19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captures the essence of erotic passion, May 22, 2002
This review is from: Damage (Paperback)
Damage is a stunning work of fiction which captures the transformative, compelling power of passionate love. Few authors can portray that ellusive state of suspended animation which anticipates catastropic change. Stephen is completely unaware of the banality of existence that he finds himself in; a state neither alive nor dead. When he meets Anna, his perception undergoes a gestalt-type shift and he at once realizes that things can no longer be as they were. Anna's own warning to Stephen - beware damaged people, for they are the ones who survive - sums up the theme of this novel, in which passion is cast in terms of power and actions inevitablely lead to irreversible and tragic consequences. Reading this novel is analogous to watching a car accident: morbid facination prevents you from looking away, ever aware of the compulsion that it could be you at the wheel at that pivitol moment when the illusion of control is shattered.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gloomy, Erotic, September 25, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Damage (Paperback)
"Damage" was another book I bought on a whim because it was on sale. I didn't have a clue about the plot since there wasn't a synopsis on the back and most of the reviews inside were pretty vague.
To begin with, "Damage" is a pretty small book (218 pages) with short chapters and spare writing. Most people will be able to read it in one day if you have nothing else to do.
The book is told in the first person by Stephen Fleming who is a middle-aged politician in British parliament. He leads a very safe, boring life with his beautiful wife Ingrid and two adult children, Martyn and Sally. Everything changes though when he meets his son's new girlfriend, Anna Barton, at a party. His attraction to her is immediate and overpowering. Their affair begins after a few family get-togethers when Anna calls out of the blue and they make arrangements to meet at her place.
From the beginning, you know the relationship won't go any further than the bedroom (if they make it that far), but you get swept away anyways in Stephen's loss of control and growing obsession. Anna seems to remain a mystery, however, even after she confesses the strange death of her brother, who had killed himself years ago because he couldn't have her.
The ending, of course, is tragic and depressing when Stephen and Anna's affair is discovered. The darkness of the book might be a little too much for some, but if you like gloomy, erotic novels, I highly recommend you read "Damage".
Obviously, there are some sex scenes in the book, but they're not raunchy or overly descriptive. The movie scenes, however, are much more graphic than the book's, especially if you see the unrated version of "Damage". So, if you're highly offended by incest and adultery, you probably should just skip this one.
"Damage" was made into a movie in 1992 (aka "Fatale"), starring Jeremy Irons as Stephen Fleming (who I thought was perfect for the part, especially if you've seen him in "Lolita") and Juliette Binoche as Anna Barton. Although the movie follows the same structure of the book, I still didn't think the movie was that good, despite the several other great actors and actresses (Rupert Graves, Miranda Richardson). I can't pinpoint what I didn't like about it; I just didn't care for it. I certainly wouldn't recommend the movie unless you're really into the book or a fan of one of the above actors or actresses. Stick to the book instead.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and Erotic, April 6, 2002
Ms. Hart knows how to spin a tale from everyday situations. There is the politician - well his settled with his picture perfect family until the arrival of a woman - the woman who his son loves..he falls for her and then begins the destruction...
Quoting one of the lines in the book, "damaged people know how to survive". This is the thread of this richly deep poignant tale of love, lust and destruction.
I read this book at a stage of depression so I really could not relate to it as it makes you feel all the more vulnerable and bare. This book tells things like it is. Well done Ms. Hart!!
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