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End of the Affair
End of the Affair | Graham Greene
""A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses a moment of experience from which to look ahead..."" "This is a record of hate far more than of love," writes Maurice Bendrix in the opening passages of "The End of the Affair," and it is a strange hate indeed that compels him to set down the retrospective account of his adulterous affair with Sarah Miles.Now, a year after Sarah's death, Bendrix seeks to exorcise the persistence of his passion by retracing its course from obsessive love to love-hate. At first, he believes he hates Sarah and her husband, Henry. Yet as he delves further into his emotional outlook, Bendrix's hatred shifts to the God he feels has broken his life, but whose existence at last comes to recognize. Originally published in 1951, "The End of the Affair" was acclaimed by William Faulkner as "for me one of the best, most true and moving novels of my time, in anybody's language." This Penguin Deluxe Edition features an introduction by Michael Gorra. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators."
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review
Centique
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

I enjoyed having Colin Firth‘s voice in my ears for a few hours, but oh, Maurice, you are a self centred jerk. I love Graham Greene and this is a marvellously written novel about a man who is consumed by hatred at the end of an affair. I do hope Greene was purposefully showing us the errors in Maurice‘s possessive “love” ! A very good book but I was cross for such a lot of it!

DrSabrinaMoldenReads I did not get this book. I guess I need to reread @Centique 3mo
Rissreads I think Colin Firth could read the telephone book and I‘d find it interesting! 3mo
58 likes2 comments
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Daisey
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed listening to Colin Forth read this, but I didn‘t particularly care about the story.

#1001books #audiobook #Roll100 book 94

lauraisntwilder I could probably listen to Colin Firth reading tax returns. 4mo
38 likes1 comment
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Cuilin
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

“this is a record of hate far more than of love” so begins the novel. Wonderfully written but terribly tragic. I found it interesting that this is known as one of his Catholic novels questioning how can you hate a god you don‘t believe in. The book seemed familiar, and then I realized I had seen the movie years ago. lol. All the stars though!

62 likes1 stack add
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Anna40
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Mehso-so

In this novel the narrator Maurice Bendrix is so obsessed with the end of his affair to a married woman, Sarah, that he hires a private detective to follow her. Bendrix is spiteful, conceited and self absorbed. I got extremely frustrated and almost bailed. With the switch to Sarah‘s perspective my frustration grew. The writing is good, some humor and the ending are wonderful, but overall it was tedious and disappointing.

26 likes2 stack adds
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MaGoose
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Took a short walk 🚶‍♂️ this afternoon and began listening to the tagged audio book.

Photo is of a flowering cherry tree in my neighborhood.

#litsybitsy

Lovesbooks87 I love these trees! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 💞💞 (edited) 4y
ImperfectCJ Cherry trees in bloom always look to me like they're celebrating. Floral fireworks, yay spring! 4y
41 likes1 stack add3 comments
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JenlovesJT47
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

All books should be narrated by Colin Firth. Ok, not all books, but most books. 😆 What can I say, I love his voice. Anyhoo, looking at the reviews for this, I can see where some of the negative reviewers are coming from, but I personally really enjoyed this. It‘s a tragic love story, and the two main characters are very flawed, which I think makes it more relatable. I‘d recommend it. 4⭐️

#audiobook

Clare-Dragonfly Hmm. I don‘t like audiobooks much but I really enjoyed A Christmas Carol read by Neil Gaiman. Colin Firth might be worth a try! 🤔😄 4y
JenlovesJT47 @Clare-Dragonfly yes! He has a lovely voice 🥰 I pictured that the main character looked like him lol but that‘s fine with me! Neil Gaiman is also an awesome narrator, I‘d listen to him recite the phonebook! 4y
80 likes1 stack add2 comments
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arlenefinnigan
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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CrowCAH You‘re welcome; thanks for joining in on the fun! 4y
31 likes1 comment
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SophDuncShep
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
Mehso-so

I really wanted to love this. But the further into it I got, the more self-indulgent it seemed to get. I didn‘t find either Maurice or Sarah all that interesting later in the book, and my earlier intrigue at how their affair played out gradually wore into annoyance and determination just to finish the damn thing.

