A densely written streamofconsciousness novel that explores the idea thatthe loss of love is always painful for everyone and surely much more so forwomen. Spani... » 

A densely written streamofconsciousness novel that explores the idea thatthe loss of love is always painful for everyone and surely much more so forwomen. Spanish writer Tusquets a committed feminist and student of femalesexuality focuses here in this third volume of a trilogy her first USpublication on heterosexual eroticism. The story itself is relativelyconventional but the treatment is not. Elia a writer and poet has joinedlongtime friends Pablo and Eva for their annual summer holiday at the beach.Beloved husband Jorge is usually there but this year he has walked out andElia is trying to get through this usually happy period with pills drink andan anonymous young man she picks up in the bar. Eva a lawyer and socialjustice activist has also invited deeply troubled adolescent Clara who is inlove with Eva. Meanwhile Pablo who feels that Eva doesnt appreciate himthat life is passing him by and that things are certainly not the same nowthat Jorge has left Elia takes up with a young woman he meets on the beach.When Clara angered by Pablos betrayal tells Eva of his infidelity Eva previously thought to be strong and selfreliant crumbles suddenly aware ofher dependency on Pablo. A reconciliation of sorts takes place and Elia on herway to pick up her son from camp realizes that no one can live through anotherperson never in all my life have I been so blank so free...but Im alive andIm running in the race and Ill keep on going alone or accompanied. And onceagain the ultimate solitude of the individual is reaffirmed. Places emotionsand characters are all vividly evoked but the streamofconsciousness claustrophobic and relentless is far too much for so conventional a theme.Kirkus Reviews «