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The Last Time They Metopens with two old lovers, both poets, running into each other at a writer's conference. Well, Linda Fallon and Thomas Janes aren't old, actually--just middle-aged, with a lifetime's worth of history between them. In the first section, Anita Shreve only suggests what that history contains: there was adultery, we gather, and a car accident, plus some illicit encounters under a pitiless Kenyan sun. Presumably the rest of the book will lead back to the beginnings of this grand passion, right? We think we know where this is going--but that's the tricky part, because we don't.
The novel does get off to a slow start, with an unnecessarily drawn-out description of a luxury hotel. But it picks up speed as it moves backward in time, from the lovers' vividly evoked interlude in Africa, to their adolescent years in the Massachusetts village of Hull, and finally to Linda's deepest, darkest secret. Only then does the author unveil her final revelation, which should leave most readers somewhat out of breath, and possibly even obliged to turn back to the first page and read the book over again. Shreve is a canny storyteller, and she knows her characters inside and out. (As well she might: Thomas is the husband of Jean, the photographer inThe Weight of Water.) AndThe Last Time They Metis yet another example of the kind of book she does best--one that's as skillfully plotted as a thriller, but with writing that lingers long after the last plot twist is unfurled. No matter whether people actuallyhaveaffairs like these. Reading this book only makes you wish that they did.--Mary Park
Wow! Have you ever read a book and, in the middle, knew you were going to have to read it all over again? This is my experience whenever I read anything by Anita Shreve. She is the kind of writer I would pay to hear! Shreve is a master craftsman, not only at storytelling, but at making us believe that she is a poet. Her writing is beautiful, forceful, significant, and memorable. Her books should become the "classics" that our grandchildren are made to read in school. I loved this book and several of her others. (by Sandra Manigault, author of Fragments of a Woman's Life).
Starcrossed lovers and their average tale Linda is a poet who is reluctantly awaiting her participation in a writers convention where she will be reading from her work and answering questions. She is not comfortable with the limelight and the novel begins with her trepidation before she attends the cocktail hour that kicks off the weekend. What she is least expecting is running into fellow poet and former lover who will also be showcased at this event. What follows begins with their hesitant rekindling of a relationship at age 52. The middle portion of the book captures the state of their relationship at age 26, and concludes with the birth of their relationship at age 17. The novel traces the triumphs as well as misery that their love endured but in this reverse chronological order, all the while revealing the true nature of their lives on the very last page of the book.
Anita Shreve has taken the classic love story and spun it into a unique creation by telling the story backwards. Because of this distinct approach, it does take some time to get into the book. It begins rather slowly and the characters do not grab your attention right away. In fact, I did not find that they ever really did grab me and that I was more curious to see how the book was layed out then to actually find out what happened in the story. Some of the language Shreve uses seems gratutitous at times and borders on using "big words" just to use "big words." She also distracts with her annoying use of italics. While I am not disappointed to have read the book, I don't think I would have minded had I not finished.
Overall, the chronology is unique and interesting, but the story behind it is simply average.I was robbed!! I love almost all of Anita Shreve's book but the twist in this one about broke my heart. Ranks right up there with the twist on the old show "Dallas" where they made the whole season about J.R. being shot as a dream. Ticked me off.
