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Book Review of By Nightfall

By Nightfall
By Nightfall
Author: Michael Cunningham
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Leigh avatar reviewed on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


I found myself genuinely enjoying the reading of this novel; I didn't feel like I needed to finish in order to check it off of a list. Cunningham's observations of marriage and human relations were keen and astute and sometimes floored me with how *true* they were.

Although I found it hard to put myself in the characters' shoes (they live in NY and hang out in bed on Sundays, doing the NYT crossword puzzle and one runs an art gallery, etc.), I liked them. Despite the details of daily living, they were human, every bit as complex as you or me.

Mizzy is a character you'll not soon forget. His actions are sometimes incomprehensible, but you'll like reading about him.

My favorite part was the very end, the utterly painful and enlightening and heartbreaking conversation between Peter and Rebecca. I felt like crying and hugging and yelling at them, all at once.

Such a beautiful story; such great work from a master author.