Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff Published by Riverhead Books on September 15th 2015
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 400
Format: eBook, Kindle Book
Source: Amazon Kindle
Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, expansive, layered novel, Lauren Groff presents the story of one such marriage over the course of twenty-four years.
At age twenty-two, Lotto and Mathilde are tall, glamorous, madly in love, and destined for greatness. A decade later, their marriage is still the envy of their friends, but with an electric thrill we understand that things are even more complicated and remarkable than they have seemed.
This is really my best read in 2015. Actually, this book made me realize the beauty of General Fiction books. I used to be a Mysteries & Thrillers fan. Now I look forward to read General Fiction books too. Though General Fiction books are harder to select. So, this book is the story of the married couple Lotto and Mathilde. The book starts with the young newly married couple spending their honeymoon on the beach. They are deeply in love and so happy with each other. The book covers their relation over almost 2 decades. The story is told from two perspectives. First, Fates is the story as seen by Lotto. Then comes the most interesting part which Furies. This is the story from Mathilde’s perspective. And this is really amazing. How things can be seen and told differently by two people. I can’t just say enough about how brilliant Lauren was at that. It’s very deep.
Lotto’s perspective suits his character. It has a slower pace. Lotto is so kind hearted. We can see his insecurity and how he sees Mathilde as someone superior. He is always afraid she might realize how too good she was for him and leave him.
Mathilde’s perspective is the most interesting part. It also matches her character. It’s full of secrets and twists and turns. You see the same story but with different details and from a different angel. Also you get to know so many secrets. I can’t tell you how many secrets are there. You just end up breathless.
Now as a reader, I have to be honest. This is not a book that you will fall in love with right away. You have to be patient. The first half might be a bit boring at some parts. Yet, you need to deal with it, because that’s how Lotto is. Trust me, the second half is worth the effort. This is the beauty of the whole story. It’s about the contradiction between Fates and Furies. Trust me, this is a book you shouldn’t miss. Thanks to Lauren Groff for this piece of art. The problem is, I couldn’t pick my next read easily. I needed a book on the same level.
About Lauren Groff
Lauren Groff is the author of the novel The Monsters of Templeton, shortlisted for the Orange Prize for New Writers, Delicate Edible Birds, a collection of stories, and Arcadia, a New York Times Notable Book, winner of the Medici Book Club Prize, and finalist for the L.A. Times Book Award.
Her third novel, Fates and Furies, was released in September 2015.
Her work has appeared in journals including the New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, Tin House, One Story, McSweeney’s, and Ploughshares, and in the anthologies 100 Years of the Best American Short Stories, The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses, PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories, and three editions of the Best American Short Stories.
She lives in Gainesville, Florida with her husband and two sons.