Blurb: THIS IS HOW IT ENDS tells the story of two people who collide with each other just as the whole world seems to be caught between the hope and promise of Obama’s election and the catastrophic collapse of the global economy.
Bruno is a middle-aged American banker who has come to Ireland to escape the financial meltdown in his own country. Addie is an out-of-work Irish architect. Childless and isolated when she meets Bruno, her life seems to be on a downward spiral.
Addie and Bruno’s story is one of nationality and identity, of the power of optimism to defeat despair and the unstoppable march of time. It’s the story of two people who find joy together when they were least expecting it. It's about the past and the future and the elusive skill of living in the moment. It is a love story for our times.
My Review:
This was in interesting book, one that left me wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way. Bruno and Addie are compelling characters--both have histories that intertwine in the past, as they are distant cousins as well as lovers.
My main beef with this book was that we didn't get enough...I wanted more background, more information about Addie's past, MUCH more information about Bruno's past (although the story is Addie's, in the end). Even the character of Addie's father, Hugh (probably the most interesting in the book), was underdeveloped. McMahon's writing ability is clear--her descriptions of the Irish seaside are beautiful, and her characterizations, what little we get of them, are clever and charming.
I've seen some reviews that remark about the surprise ending, but I had guessed it pretty early--and I'm not particularly good at that kind of thing, usually.
Overall, a good read
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