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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

What we're reading

Revolutionary Road

33 replies

roseability · 02/02/2009 10:01

Just finished this wonderful piece of literature and can't wait to see the film

Touch a raw nerve with anyone? Feel trapped in mundane, suburban hell? Unfulfilled by motherhood and domesticity? Want to break out in a whim of creativity and individualism? Disillusioned with the Western dream of nice house, 2.4 children and well paid job? Did you identify with the characters?

Or were you unsympathetic with the characters? Are they selfish? Does to problem lie ultimately within their own marriage rather than the society they life in?

Duscussion mostly welcome!

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roseability · 02/02/2009 10:02

sorry life should be replaced by live

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BonsoirAnna · 02/02/2009 10:03

The film is very dull (with the exception of Winslet's performance). Very hackneyed theme IMO.

Of course, I did actually move to Paris (and still live here) so perhaps I am not best placed to comment .

roseability · 02/02/2009 10:14

Did you read the book? I rarely find a film lives up to the book!

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BonsoirAnna · 02/02/2009 10:16

No, I haven't read the book - rather for the same reasons I found the film dull I think - the theme of frustration in 1950s American suburbia is just too hackneyed for me to take. Though I know the book is supposed to be extremely well written.

ruty · 02/02/2009 10:16

cosmo landesman said that post credit crunch the whole middle class disillusionment thing looks a bit spoilt. Haven't seen it though.

roseability · 02/02/2009 13:02

I thought other themes are explored as well. The breakdown of a marriage for one. Also I remember a thread on mumsnet a while ago about frustration and disillusionment with motherhood. The response was pretty significant. The whole idea that motherhood and domesticity aren't fulfilling enough is interesting and still relevant in modern society. This is one of the main themes in the book.

Frank feels April is somehow emotionally stunted because she wanted to abort two of her pregnancies. Yet she feels motherhood has thwarted her dreams. It is interesting the concept that fulfillment as a woman requires fertility and parenting. A lot of women struggle with identity following motherhood. But is this society's fault?

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BonsoirAnna · 02/02/2009 14:07

I would say that, in the film, the themes of marriage breakdown and the disillusionment of motherhood are subordinate to the overarching theme of the conformity of suburban lifestyle and values.

hannahsaunt · 02/02/2009 14:12

I have neither seen the film nor read the book but do I need to having been gripped by Mad Men?

beforesunrise · 02/02/2009 14:20

I read this over Christmas. I can't say I loved it, mostly because it is such a bleak, unflinching, almost cruel in its realism portrait of a marriage that it stirred all sorts of feelings I'd rather not know about

seriously though- it's amazing. I found that the level of introspection was so deep and so incredibly realistic, it made feel almost physically sick. it was as though I felt the pain myself.

Interestingly the book is imo Frank's book, whereas from what I have read the movie is much more about April, perhaps due to the fact that KW is a much better actor than LDC.

I don't think I will be watching the movie, and certainly not with dh. We have a happy marriage, but I am not sure that I want to explore the theme of "just how much can two people hurt each other" with him...

roseability · 02/02/2009 17:38

I agree beforesunrise. I did not find this a comfortable read. I am happily married and pregnant with number 2 but a lot of feelings have been stirred up in me that I would rather not admit to! I was up till 1 am finishing the book last night. Today I am tired and very grumpy and I can't deny that this book has had an impact on my thoughts and feelings. However it will pass! That is what I love about good literature, it really challenges you. I now wonder about going to see the film with DH!

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fufflebum · 02/02/2009 17:48

Hello

I have read this recently too and found it quite an unsettling read. I really want to see the film (sad Leo fan I am afraid!) but wanted to read the book before hand as I find that often the film is not a realistic representation.

I too was very disturbed by the matter of fact way the story was told. The Wheelers feelings of superiority of those around them. How Frank seemed to justify his affair and his awful treatment of her. I could feel her humiliation when he called it all off. Awful.

