Weekend Book

May I say first that everything about the edition I read of this gentle novel was a sensory delight. The size was perfect, 15cm wide, 17cm tall and 3cm deep; the perfect dimensions, without realizing it I found myself physically carrying it around the house, it sat cupped between my fingers and the palm of my hand. This edition, 1994 hardcover Farrar Straus and Girouz was a feast; the leather binding on the spine folded onto the cover by 3.5cm, a gorgeous deep dark green, the cover picture is a black and white photo looking from behind two Adirondack chairs with lots of dreamy shadow. It is one of those times when you wouldn't even mind if the novel was complete rubbish, which it wasn't, just because it has been bound so well. I found myself pitying those who had read/bought the paperback edition.

This is a gentle novel and exceedingly well written. Robert is the new lover of Lyle and they are setting off to spend the weekend with Marian and John. Marian is the sister of Tony, Lyle's lover who died 12 months ago from complications due to Aids. Ah, so tricky being the new lover; you feel faintly jealous of those who went before you and it's so much worse when the former lover has died - they are practically canonised. So Robert is feeling understandably on edge when faced with a meeting at Marian's house.

I would now like to read Peter Cameron's other novels. Gentle, that's the word which comes to my mind when I think about his writing style. Gentle and understated. There is no rah-rah in The Weekend, I found it a strangely soothing read. Other reader's opinions may differ but this novel is a quiet delight. For me, this earns a 4★.