Suzanne
Rating:
Review
In The Distance Between Us O'Farrell jumps back and forth between different stories and generations, like in her other books. This time it's between Jake in Hong Kong and Stella in Scotland. Jake feels like he's Chinese since he grew up in that culture, but he looks completely European. Stella was raised with Italian traditions and culture although she lived in Scotland. She and her sister were unusually close and estranged from their peers. Jake and Stella are outsiders. Both feel trapped and have an overwhelming need to escape from their lives, and as the story unfolds we gradually find out why. Stella doesn't want to talk about a major event from her childhood; Jake doesn't want to admit he made a mistake as an adult. Their experiences are two examples of how hiding and repressing things will taint your life from the inside out. The way the chapters cut back and forth between different stories and times seemed more jolting to me in this book than in some of O'Farrell's others. I liked most of the characters and enjoyed the story, but not as much as the author's other works.
Best Line:
"It's as if he's the wrong species for this place: there's not enough sun, the air doesn't have the right ratio of gases, everything is too spread out, too sprawling, and he can barely understand what people are saying to him." (pg. 56)
KimRating:Review
Stella Gilmore is a mess. But on the inside, because on the outside she has a great job in London, a loving family, and a friend with benefits. When we first meet Stella, she is walking to work when she sees a man who reminds her of something painful in her past, and she does a complete freak out and runs away to Scotland. In the first few pages we also meet Jake Kildoune, a handsome Brit who lives in Hong Kong, works for a film director and is celebrating Chinese New Year with girlfriend Melanie when they are both in a horrible accident that leaves each of them battered and bruised, though Mel has a worse time of it. They hastily marry, with Jake thinking he is doing the right thing, and then is left contemplating the state of his affairs after Mel recovers. So what does Jake do? He runs away. To Scotland. See where this is going? There is plenty of background on the main characters, including family members and friends that play roles in Stella and Jake's lives, and I must say I enjoyed some - Jake's mother, Caroline, and Stella's parents - but I found Stella's sister Nina unlikable and a bit evil. Ms. O'Farrell's writing is fabulous and I still adore her, but this predicable love story was over the top for me, especially the last 1/3 of it. And I think Jake deserved someone better than Stella.
Best Line: "Never wear dogs."
