Damage

Rating:
Summary: Gloomy, Erotic
Review: "Damage" was another book I bought on a whim because it was on sale. I didn't have a clue about the plot since there wasn't a synopsis on the back and most of the reviews inside were pretty vague.

To begin with, "Damage" is a pretty small book (218 pages) with short chapters and spare writing. Most people will be able to read it in one day if you have nothing else to do.

The book is told in the first person by Stephen Fleming who is a middle-aged politician in British parliament. He leads a very safe, boring life with his beautiful wife Ingrid and two adult children, Martyn and Sally. Everything changes though when he meets his son's new girlfriend, Anna Barton, at a party. His attraction to her is immediate and overpowering. Their affair begins after a few family get-togethers when Anna calls out of the blue and they make arrangements to meet at her place.

From the beginning, you know the relationship won't go any further than the bedroom (if they make it that far), but you get swept away anyways in Stephen's loss of control and growing obsession. Anna seems to remain a mystery, however, even after she confesses the strange death of her brother, who had killed himself years ago because he couldn't have her.

The ending, of course, is tragic and depressing when Stephen and Anna's affair is discovered. The darkness of the book might be a little too much for some, but if you like gloomy, erotic novels, I highly recommend you read "Damage".

Obviously, there are some sex scenes in the book, but they're not raunchy or overly descriptive. The movie scenes, however, are much more graphic than the book's, especially if you see the unrated version of "Damage". So, if you're highly offended by incest and adultery, you probably should just skip this one.

"Damage" was made into a movie in 1992 (aka "Fatale"), starring Jeremy Irons as Stephen Fleming (who I thought was perfect for the part, especially if you've seen him in "Lolita") and Juliette Binoche as Anna Barton. Although the movie follows the same structure of the book, I still didn't think the movie was that good, despite the several other great actors and actresses (Rupert Graves, Miranda Richardson). I can't pinpoint what I didn't like about it; I just didn't care for it. I certainly wouldn't recommend the movie unless you're really into the book or a fan of one of the above actors or actresses. Stick to the book instead.

Rating:
Summary: Fun and enlightening.
Review: A very successful man becomes obsessed with his son's fiancee, and the affair ultimately destroy both his son and himself, with obvious collateral damage. I loved this book. The style is of a nineteenth century novel - or as many readers have pointed out, Nabakov's Lolita. Some of the ruminations/observations are not to be taken seriously, but are often fun; Damage is a quick, easy and fun read. At the same time, the book is an honest, enlightening treatment of several aspects of human relationships: obsession, of course; an alienated life; a marriage which is fulfilling for one partner even as she is aware of its limitations. The femme fatale is intriguing, and I am not sure whether to take her seriously nor how: she seems to renounce guilt and responsibility, yet she is apparently driven by the psychological trauma to which she has been exposed.

Rating:
Summary: Modern Literature
Review: Bloke has affair with his soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Sounds familiar. The language of the narrative didn't seem accurate to real men, so I couldn't believe in it. (B)

Rating:
Summary: Captures the essence of erotic passion
Review: Damage is a stunning work of fiction which captures the transformative, compelling power of passionate love. Few authors can portray that ellusive state of suspended animation which anticipates catastropic change. Stephen is completely unaware of the banality of existence that he finds himself in; a state neither alive nor dead. When he meets Anna, his perception undergoes a gestalt-type shift and he at once realizes that things can no longer be as they were. Anna's own warning to Stephen - beware damaged people, for they are the ones who survive - sums up the theme of this novel, in which passion is cast in terms of power and actions inevitablely lead to irreversible and tragic consequences. Reading this novel is analogous to watching a car accident: morbid facination prevents you from looking away, ever aware of the compulsion that it could be you at the wheel at that pivitol moment when the illusion of control is shattered.

