Rating: 
Summary: So Good
Review: This book is deceptively simple. It's the kind of book you belive is so easy that even you could write it. Trust me, you can't. In fact, Hart couldn't even do it a sceond time, though she keeps trying. What I find most amazing about the book is that Hart writes the entire thing from a man's point of view, and she got it right. Everytime I read the thing, I get all excited and have to start over again. It is so good.
Rating:
Summary: So Good
Review: This book is deceptively simple. It's the kind of book you belive is so easy that even you could write it. Trust me, you can't. In fact, Hart couldn't even do it a second time, though she keeps trying. What I find most amazing about the book is that Hart writes the entire thing from a man's point of view, and she got it right. Everytime I read the thing, I get all excited and have to start over again. It is so good.
Rating: 
Summary: emotional carnage
Review: This is a powerful book. Simple in structure, beautiful in language it is a story of obsession, betrayal and losing control. Almost everyone loses control in this book- the MP who finally finds passion and meaning in his life in the unattainable and the immoral, the main 'damaged' protagonist who is like a queen bee with multiple yet not infinite stingers- one day her actions will eventually catch up with her; and the wife who's emotional urgency and subsequent realisation is depicted both powerfully and evocatively by Baker. One may find it difficult to comprehend the MP's descent into the depths of taboo and obession but this lack of control often exists in lesser doses in many relationships where it is sometimes only the passion of a secret that helps one through the remainder of a mundane existance.
Rating:
Summary: A Mirror's Reflection in the Dark
Review: This is probably my favorite modern novel. What I love and find most disturbing is the emotional struggle that the main character (Stephen Fleming) finds himself in. As a married man, with a beautiful wife who I love immensely, and twin 18 month old boys, I can appreciate the honesty that Stephen's character portrays. Despite my obvious fortune, I too can see the power another woman can yield. The gamble in itself is intoxicating yet frightful in its consequences. Though I don't know if I would ever give in to the struggle, I can see why Stephen ultimately does. The love he has for his perfect life and family are no match for the obsession he has for Anna. This book is much more than a story of one man's betrayal. It's beauty and value lie in the detail the pages reveal of the struggle itself -- The constant back and forth which engages a mind trying to rationalize and convince itself that it can cheat betrayal's ultimate fate. Even in it's darkness, this is ultimately a love story. And despite it's tragic end, I believe that Stephen comes to find himself.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome insight
Review: To anyone who did not care for this book: it's unfortunate that you do not have the depth to recognize or appreciate the incredible skill demonstrated in Josephine Hart's novel "Damage". Her understanding of a relationship's subtleties and nuances, as well as associated unbridled passions that cannot, at times, be denied, is extremely insightful. She gets it. And at the same time she's also able to very eloquently, yet concisely, articulate an intensely moving story. Kudos to Ms. Hart for an incredible piece. I look forward to reading any and all of her as yet unpublished work.
Rating: 
Summary: Indecent by all means...
Review: Well do not get me wrong. After many years of marriage a guy might seek a change and than have an affair with a woman, and the reply to the question about how well the marriage had been going would probably justify the seek for an extramarital affair. But why the son's girlfriend? And the girlfriend's accepting to get married to the young son so that it could be easier for her to continue adultery which she had already started with the would-be father in law is extremely abhorrent. What is next? Another movie in which a man has an affair with his own daughter? This movie makes normal adultery look more and more decent. An abnormal story. Do not waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: Damaged People May Damage Others
Review: While a sonically quiet and slow paced film, "Damage" is a rich character portrait and finally devastating story. Something about the sphinx-like, mysterious Binoche character connects with the stuffy, self constrained Irons character, and immediately illicit action leads to betrayal and emotional subterfuge.While it isn't spelled out what attracts the Binoche character to her fiance's father, the nature of the fiance's attractiveness to grief-torn Binoche provides hints. The eroticism of the illicit liaison is powerful but unique in cinema, and here the quietness of the film works to its storytelling advantage. The cinematography, costuming, and set design contribute a great deal to the total context of the narrative. The film is well acted, with the four main leads all providing top notch work. This character study is absorbing but disquieting; as we watch the events unfold we are disturbed but somehow cannot disconnect from the tragic decisions the characters make. Louis Malle created something very special in this film. Highly recommended to grownups who appreciate personality study and complexity of motivation.
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