Asymmetry
Ratings11
Average rating3.6
Explores the imbalances that spark and sustain dramatic human relations, tracing the overlapping stories of a young American editor's relationship with a famous older writer, an unexpected New York romance during the early years of the Iraq War and an Iraqi-American man who is detained by immigration officers in Heathrow.
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Definition of Asymmetry: a lack of equality or equivalence between parts or aspects of something; lack of symmetry. This certainly defines the book, written in three parts, with only one character recurring (in Part 1 and Part 3). Honestly, I don't understand the hype for Asymmetry nor do I understand why anyone would write such a book. I do admit that I was captivated by the relationship between the older man and younger woman in Part 1. And then it was over. Not in a good way. Part 2 was as different from Part 1 as could be, with a different cast of characters. Part 3 was a BBC interview with the older man of Part 1 who I surely thought should have been dead by then. Just an awful read.
DNF, p.139 (almost halfway).
Asymmetry (the concept) fascinates me: so much of our world is defined by imbalances in power, desire, ability, and most especially information. Every day, and I really mean every day, I spend time observing and analyzing aspects of my life in terms of asymmetries.
Asymmetry (this book) explores the asymmetry of sex between a mid-seventies man and a mid-twenties woman, neither of them in any way interesting or with any spark of soul. No connection between them.
I actually found myself reading beyond page 50 out of curiosity: contemplating my asymmetry of interest. Wondering if there was something for me to learn. I sought counsel today from two wise friends who had finished the book some years ago. I am heeding their advice.
Got 14% into this, and don't quite feel in the mood for this May-December romance. I already had a share of naive-girl-with-older-men by reading [b:The Lesser Bohemians 28363987 The Lesser Bohemians Eimear McBride https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469511945l/28363987.SY75.jpg 48208213] and [b:Conversations with Friends 32187419 Conversations with Friends Sally Rooney https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500031338l/32187419.SY75.jpg 52827120]. This one squeaks me out a bit more, considering she's in her early/mid twenties, while he is in his 60ies/70ies?
