Why 'The Rain Before It Falls' Makes Realists Roll Their Eyes
If you're looking for a literary excuse to escape reality, “The Rain Before It Falls” by Jonathan Coe will give you plenty of reasons to do so. This novel is a veritable portrait of fantasy painted in broad strokes by the mind of an author enveloped more in imagery than actuality. Jonathan Coe, a British novelist known for his charisma and wit, presents this story that's less about the rain and more about the parched cultural mindset that fails to mix fact with fiction. Set post-war Britain, the tale unfolds as the main character, Rosamond, recounts her life's regrets on cassette tapes for a blind young woman named Imogen. What could have been a profound exploration of generational legacy and familial ties becomes a melodramatic soap opera.
It’s Not About the Rain, Folks - Despite the eye-catching title, “The Rain Before It Falls” is hardly centered on atmospheric conditions or even climate dynamics, something more relatable. Instead, it’s a cascade of unconnected human experiences, accounts that would have readers flipping pages looking for more grounded narratives.
Soap Opera Drama Over Substance - Nothing sells lofty ideas without some high drama, right? Coe spins narratives that are easy to follow but uncanny in their melodramatic sprawl—the cursed love affairs, hidden family secrets, and unreconciled emotions that neatly sew up a decidedly meandering plot. The dramatic zip those liberal readers crave finds an outlet in the emotive chaos Coe creates. Yet, it’s more soap opera than sophisticated cuisine, leaving you hungry for meaningful bites of story.
The Lost Art of Realism - For realists among us, the novel’s depiction of relationships and familial connections feels more like a soap bubble than an iron chain—iridescent, fragile, and ready to pop at the merest prick of rational thought. The character-driven prose attempts to build bridges that barely cross the living room, let alone the decades of family history it purports to explore.
Nostalgia Overload - Coe’s nostalgic view suffocates with rose-tinted shades that obscure the nitty-gritty, turning post-war Britain into a puddle of sentimentality. His time travel is less about a gritty depiction of a nation recovering from war and more about airy reminiscences of a past so wrapped in sentiment it feels like a sepia-toned movie rather than a historical record. If anything defines the past, it's the lessons learned from it, not the mournful lament lingering in Coe's pages.
A Lack of Conviction - The plot lacks the necessary steel to convey any profound vision of life's unpredictability. Characters float like specters haunting the tale rather than steering it. Such is the story of Rosamond, whose voice guides the narrative but never quite drives it. One might say it’s the expected byproduct of an author used to dabbling in the fog rather than digging into the earth.
Fantasy Masquerading as Reality - In novels where reality telescopes into a fantasy realm, one expects sharp pivots or profound revelations—not so here. Instead, readers are treated to myth-like yarns spun with no hint of disbelief suspension. Realists hoping for any faithful portrayal of real life must pack their patience because Coe's storyline often teeters the border of fantasy without any true crossing.
Sentimental Tirade Over Intellectual Stimulation - For those who care to stimulate the gray matter, prepare for a novel heavy on heartstrings and light on cerebral engagement. For Coe, emotional reflection wins over salient discussion, the sort that reveals uncomfortable truths about society post-war.
A Lack of Real-World Application - Unlike stories that push narratives into revelations applicable for the here and now, this text is an indulgent reverie with neither guide nor compass. There’s no torch-bearing insight guiding one toward the transformative resolve present in more riveting works. Rather, it constructs a seemingly answerless parable clad in metaphorical raindrops.
The Core Mystery is...Dull - The core mystery sprawls like a listless downpour without dramatic thunder or lightning. If readers expect a dynamic twist or profound breakthrough by the novel's end, they'll be dampened by the plot’s inability to crescendo into something more meaningful than routine predictability.
Bitter-Sweet Only if You're Sweet on Bitter - The book is a sugar cube dissolving in a cup of tepid tea. It leaves the bitter taste of sentiment without the zesty aftertaste of realization. For those in pursuit of a literary catharsis, or perhaps an enlightening discourse, you might find “The Rain Before It Falls” is more about puddle-jumping than profound waters.
While Jonathan Coe's storytelling might attract those starved for whimsical tales, the rest of us could use a bit more grip on reality—a novel that’s less fluff and more substance likely remains on the best-seller lists under different hands. It's worth mentioning that readers who look out for thought-provoking narratives resonating with reflections on tangible social dynamics may find themselves a tad disillusioned by the fanciful fog of “The Rain Before It Falls”.