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    After the Fall: A Novel
    After the Fall: A Novel
    After the Fall: A Novel
    Audiobook8 hours

    After the Fall: A Novel

    Written by Kylie Ladd

    Narrated by Anne Flosnik and John Lee

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    "I had been married three years when I fell in love," begins Kate, a firecracker of a woman who thought she'd found the yin to her yang in Cary, her sensible and adoring husband. For their friend Luke-a charismatic copywriter who loves women and attention in equal measure, and preferably together-life has been more than sweet beside Cressida, the dutiful pediatric oncologist who stole his heart. But when a whimsical flirtation between Kate and Luke turns into something far more dangerous, the foursome will be irrevocably intertwined by more than just their shared history.

    After the Fall follows the origin and fallout of the most passionate of affairs through the eyes of all four characters, unveiling the misunderstandings and unspoken needs that lie beneath our search for love and connection. The narrative moves effortlessly between past and present, painting a nostalgic picture of the two marriages at their most idealistic-the exact moment when like turned to love-and at their most volatile. Thanks to the boundless compassion with which Ladd draws her characters, one can't help but root for them as they wrestle between newfound desire and remembrances of time past, all the while spinning toward an inevitable conclusion.

    Steeped in psychological insight and raw emotion, After the Fall is an unsettling novel of the many ways we love and hurt each other.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 29, 2010
    ISBN9781400187416
    After the Fall: A Novel

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    Reviews for After the Fall

