Personally, I found that By Nightfall is one of those novels that, just for a little while, takes you outside of yourself. The style of writing is engaging, jumping continuously from observant narrative to the innermost thoughts of protagonist Peter Harris. It seems strange, initially, to go from being the third person in the scene to being inside the head of the main character, yet I found myself forgetting to notice the peculiarity of it very early on. I’d say that the novel is not what you expect it to be, but every reader is different, so it may fulfil your expectations entirely. You may think from the blurb that this is a story of affairs, and love, and sex, but in reality there is a lot more to it than just the carnal pleasures of infidelity. The overall indicator of my verdict would be how difficult I found it to stop reading; I was already hooked by about page 10. Admittedly there are a lot of references which I did not understand, to art in particular, but that did not make the plot make any less sense, or leave me with any feeling of incomprehension. The book is a worthwhile read, definitely, inspiring not only enjoyment, but also reflection. If you enjoy a novel that has a little depth to it, this one is for you.

I loved this book. Cunningham writes the most beautiful prose. The book to me is a meditation on age, beauty and love, and how our lives can change in the strangest of ways, and in ways we never expected. It is a beautiful story of someone falling for youth and beauty, knowing it will destroy them, and yet not being able to stop themselves. And this is also how I found the book. You know that it cannot end happily, but you cannot help travelling along with the characters, because in fact there is a certain fascination (and beauty) in watching their downfall. Highly recommended.

Peter and Rebecca Harris, a married couple with a daughter, Beatrice, off seeking a life in Boston, are falling desperately into the complacency of married life. They work, successfully, in the art world, and Peter is on the cusp of a major breakthrough – signing an up and coming artist. Then into their boring life walks Mizzy – ‘the mistake’ – Rebecca’s handsome, troubled youth of a brother. Mizzy brings drug dealers to their door, is blasé about his attire, and seems to live a life alien to Peter. The appearance of this troubled youth forces Peter to question his own life, his career, his marriage – down to his very soul. Michael Cunningham proved an adept writer of the human condition in his previous novels, including the Pulitzer Prize winning The Hours, and in By Nightfall, he has produced an extremely tender and moving portrait of a man undergoing a life crisis. Cunningham’s language is taut, his plotting exact – this novel moves inexorably towards a dramatic climax that leaves everything shattered and changed in its wake. It is not a perfect novel (I’m not sure one can write one), but its flaws are minor: Rebecca remains a tad underdrawn, and it is difficult to see why Peter has remained with her so long, and their daughter Beatrice remains nothing more than an enigmatic spectre at the back of Peter’s troubles. When the spotlight is on Peter or Mizzy, though, Cunningham’s prose is as taut and brilliant as one would expect from this major literary talent. It is a novel that comes highly recommended (I read it in one sitting), and deserves to be widely read.

Cunningham adeptly scratches at the concept of beauty to the point it is torn in this revelatory novel centred on art dealer Peter Harris. He is an intriguing character who is obsessed with the search for beauty, but not so much about the meaning of beauty itself. I was gripped by the psychology of the character, with insightful questions littering the pages as I raced through them. These questions are never fully answered though, an attempt not even wanting to be made by Peter. The idea of living in ignorance is, apparently, much more appealing than having to face the truths of reality – understandably so, perhaps. A sense of uncertainty pervades the text, which is also reflected through the confused voice of the narrator. In any other novel, it would have frustrated me, yet Cunningham carefully uses Peter’s inflections at just the right moments with such ease and fluidity, it almost becomes impossible to notice the transition. Art itself is used as a powerful image to convey ideas about time, possibility, failure, beauty and death. Peter constantly challenges himself both in his professional and personal life, striving to fill the void that is growing in him with each day that he gets older. His relationships have deteriorated and the introduction of his care-free, young and good-looking brother-in-law sparks something in him, as if he has been revived from his dormant, routine existence. However, the events that unfold only strengthen the idea that Peter is an echo of his past memories struggling to create and fulfil his future. I found this novel to be a riveting read from start to finish. The language is eloquently delivered and laden with meaning. It is a novel packed with literary and artistic references, which was a little heavy in some places, but I found it, overall, quite satisfying to be treated as an intellectual reader. I particularly enjoyed the opening setting of a party reminiscent of a Gatsby-esque atmosphere, and then later being rewarded towards the end with a direct reference to The Great Gatsby. By Nightfall is a thought-provoking piece that I would challenge anyone not to be stimulated by. It is most definitely a novel concentrated not so much on the beauty of life, but more on the ugliness of truth; the revelations that come with it are stark and terrifying.

Beguiling, intriguing, oddly memerising... Michael Cunningham's fine novel dissects his main protagonist's innermost thoughts and desires, while never letting us get too close to him or, indeed, any of the characters. "By Nightfall" is a novel of ideas, and raises a host of questions - about relationships, but also about the transient nature of beauty and success. Are Peter and Rebecca as happily married as they seem or are they simply going through the motions? Can Peter become a 'key player' on the art scene? And will his quest for beauty ever be fulfilled? I found this book strangely compelling: while I found it difficult to warm to Peter or any of the main characters, I really wanted to find out how their life would unravel. Michael Cunningham's prose is a treat, too. There is much to admire in this novel, though perhaps not so much to love. I suspect that the author wanted it this way.