Rating:
Summary: Be Loved or Be Passionate?
Review: How do you want your life would be? To be normally life a happy family, with beautiful wife, nice children, good career, well fortuned? Or you want your life to be passionate, taking risks and be prepared for that? Dr. Stephen Fleming (you may not know his name from this novel, but when you watch the movie, you'll easily know it) had it all that any man would dream. Wife, children, career, fortune, loving family, loving father in law, basically everything. Until one day, a mysterious lady of his son's lover came to his life, a damaged lady with a strength to survive. Like winding a magic wound, she mesmerized her boyfriend's father to obey her wishes to have the affair. What a woman this Anna Barton. But, it's the matter of choice, which one do you want? To be eagerly live your life or just do like any other else want you to do.

Rating:
Summary: Erotic yet painful, spare yet lush
Review: I am always wary of telling people that this is one of my favourite books due to the nature of its story - a man who falls in lust with his son's fiancee, with horrifying results. And i am not sure that it is the story i like. Rather, it is Hart's beautiful prose.
The writing here is so economic, yet wonderfully descriptive - the small room that becomes the lovers tryst-loft, and the diary with a ribbon that marks when they will next meet is covered is simple yet evocotive prose. The opening page (of my copy anyway) would have to be some of the best paragraphs of prose in the English language. I would recommend the book for this page alone.This book reminds me of a lot of some French Erotic literature (i.e. The Story of O) more than any British writer.
This is a short book, so if you read it and don't like it you won't have wasted too much of your time on something you didn't like. But if you are like me, and can sometimes appreciate a book as much for how it is saying something as for what it is saying, i believe that Damage will have something for you. Either way, it is sure to touch you, by stirring some hidden corner of your soul, whether that is a corner you wanted to know or not.

Rating:
Summary: A slim book with a large message
Review: I watched the movie "Damage" before I read the book and it blew me away.....
So, I read the book which was much more detailed, and again it blew me away.

Damage is about obsession,control,and raw --unleashed sex...

it's about crossing the line when you know you can never turn back.

It's about losing control....

it's about a man who was never the man he was supposed to be until he meets the woman who shows him his true colors....

it's about a father and husband who is more interested in his own demented desires than his desire to stay sane.

It's about allowing your libido to have power.

It's about not playing by the rules......And once we cross that line, we become damaged goods....unworthy.....and deserve the punishment we get in the end.....
.....burning in hell on earth.

Hart writes from her dark side.... one we all have... that is why I believe people can relate to "Damage"
We may never do what the charactor did... but we have thought the thoughts.

Her writing is quick, sharp, one word sentences.....One word can say a hundred words, form a hundred pictures.

The line in Damage was crossed and we hate the charactor for crossing it.....but at the same time....we understand, sympathize, and pray he turns the other way.

Rating:
Summary: An unfogettable tale of love and lusty obcession
Review: Impossible to put down at times and truly unforgettable! A definate must read!

Rating:
Summary: Dark and Erotic
Review: Ms. Hart knows how to spin a tale from everyday situations. There is the politician - well his settled with his picture perfect family until the arrival of a woman - the woman who his son loves..he falls for her and then begins the destruction...

Quoting one of the lines in the book, "damaged people know how to survive". This is the thread of this richly deep poignant tale of love, lust and destruction.

I read this book at a stage of depression so I really could not relate to it as it makes you feel all the more vulnerable and bare. This book tells things like it is. Well done Ms. Hart!!

Rating:
Summary: A Mirror's Reflection in the Dark
Review: This is probably my favorite modern novel. What I love and find most disturbing is the emotional struggle that the main character (Stephen Fleming) finds himself in. As a married man, with a beautiful wife who I love immensely, and twin 18 month old boys, I can appreciate the honesty that Stephen's character portrays. Despite my obvious fortune, I too can see the power another woman can yield. The gamble in itself is intoxicating yet frightful in its consequences. Though I don't know if I would ever give in to the struggle, I can see why Stephen ultimately does. The love he has for his perfect life and family are no match for the obsession he has for Anna. This book is much more than a story of one man's betrayal. It's beauty and value lie in the detail the pages reveal of the struggle itself -- The constant back and forth which engages a mind trying to rationalize and convince itself that it can cheat betrayal's ultimate fate. Even in it's darkness, this is ultimately a love story. And despite it's tragic end, I believe that Stephen comes to find himself.