I listened to this on audiobook and Colin Firth‘s performance was marvellous so that‘s one thing I liked, I guess. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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REPollock
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Bailedbailed

Well crap. Once it shifted to the woman‘s POV, it was so ridiculously written (how a man thinks women think about love) that I had to just put it down and stop. Just...no.

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keepingupwiththepenguins
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Mehso-so

The End Of The Affair is a short novel about a scorned lover‘s creepy pursuit of his best mate‘s wife, who dies mid-way through her conversion to Catholicism. It‘s not a romantic read, and probably not one to pick up if you‘re looking to restore your faith in God or humanity, but it's an interesting cautionary tale: never dump an author without telling him why. Full review: http://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/the-end-of-the-affair-graham-greene/

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REPollock
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Cider on the porch on a temperate evening, and a new ebook to read.

BarbaraBB Perfect. Cheers! 🥂 5y
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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SweetAngst
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Listening to this one again. Colin Firth is perfect.

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arlenefinnigan
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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erzascarletbookgasm My first Greene 👍 5y
Cathythoughts Nice pic 👍🏻 5y
RohitSawant 🖤🖤 5y
43 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Eggs
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Mehso-so

Sorry this just not my cup of tea. 💁🏼‍♀️Love, jealousy, obsession, God and an angry narrator

89 likes3 stack adds
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WanderingBookaneer
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Book and movie: The End of the Affair
Song: You Give Love a Bad Name

🎶 Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darlin', you give love a bad name 🎶

#ManicMonday

kezzlou85 Love that song so much. 5y
Nerdy_Bookworm Book: Pride and Prejudice, Movie: The Notebook, Song: My Funny Valentine 5y
JoScho 💘💙💘 5y
68 likes3 comments
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GinaKButler
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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I think I would listen to Colin Firth read the dictionary...but I‘m loving this book!

BookishMarginalia @WanderingBookaneer Right up your alley! 5y
5 likes2 comments
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JenniferO
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
Pickpick

A thought provoking story about forbidden love, love lost and believing in God.

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alliegunther
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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My first time listening to an audiobook — and I absolutely love it! #audiobook #classics

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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Got this today at the Audible sale (along with Alas, Babylon).
I really don‘t care how it is as long as Colin Firth is reading it. ❤️

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sammisho
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Audible 2 for 1 sale. I can not resist a classic read by a celebrity. I have never even heard of The End of the Affair but Colin Firth is everything. I antcipate major swooning.

mom2bugnbee I have that on my TBR simply because he is narrating. 5y
35 likes1 stack add1 comment
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gradcat
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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#adventrecommends Day 18 @emilyrose_x
I love Graham Greene—I love everything he writes. IMHO, this is his best. A story fraught with marital indiscretion and it‘s incumbent chaotic “messiness,” Greene (it‘s said) was writing about himself and his love for Catherine Walston (Greene‘s dedicatee). The setting is WWII England, and the bombings in London create a certain tension for one side of a love triangle—quite literally, in fact, as Sarah ⬇️

gradcat (Cont) Miles (Walston‘s fictional stand-in) assumes her lover to have been killed. Jealousy, guilt, and redemption have a lot to do with Greene‘s novels, particularly this one, which is one of the four “Catholic” novels, in which religion figures largely in the plot. You don‘t have to be Catholic to understand what‘s at work here, of course, but if you are, certain themes will have been writ large in your Catholic upbringing. 5y
LauraBeth I WILL read this one day! 5y
gradcat @LauraBeth I hope you get around to it someday...I think you would really like it. 😊👍📚 5y
75 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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gentlepet
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

GG & I go wayyyyy back to university days & I am always down to gobble up one of his novels. On multiple trips to Vietnam I have made pilgrimages to those haunts of his still standing. His voice moves me.