    3.5/5

    61 ratings26 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 3/5
      For me, reading "After the Fall" was like walking out from a dark house into a summer afternoon...there is so much light shed on things that it is overwhelming. The reader is given not only the point of view of each of the four main characters, but also, intermittently, of the offending spouces' best friends. You know exactly how everyone feels, what they are and are not willing to admit, and what ridiculous and unrealistic expectations they each have. This overabundance of information also serves to amplify the fact that all four main characters are utterly unlikable. Cressida is naive and bland, Luke is selfish and prideful, Kate is self-absorbed and flighty, and Cary is stubborn and manipulative.This is not to stay that the story is not well written. It is by far the best fictional examination of infidelity one could hope for. By giving her readers all the information, Ladd allows the fact that her characters aren't real people to become a side note. Their full-disclosure and intertwined paths make them real. When combined with the emotional nature of novels, this can be a bit draining.It is not that I disliked "After the Fall", it just seemed like a burden. While reading the book, I felt as if I were responsible for the characters drama, when really, don't we all already have enough of our own?
    • 4/5
      A tale of adultery that manages to withhold judgment as it traces the impact on all four people touched by an affair, Kylie Ladd's After the Fall is a fascinating glimpse into all sides of a story. Couples Kate and Cary and Luke and Cressida are good friends but when Kate and Luke cross the line with a very public kiss, things start to spiral out of control. And instead of backing off from each other, they are irresistibly drawn together in a full blown affair.Told in short chapters alternating mainly from the four major characters' first person points of view, these psychological snapshots allow the reader deeply into the heads and hearts of each of the characters. Kate, Cary, Luke, and Cressida each start their narration in the aftermath of the affair and their anger, sorrow, guilt, and despair sound almost like notes made for a therapy session. From there, they work backwards, giving the background of their own marriages as well as of their connections to each other and the way that they reached the harmful and hurting place that each of them came to inhabit.Certainly it would be easy to demonize Kate and Luke for devastating Cary and Cressida and having their affair but Ladd offers no such easy moralizing. Each of her characters is human, flawed and to be pitied. Although the novel opens after the end of the affair, there is still a palpable tension as Kate and Luke move towards each other and and the feeling of breath being held as Cary and Cressida stumble on the truth. The end is a realistic unraveling surprising for its truth. Ladd's training as a psychologist is clearly evident in her deep mining for motivation and explanation in each of her characters and she has drawn a taut, intense read.
    • 3/5
      4 people - 2 couples who learn about falling in love and just plain falling. Betrayal is the name of the game as friends become lovers and enemies. The story is told in first person with each character giving their account and feelings on the matter. There is a sense of matter-of-fact, non-judgmental recounting in this in-depth glimpse into the mindset of adultery and its consequences. I found myself rooting for certain characters and enjoying the journey. The ending, though not what I had hoped, is realistic in its conclusion.
    • 4/5
      This is a thought provoking exploration of an affair without judgement and almost brutal honesty. The author manages to suspend moral judgement without sacrificing empathy. It's not an easy subject to read about and may be too raw for someone who has had a similar experience but the honesty is refreshing.The author uses alternating first person of the adulterers, their partners and friends with distinct voices. Each of the characters are well developed and the transition between perspectives is skilfully handled. The characters are very 'normal', the adulterers aren't uncaring villians, their partners are not saints - while not exactly average (impossibly good looks, doctors etc) they could easily be someone you know.I was tempted to give After the Fall 5 stars - but even though the ending was as honest and real and as right as it could be, I wanted to see Kate and Luke punished - but in reality the truth is that it is the partners that usually suffer while the adulterers move on with their lives.Well worth the read - highly recommended.
    • 3/5
      If you like soap operas, you'll probably enjoy this story of an affair told from the perspective of both the cheaters and the cheated on (with a couple of comments from their assorted friends). I enjoyed the rotating perspectives (interesting and made for a very quick read) but didn't enjoy the somewhat cliche storyline, although the ending wasn't at all what I expected. I'd recommend this book as an easy airplane/beach read, but if you want to read something with real substance, you'd do well to pass this one up.
    • 4/5
      This is is the story of two couples Kate and Cary, and Luke and Cressida. They become friends and spend time together and go away on holiday together. But then the unexpected happens and Kate and Luke, the two more outgoing of the four begin an affair. The difference with this book is that is told from the point of view of each of the four characters. They all have the their chapters and we read the story of their meetings, and what lead up to the start of the affair, and of course the aftermath. I liked the way the book was written. I thought the author did a good job of getting inside the heads of each of the characters. Some were more likeable than others, but all were believable as people. Not a great book but a good read. It kept me interested and I think that had a lot to do with the way the book was structured with each characater being able to tell their story.
    • 4/5
      I loved reading this mult-perspective book!! The author wrote in such a way that I could feel the heartbreak of each character.
    • 3/5
      this book was ok but not great. I found I really had no sympathy or liking of the characters. They were actually quite annoying after a while. The lacked depth. When I put this book down, I didn't feel the urge to pick it back up again any time soon. It took me a long time to read it.
    • 4/5
