The End of the Affair - Graham Greene I'm not usually one to pick up classic literature on my own (I've had my fill of that all throughout my high school years) but this was a freebie from Audible, so I couldn't resist. Graham Greene is also the author of The Quiet American, one of my favorite books set in the time of the Vietnam War. The fact that Colin Firth narrates the audiobook version was just gravy.

Anyway, this is a very heavy book. Not literally, as the novel itself is quite short, but heavy in its themes, heavy in its emotions, heavy on its social commentary on topics like faith and morals. It openly discusses and examines the affair, including the sex, the infidelity, the scandal, everything.

Not gonna lie, this book will probably make you feel depressed. Semi-based on Graham Greene's own affair, the story is an emotional roller coaster that takes you through everything from love and obsession to jealousy, sadness and hate. It also brings up questions regarding perceptions on religion and God. Basically it's like I said, this is not a cheerful or lighthearted read.

Personally, I could have done without the last quarter of the novel, but this was still very good. Graham Greene is a terrific writer and most of the time, the "heaviness" in his works is what I appreciate most about them. His stuff stays with you for a long time.

One final note: I love Colin Firth as an actor, but I can't say I enjoy his performance as an audiobook narrator anywhere near as much. It's hard to understand him sometimes, there are issues with pacing, and there is very little emotion in his reading when he narrates certain scenes and voices. I definitely think there's a reason why most of the best voice actors have had to go through professional training or practice. Sometimes even the finest work from a talented actor will not translate well through the microphone.