So I don‘t know why it took me until now to get to one of his most well known novels, but gosh it was a treat.

sprainedbrain I‘ve had this book for so long... I really need to get to it! 5y
danx I‘ll have to check his stuff out. 5y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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KarenUK
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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#NoFemmeber #jealousguy
This story is as much about jealousy and obsession as it is about love....
I highly recommend the audiobook read by Colin Firth...... Soooooo good! 💕🎧

Cinfhen Ohhhhh!!! Steamy!!!! I‘ve already stacked ~ now I need to get myself to read the book or see the film 😉 5y
Kalalalatja Colin Firth narrates? Gaaaaaah 🤤🤤🤤🤤 5y
BarbaraBB Yay, I really loved this book! 5y
See All 6 Comments
Cathythoughts Excellent choice ... 👍🏻❤️ 5y
Billypar Quite a line! I haven't read a Greene novel in a long time and never this one, but I know it's supposed to be one of his best. 5y
Blaire One of my all-time favorites. 5y
59 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Jeg
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Mehso-so

Don‘t think I was in the mood for this book. Didn‘t get to finish it. I think he wrote it based on an affair he had in real life. Might try it again in the future . Now on to something I can finish! ( hopefully) 😊 @MrsMalaprop

Rissreads I bought this on audible for $8.99 when they had a sale last month. I haven‘t listened to it yet. It won an award as its read by Colin Firth. Maybe try listening to it next time? He could read the telephone book and I would be happy, he has a lovely voice. 5y
Jeg @Rissreads Sounds good to me. Love his voice , love his looks! I‘m reading a light mystery story right now , much better for me at the moment. 5y
9 likes2 comments
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Gezemice
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

Amazing. I fell in love with Greene‘s writing - straightforward, but powerful, expressing complex emotions with high impact. The title says it - this book is about the end of the affair, of the pain of separation, anxiety, the inability to move on; it is also a religious book, about finding God within another love - ironically, an adulterous affair. I am floored by this book and will be reading more of Greene‘s work. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

KathyWheeler I liked this book a lot. The one I‘ve been meaning to read forever though is The Power and the Glory. 5y
Gezemice @KathyWheeler I was thinking of reading that one as my next Greene, as well. 5y
Cathythoughts Great review ! And great post picture ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
Gezemice @Cathythoughts Thank you! The picture is from the 1955 movie, and I thought it was perfect. 5y
80 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Emilymdxn
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Mehso-so

Mixed thoughts on this one. I hated it to begin with but came to love Sarah and the way the love/hate was described. It turned into a kind of sad, restrained Gone Girl between Sarah, Maurice and Henry. I hated the narrator though and I hated the constant self conscious references to writing and narrative structure. The whole protagonist and all his literary devices could have sodded off and left me with a much better book about Sarah. #1001books

36 likes1 stack add
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Emilymdxn
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Sarah and I never drank Chianti and now the act of drinking it reminded me of that fact. I might as well have had our favourite claret, I couldn‘t have thought of her more. Even vacancy was crowded with her.

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Emilymdxn
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Jealousy, or so I have always believed, exists only with desire. The Old Testament writers were fond of using the words ‘a jealous God‘, and perhaps it was their rough and oblique way of expressing belief in the love of God for man.

I‘m not really enjoying this book honestly - I hate brusque masculine early 20th century fiction - but this line really stood out to me.

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Emilymdxn
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Next book is The End of the Affair! This has been sitting on my bookshelf for probably nearly ten years! I‘m enjoying the feeling of getting through all these books that I honestly started to doubt I‘d get round to

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erzascarletbookgasm
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

Such intense emotions at play. A pretty complex and interesting examination of love and hate (which is not all that different in this story), and throws questions on belief and faith in religion. Maurice‘s self-destructive jealousy and hatred hastened the ruin of their love affair. Didn‘t love it but am fascinated by the interplay of emotions. My first Greene and I look forward to read the few more on my shelf.
#litsyclassics

72 likes2 stack adds
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erzascarletbookgasm
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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My #currentread seems apt for #mylovemylife . In fact, Maurice‘s love for Sarah slowly turns into an obsession (not a spoiler, it‘s in the blurb).

