Review: Smart. Full stop.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 15, 2014
There was a moment of eye rolling - first paragraph - before I remembered the title. Who thinks such convoluted phrasing to oneself [the quotes around the narrator's thoughts make it a verbatim recounting] without preamble? A self-absorbed ass, that's who! Perfect.As he layers so much detail on his dissertation of trains and timing, I wondered if he was bored from circumstance, or responsible for it? Is his recounting of European travels evidence that his world is newly small, or has it always been? Is he exaggerating past laurels, or mourning real ones? It becomes a coin toss whether broaching a conversation with Florence will promote his cause or prove his tediousness. And yet, his fantasy of her is sweet rather than lascivious, and I want to root for him.The ending - in general terms - was expected, but I eagerly read all the way there to learn the detail [no spoiler!]; on the way, I was treated to some great observations. The narrator is an egotist, yes. And it is displayed in perfect phrasing and structure. In all, an awesome read; a real treat. [And I'm laughing at myself because it took me longer to write the review than to read the story!]