"Talking It Over" by Julian Barnes, written in 1991, introduces the love triangle, Stuart, Gillian, and Oliver, masterfully portrayed by the author in the sequel,"Love, etc." published in 2000.
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The earlier novel portrays the characters as young people juust starting out. Stuart is beginning a career as a banker; Oliver, although a University graduate and brilliant satirist, can only get employment as a teacher of ESl, and Gillian restores paintings, having given up her profession as a social worker. Stuart meets Gillian at a singles' bar and later become lovers. Appreciating Stuart's steadiness, Gillian decides to marry him. At their wedding, Oliver, Stuart's schoolhood friend and best man, falls in love with Gillian. How Oliver woos Gillian away from Stuart, and how Gillian disillusions Stuart about her married happiness with Oliver, beomes a fascinating tale, told from the viewpoint of each character who addresses the reader directly.
The review of this Book prepared by Betty-Jeanne Korson