#ABBAInAugust

toofondofbooks Colin Firth narrates the audiobook of this and it is excellent. 😍 6y
Mdargusch Oh that would be a narrator I would love! 6y
emilyhaldi Ooohhh that quote really illustrates the obsession 😅 6y
erzascarletbookgasm @toofondofbooks So I‘ve heard! Ah! too bad I‘m reading a physical copy! 6y
Reviewsbylola I‘ve been curious about this one! 6y
79 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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ElaineHowlin
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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review
GypsyKat
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

This was an excellent audiobook, Colin Firth should narrate everything! This book was about so much more than I expected it to be. It wasn‘t just about an affair ending. It was about belief, and the struggle against believing. Belief in God, in love, and in the reasons for existing. An interesting, and beautifully written book.

Moray_Reads I love this book. Pretty sure if love Colin Firth reading it... 6y
Dragon I‘ve read a few of his books but this is my favourite 💙 6y
ElaineHowlin Oh I would so love to listen to Colin Firth narrating this. 6y
GypsyKat @ElaineHowlin He could seriously read the phone book and I‘d be happy lol 6y
104 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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GypsyKat
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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I started this audiobook earlier this morning. Colin Firth should narrate all audiobooks! 🙌

Lindy I‘m listening to one narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch; his voice is great too. 6y
Cathythoughts I really must get that ! Colin Firth narrating ❤️ 6y
GypsyKat @Lindy He‘s got a wonderful voice! 6y
Lmstraubie I haven't listened to one narrated by him yet. I may need to try this one out. 6y
74 likes1 stack add4 comments
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alisahar
End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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I keep accidentally reading super Catholic books. 🤔

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wanderlustforwords
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

4.25
My first Greene was a great experience. He surprised me with an unexpected depth. Love and hate tore the protagonist apart, both making him unhappy. TEOTA, said to be, “... one of Graham Greene‘s Catholic novels.”, portrayed by many of the characters‘ struggle with morality, love and faith. I recommend it, it‘s readable and layered. I have several more Greene‘s on my shelf that I look forward to opening!

17 likes3 stack adds
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BookishMarginalia
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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The end of another chapter in our lives: @WanderingBookaneer and I said goodbye to our school in Puerto Rico yesterday, in a long day that culminated with the senior graduation and post-grad dinner. Lots of tears and bittersweet moments. Next up: moving to our new home in Bradenton, Florida at the end of the month.

KarenUK Best of luck with your move👍..... 💕 6y
Aims42 Awww, sounds so bittersweet 😕 I hope your move goes good!! 6y
TrishB Best of luck with the move 👍🏻 6y
See All 16 Comments
alysonimagines Many blessings to you both on your move and this new chapter in your lives! 6y
Smrloomis Good luck with the move! 👍🏽 6y
BookwormM Good luck are you teachers or students? 6y
AmyG Wishing you much happiness and good health in your new Florida home. 6y
JacqMac Good luck with the move! 6y
Char @BookishMarginalia best of luck with the move, and wishing for fun and happy memories in Florida for you both 6y
Avanders Good luck!! 6y
Bookzombie Good luck with the move! 6y
maich Good luck❤ 6y
SleepyDragon Don't forget to register to vote once you're stateside. 😁 6y
dragondrool Good luck! 6y
Lizpixie Good luck! No more @TheBookmarkPR pictures😔 6y
BookishMarginalia @NeesyBeth On our first day list is registering to vote! #BlueWave 6y
140 likes16 comments
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Readerann
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

This might be closer to a So-So. The writing is great, but there‘s too much religion for me. I want to give Greene another chance. Can anyone suggest another of his that is more ‘secular‘? #1001books

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andrew61
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

#LitsyClassics G
I had rd this yrs ago but seemed to take more from it on this reread. The story of a love affair but it is about how love and hate are so close & how the ultimate jealousy is with faith, + the 'you' (god) which seemed fundamental to the graeme greene story. The writing brings 1946 London to life + the interaction of characters is beautifully drawn - a brilliant read that dared to change our perception of the apt ending.