      "After the Fall" tells the story on an affair from rotating first-person perspectives from each of the players involved in the story. It's an interesting hook and conceit for the story and it almost feels a bit voyeuristic as we get inside the heads of each person involved in the affair.Luke and Kate are married to other people--Cressida and Cary. The two couples maintain a friendship, hanging out together, taking vacations together, etc. Luke and Kate are extremely outgoing while Cressida and Cary are a bit more introverted. It's a case of opposites attracting for each of the married couples, but when Luke and Kate flirt at a wedding, something develops between the two of them. The two eventually begin to have an affair."After the Fall" examines the lead-up to, the events of and the fall-out from the affair. Each side of the story is told in short, first-person accounts of what's happened and it's a fascinating "Roshomon"-like device to see the events unfold from the various perspectives. Ladd gets inside the mind of each character to try and reveal motivations, thoughts, feelings, justifications, etc for the affair. At some points, the story follows the standard, predictable path but at others it pulls out a few unexpected twists and turns. Finding out who stays with who and why in the aftermath of things is interesting and a bit unexpected. Overall, it's not a great piece of literature, but it's an enjoyable enough guilty pleasure type of read.
    • 2/5
      A common feature of stories about infidelity is unlikeable characters. That is certainly true with the two couples in After the Fall by Kylie Ladd. Each couple is somewhat mismatched, perhaps, or had unrealistic expectations and/or misplaced motivations for marriage in the first place. The two couples become friends and then sparks fly between one wife and one husband. A torrid affair ensues, complete with some, but not much, guilt and misgivings. Eventually the cheating wife gives the cheating husband an ultimatum, and everything that hasn’t already gone to hell, does then. Thanks to LTER for the chance to read and review this book.
    • 3/5
      This was an Early Reviewers book that I had trouble getting into. It was told (mostly) by the four main characters in alternating chapters. Two married couples, Luke and Cressida and Cary and Kate, deal with the aftereffects of an affair between Kate and Luke. I don't want to give it away, but it is a very interesting concept and the author does a pretty good job of putting you there. My complaint would be that it goes on too long - not the affair, but the telling of it. I think with editing this could be a fantastic book. The characters are real and very believable. I can't tell you why I struggled getting into it - I kept picking it up and reading a few chapters and putting it down. Then, because I couldn't remember who was married to who I had to start all over. This happened several times until I finally knew I needed to get it read and off my night stand.
    • 2/5
      I found this book to be somewhat of a disappointment. Although mildly entertaining, it seemed the emotions displayed were rather immature and contrived. It would have helped I suppose if I had felt I could relate to any of the main characters, which I did not. I actually didn't care much for any of them, save Cary slightly because he seemed so vulnerable and fairly upstanding. Some of the emotions expressed didn't seem to fit as in "with one look I fell in love all over again" or "I wanted to hit her and could hardly keep my fingers uncurled" (not exact quotes). The short chapters were a good thing; made the book move along quickly. All in all, it was too long; could have been about half the pages.The author does show some promise and perhaps in a few years I'll look and see if she's written something else. But not for a while.
    • 4/5
      Cary and Kate - Luke and Cressida. Two marriages. Everyone seems to be fairly happy. Then one person from each marriage chooses to have an affair, with each other. The book is set up with each of the four and Luke's friend Tim taking turns telling the story from their viewpoint. I found I liked that style and it moved the story along at a rapid pace. The first third of the book was excellent, introducing the characters and how they met and their motivations. For me, the middle third, as the affair kicks into high gear, wasn't as good. The selfishness of the two having the affair was mind-boggling. Then the last third was, again, excellent as the characters deal with the fall-out from the affair and their feelings and the decisions they have to make. Overall, a good, quick read.
    • 3/5
      After the Fall is alternately narrated by two married couples, for a total for four points of view. The husband from one marriage and the wife from the other fall into an affair. The book’s narrative technique makes for a lively, always-changing reading experience, and I enjoyed the close-up perspective. As an exploration of marriage and infidelity, After the Fall has some interesting things to say, particularly about the aftermath. Unfortunately, the four narrators are not sympathetic characters, and I never really cared what happened to them or their relationships.
    • 3/5
      I had a hard time reading this book. It is the story of 2 couples who come together in friendship. Told in first person alternating chapters it tells how two of them have an affair and how it affects both couples. I had a very hard time liking any of the 4 people and therefore not really caring what happened to any of them and was too glad to finally get to the end. Maybe it was just the subject matter but I just didn't really like the book.
    • 4/5
      "After the Fall" was a compelling read - not a joyful book, characters weren't very likable because of thier actions, but I was drawn into their lives and "compelled" to finish just to see how bad the crash would be and how the pieces would be picked up and put back together. The whole time I was reading, I'm thinking, "oh, no, don't do it." But not all books have to be happy or have happy endings, if you're drawn into the story and have to find out how it all ends -I feel its a good book.I'm looking forward to Kylie Ladd's next novel
    • 4/5
      After the Fall is extremely compelling and very well written. With each chapter I found my understanding of each character deepening, yet at the same time I had more and more questions about their motives, their backgrounds and their hopes for the future. Rarely does a novel that focuses almost exclusively on "relationships" interest me the way this story did. I miss these characters!
    • 5/5
      Two couples become friends until the husband of one and the wife of the other have an affair. Reading the cover synopsis, I expected this to be a typical glorification of adultery, a “beach book.” I didn’t expect it would inspire much thought. Then I read the first paragraph and really could not put it down.The story is told in short chapters from each of the main character’s viewpoints. A sickening spiral of lust and deception; this is an utterly believable tale. It’s like watching a train wreck. You cannot look away…knowing what is going to happen but compelled to read on. The characters are real; impulsive and vivacious Kate, steadfast Cary, the naïve Cressida whose trust is so misguided, and Luke the narcissistic golden boy. The telling, from each one’s viewpoint allows the reader insight into the feelings, motivation, and reaction of each character, along with the occasional input of a couple of their friends. The author deftly weaves the individual narratives into whole cloth. This novel is not about love or even sex. It is about betrayal, deception, and impulsive disregard of consequences.Well written with characters fleshed out enough to leave you feeling some compassion even for those you like the least, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a provocative read. No fluff here, no need for a surfeit of sexual imagery, but just a solid story of the pain that was inevitable from the first kiss.
