still some of us left), this will be a treat.

Rating:
Summary: No Ordinary Love Story
Review: When you are dying to know what happens, but don't want it to end, you know you're on to a great book. It is clear early on that this is no ordinary love story. Nothing is simple in Faithful. Anything can happen, and you want to be there when it does. But I take issue with another reviewer who wrote that Faithful's main character, Nick, is shallow. I totally disagree! This is not a shallow man. Take, for example, his intense and complex relationship with his wife, Trish. A shallow person would not be capable of the emotional, sexual and (sometimes twisted) psychological depths this guy experiences. Also, his relationship with his baby daughter...every father should be this shallow! And what about his friends...a shallow person would have no interest in the sarcastic and biting Koestler, or the damaged Johnny. Even Nick's cool and surprising musical tastes...don't shallow people like shallow music? I could not put this book down.