Customer Reviews

Never Leave Me

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4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Set in New York City in the early 1950's, "Never Leave Me" is about a man on the make, Brad Rowan, owner of a small, independent advertising firm. Brad is given the opportunity to go to work for a major steel company as their public relations executive at a tremendous increase in salary and perks. However, he finds the aggressive tactics and ethics of the CEO, Matt Brady, questionable, so he turns down the offer. This refusal is ironic, since Brad himself has exhibited many self-centered, unethical traits also. The book flits from scene to scene, with little character or plot development and little attention paid to detail. I was constantly wondering whether a day or month had passed between scenes. How did Brad manage to fall hopelessly in lust with Elaine Schuyler the moment he met her? Why does he instantly forget about his loving, devoted wife Marge? Why does Matt Brady set out to destroy Brad's business by forcing all his clients to cancel their contracts? Why does Brad's assistant Chris jump ship and go to work for Matt Brady? Although I know the setting was New York City in the 1950's, the references to women as dames and babes really wore on me. The steamy sex scenes were too graphic, and in some instances, physically impossible. This tale of "lust and greed" has no redeeming qualities other than its brevity (268 pages) and the fact that Brad eventually returns to his happy family.

This was my first Harold Robbins novel. The story line was very interesting and really pulls you rapidly along. This is a reprint from the 1954 novel, with all the then censored scenes returned to the story, as the author originally intended to present the story. You will see why many of these were deleted from the novel in 1954! This is a wild ride of a story, filled with lust,sex,trust, betrayal and greed in many forms, and the attempt to see which of these drives people the strongest. One man's lust leads to a major collision with his family on one end and a business enemy on the other. A death is the only way out, yet no one sees this coming. This combination of ingredients is apparently classic "sexy" writing by Harold Robbins.

Its surely a matter of personal opinion but I have
found this to be my favourite Harold Robbins novel. Although first published in the 1950s, it
remains just as captivating today. It is much less flash or overstated than his more contemporary
stories but consequently more subtle and character centred in its simple plot. Let it take you away on a rainy day.

Brad Rowan is happily married and runs a successful business. Suddenly, he falls in love with beautiful young widow Elaine, and enrages steel tycoon Matt Brady by refusing his job offer. Brady (who happens to be Elaine's uncle), for some reason, sets out to destroy Brad's business.

The story is quite uninteresting and the characters are shallow, their motivations unclear. The translated version I read was obviously censored because it didn't include the graphic sex scenes that other reviewers refer to, but I doubt those missing sections would do make the book much more interesting. It's a quick read but uninteresting. Don't bother to search this one out.