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andrew61
End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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#GetMovin #Believer
Letter G in my #LitsyClassics challenge is a reread and is deeply based in Greene's catholicism - here the heroine Sarah emotes her belief in the face of her affair.

Cathythoughts This is one I really want to reread too 6y
29 likes1 comment
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Wilkie
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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I love hunting for second hand books . They have so much more character and you can‘t beat that old book smell! #Myhappiness #marchintooz

MayJasper Me too. Second hand book shops are my favourite place. 6y
Soubhiville Me too! 6y
Tove_Reads Me three, or maybe four at this point! 6y
CarolynM Sam the Sudden! Love that book!❤️❤️ 6y
56 likes1 stack add4 comments
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rabbitprincess
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
Pickpick

4⭐️ for the Audible audio edition narrated by Colin Firth 😍 The book works best when it's in the head of Maurice; Greene is less convincing when he's writing from the viewpoint of a woman.

ChantelMcCray I bought this on audio specifically to have Colon Firth‘s voice in my head all day. 6y
32 likes2 comments
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rabbitprincess
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene

The scene where Bendix and Sarah see a film adaptation of one of his books made me smile; he kept wanting to lean over and say "That's not what I wrote" every few minutes.

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rabbitprincess
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Perfect Valentine's Day reading 😂

I'm reading the audiobook narrated by Colin Firth 😍
Also, how adorable is Ralph Fiennes? 😍

RealLifeReading Colin Firth! 6y
rabbitprincess @RealLifeReading The main character / narrator is kind of a dick, but he's being voiced by Colin Firth, so it is a confusing experience 😂 6y
41 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Sarah83
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Sarah83 Another Litten wants to join 😊 6y
30 likes1 stack add1 comment
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bookworm.krizia
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

This book is an almost favorite. I don't know why I like sad novels but that's the main reason I love this, it just seems real. I also love the way Graham Greene connected love and hate and humans and God. A must read classic!

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chuckstar158
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Pickpick

This one rattled my tea-drinking, crying sweater wearing, philosophy discussing, little soul. I have my complaints but overall, it's a beautifully written story about believing in love and in God and our complicated relationships with both.

Note: Listened to this one on Audible as narrated by Colin Firth. I'd listen to Mr. Firth narrate a takeout menu and then the phone book. He's emotive and simply... sigh... amazing.

Alfoster Ha! Love the pics! And I agree; I love his voice!😍 6y
chuckstar158 @Alfoster Thanks! I downloaded it strictly for his voice. 😍 6y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Kmmsellers
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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Perfect day for a walk and audiobook.

BarbaraBB Beautiful picture! 6y
Kmmsellers @BarbaraBB Thank you! 6y
33 likes2 comments
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Kmmsellers
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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So, I decided to do this one on audio instead of a mystery right now. I‘ve been wanting to read this one for a while, and then I saw that Colin Firth narrates it. Yes please!!!

Cathythoughts On my TBR. 💫 6y
Kmmsellers @Cathythoughts I‘m enjoying it so far! Can‘t wait to hear what you think 😊 6y
32 likes2 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
The End of the Affair | Graham Greene
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A story of an extramarital affair that didn‘t end well. In order to save her lover‘s life, Sarah made a vow to God, that she will leave her lover, Bendrix, if he is saved from a bombing. She had to keep her promise when Bendrix was found alive and struggled with her vow.
#promises #tuneintonovember

Cinfhen Sounds good! I‘m intrigued 6y
Cathythoughts I have it on my kindle waiting! Looking forward to it. May have to adjust its position on list 👍 6y
BarbaraBB Loved that book! 6y
DeborahSmall Loved this 💕 6y
83 likes6 stack adds4 comments