I have not seen the film and hope it does not spoil this incredible piece of fiction which in no way dresses up infidelity, motherhood and so many other issues....

roseability · 02/02/2009 17:49

hannahsaunt - I love mad men! The themes in the book are so similar that I am sure the writer of Mad Men will have used it for inspiration. However I warn you, the book is even bleaker. You will not finish it uplifted in any way!

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roseability · 02/02/2009 17:53

BonsoirAnna your point is very true. The theme of middle class frustration has been done so many times e.g. Catcher in the Rye, Death of a Salesman, American Beauty, Mad Men to name a few! However (and this is just my humble opinion!) this is the bleakest portrayal I have come across.

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roseability · 02/02/2009 17:57

fufflebum - I love Leo! I think he has developed into such a great actor. However I can't see how the complexities of Frank or April's character can be portrayed on screen, even by the best performers. Will be interesting

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francagoestohollywood · 02/02/2009 20:44

I'm now reading Revolutionary Road, and I'm really enjoying it.
Having already read other 2 books by Richard Yates (The Easter Parade and A Special Providence) I'm now more aware of the themes he tends to explore (which might also be, I suspect, quite autobiographic).

I don't really think it is about middle class frustration more than it is about some "universal" feeling of disillusion, loss of direction (actually total lack of direction), pettiness.
Frank Wheeler shares many traits of other Yates' characters (Emily Grimes in the easter parade, and both the mother and son in A special providence, for instance) and I agree with Beforesunrise that the book is more about Frank than April. In fact, I'm half way though the book and I don't really think that the subject of motherhood (apart from April's adamant wish to abort her first child) has been explored yet.

I think Richard Yates is a superb writer.

roseability · 02/02/2009 21:17

Yes I do wonder if I have read more into the motherhood theme than is actually there. I won't produce spoilers francagoestohollywood but by the end of the book I felt this was a theme, if not explicitly so.

Universal disillusion is a great point. I will be reading his other works but I will allow myself some more uplifting reads first

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beforesunrise · 02/02/2009 21:22

it is IMO an extremely "male" book. Frank's insecurities are analysed and dissected to a painstaking degree, at times it reads almost like a shrink talking. There are so many layers at work there- cause, intention, action, consequences etc.

April is the "engine" of the book, every major plot turn originates from her, from the initial play, to the decision to move, to the ending. Frank is very much reacting, and that only adds to his insecurity and self doubt.

Incidentally did anyone else feel that the title itself is a masterpiece?

francagoestohollywood · 02/02/2009 21:35

Do read the other ones Roseability, I actually think (up to now, as I haven't finished RR) that The Easter Parade is his "masterpiece".

I love how he analyses his characters. Today I read the bit when he describes Mrs Givings getting ready to meet the Wheelers and her feelings about her house/job, just superb!

I agree the title is perfect. And A special providence is also perfect (you realize it once you read the book).

Smee · 02/02/2009 21:37

Haven't seen the film, but the book's astounding. Read it years ago when young, free and if not exactly single then definitely not entangled. Then again about six months ago, so entrenched very much in domesticity. Am curious though, as you all found it bleak, which it undoubtedly is, but didn't it make you want to get up and shake all that dour suburban blight off your shoulders and grab life. Or am I just a little peculiar..

francagoestohollywood · 02/02/2009 21:44

I live in a big city

LoveMyLapTop · 02/02/2009 21:50

I am too scared to see the film( havent read the book) as it might be too close to my life.

francagoestohollywood · 02/02/2009 22:02

LML . Are you ok?

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LoveMyLapTop · 02/02/2009 22:06

Oh yes fine honestly
Dh and i went to the cinema on weekend but thought RR might be a poor choice!
Saw Slumdog instead.
Thanks for your concern though

francagoestohollywood · 02/02/2009 22:15

I was already picturing you downing the 5th vodka martini and smoking like a chimney in a 1950s apron
Anyway at going to the cinema. Haven't done so since September!

LoveMyLapTop · 02/02/2009 22:17

Only on my 4th right now but the night is young!
And up until sat the last time Dh and I went to the cinema was bout 2 yrs ago.
There are some really good films out at the moment, would love to go more often

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