Just didn't like it, nothing about the writing - but ultimately felt unsympathetic for one of the central characters, and raced through the last 30-odd pages because of repetitive self-destruction. ( )

A haunting, for me, memoir of a friendship that went sadly wrong owing to her friend's mental state. He became paranoid and suspicious, unable to believe she cared for him, yet unable to break it off. Athill does a wonderful job of showing how innocent conversations and actions became twisted in his mind and how her attempts to reconcile only made things worse. It spoke to me because of someone who was once a good friend, but who changed into someone who disapproved of everything I did and wanted me to understand exactly how I had let her down. Over time she did this with everyone. It was clear there was something deeper going on, and I still miss the friend I knew. ( )