Customer Reviews
Colm Tóibín - The Story of the Night - By: Mrs. JJ Henderson, 04 Apr 2010 
Colm Tóibín has written a deeply moving book that I could not put down. His sensitively drawn characters leap off the page & the explicit homosexual scenes did not detract from my enjoyment of this compelling book. I already want to read it again.
Now one of my favourite books - By: Z. Anthony, 11 Jan 2010 
I'm gutted I didn't discover Toibin sooner - this was an amazing book, with incredible characters & a story that pulled me rightin from the start. I felt these to be some of the most believable gay characters I've ever encounteredin a novel, yet at the same time the fact that they were gay seemed almost secondary to their personalities, their failings & the way things eventually play out. This is true of the setting of 1980s Argentina as well. Although it definitely does colour the plot, as with the characters themselves the humanness of the story would have been equally gripping evenin a less interesting backdrop. As I neared the end I found myself hoping beyond reason for a particular outcome that seemed less & less likely, almost as one would for actual living friends or family.
Highly recommended.
Compelling story telling - By: M. D. Woodgate, 09 Jan 2010 An intrigueing story set amidst the unusualin steamy & latin Argentina. You start off getting introduced to the eccentricities of lifein the southern hemisphere & end up being drawnin to the life of Richard, an Anglo-Argentine, with split loyalties & a desire for better thingsin life. His normality echoes no doubt with many, & his story is one of tragic rise & an ultimate ending which leaves you turning frantically to the last page. Great story telling, description & characterisation, & a tale which should acompany many on their holidays, or to amuse whilst waiting for the snow to clear. Good stuff.
bowled over by this - By: Stephenshaw, 01 Nov 2009 I borrowed The Story of the Night from a friend, having previously read Blackwater Lightship & Heather Blazing by Colm Toibin. I wasn't aware that the book had a gay theme, but I found myself hooked from the first page. The narrative, setin Argentinain the 1980s & following the life of a gay man, Richard Garay, has such a ring of truth about it that it's difficult to believe it wasn't born of personal experience. I just can't grasp how something so vividly alive & true-to-life could be the product of someone's imagination. The central characters, Richard & Pablo, are very three-dimensional & I found that I cared more & more about them & their fate as the story progressed. I confess I shed a tear as I finished reading - something I haven't donein a long time!
To my mind, Toibin is a genius - I've ordered a hardback copy from Amazon & I know I will revisit The Story of the Nightin the months & years ahead. Do read this book, it's completely compelling - I guarantee you wont easily forget it.
Wasn't expecting this! - By: R. Waby, 08 Oct 2009 I was on the prowl for a gripping read & something out of my comfort zone, something different & I certainly got it with this book.
Right from the outset I felt attached to the main character & cared about him & needed to know what happened to him, I related to quite a few of the experiences he was going through & felt comforted throughout the book.
Lots of moments I wasn't expecting (like the sex scenes) but they were handled perfectlyin a very grown up writing style. The whole book is a pleasure to read & flows so easily that you really don't want to put it down.
I read itin a few sittings, like most of the other reviewers did too & I loved the last third. Buy this book!