    • 3/5
      This is the story of Kate, her husband Cary, his coworker Cressida and her husband, Luke. The four of them are pretty good friends--they go on vacation together and spend a lot of time in each other's company. They are best friends.Until at a wedding, Kate and Luke get drunk and kiss.This is about an affair (which you learn in the first paragraph) and the effect that it has on the two marriages.This is a very good book, but it's one that I didn't like very much. (Kate and Luke are both pretty horrible people, Luke especially.)But it's definitely worth the read.
    • 4/5
      Well done! Interesting, intimate, fast paced page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed me time with it...them! Bravo!
    • 3/5
      This in an interesting and well written glimpse into the disintegration of two marriages. Luke and Cressida are the golden couple-meant to be together because of good looks and breeding. Cary and Kate are thrust into friendship with the golden couple because Cary is mentoring Cressida at work. Almost immediately Luke is smitten with Kate. While Cressida is ; hard working-buttoned up, virgin almost until her wedding at 27, physician to cancer stricken children, Kate is fun vivacious, impetuous and promiscuous (that is until she married Cary.) The two couples form a friendship that is destroyed at a wedding the couples attend whey Luke and Kate enjoy a passionate kiss in front of the crowd on the dance floor. Yup, on the dance floor, at a wedding in plain sight of Cary and Cressida! Dislike them much? Yup again. The book could have (should have been more compelling, but I just couldn't stand opening up the book to the lies and machinations of these two characters. Yes, I'm sure that there are people out there just like Luke and Kate, but I just couldn't take another page of them.
    • 4/5
      For me this book was like being a fly on the wall in a counseling session. In this session, you meet two couples both in turmoil. Cary and Kate are married and are very different people. Kate is extraverted and a flirt, Cary is steadfast and loyal. He wants a family, and Kate...She wants Luke. Luke is married to Cress, and it is said (more ways than needed) that they a beautiful couple. Cress works long hours and was rather pure when she got together with Luke. Luke is charismatic and is quite the ladies man (although it is mostly flirting until Kate). Of course, sometimes their friends join the sessions to tell their sides too, which added another dimension. I really liked the way the stories intermingled to give a picture of how the affair started and why. Each character's voice and point of view was well thought out. In some ways, I found it a bit enlightening... I would never dream of having an affair, but as the story developed I could understand why they had one. I especially liked Cary, I think his views were most like mine. I can't say I liked all the characters, but I could empathize with them. Definitely an interesting read and could be a good book club pick... I can see it bringing forth a lively discussion.
    • 4/5
      This book is about a woman who falls in love with the charismatic spouse of a casual friend. What's interesting is that her husband and the wife of the illicit lovers were attracted to one another but never became a couple. Kate and Luke are the star-crossed lovers in an impossibly romantic tryst. The entire story is told in the first person with alternating voices of the principals and a few supporting players. It gives the reader unique insight into the mental workings of the players. Their characterizations are dead-on as a result. There are so many shared experiences that are viewed from different points of view. Everyone's pain is percieved differently, based on their expectations. The only complaint about the book and this indeed maybe from my own experience, is that I found the adulteries as an end to a rock-solid marriage, a trivialization of the institution.None the less, one feels like all the parties are people to root for.
    • 3/5
      After the Fall is a novel written in the first person and told by several characters. Every 2 or so pages comprises a "chapter" and changes from character to character. I found this writing style and such short chapters to be very confusing at first. Not enough time is given in any of the passages to develop the characters fully so that the reader feels she knows them prior to moving on to the next speaker. Barbara Kingsolver employed the same technique, although masterfully, in The Posionwood Bible. It can be done to a wonderful end, although that is sadly not the case here.Ladd's novel also suffers from shallow characters that I found impossible to care about. Even the innocent characters in this novel about infidelity are not developed enough to arouse compassion in the reader. Interestingly, Ladd is trained and practices as a psychologist. I am sure her insight into the experiences surrounding infidelity are accurate. I just wish more of the emotion was included in her novel.
    • 3/5
      Written in the first person, this novel is about an adulterous affair as seen through the eyes of the parties who had the affair and their respective spouses. The tone is conversational enough to sweep you along, although the author doesn't really differentiate the speech of the four, so that you keep having to check the chapter heading to see who is narrating. She doesn't even distinguish between male and female speech, although that is so different that it has been shown that subjects correctly identify the gender of the composer of emails. Although it is readable enough to finish, the story itself is nothing more than a detailed account of the affair, starting with first lust, then noting who calls whom and when, and other surface events of the nitty gritty of extramarital sex. No reasons are ever given for the affair. No character shows any development, maturing, realizations, or change as a result of the affair. When they are discovered, the reactions of the spouses are what you'd expect. They are very, very hurt. If your best friend told you this story about themselves, you would say what the adulterous pair's friends said to them: your spouse will be hurt and is that fair. Moreover, you would probably ask him or her to spare you the quotidian details of such affairs, something that you can't tell the author. I must add that this novel about lust is strangely sexless. It is devoid of passion, much less eroticism.Ironically, I just read another novel about an affair written as this one is by an academic taking her first plunge into novel writing. Her book, too, is first person, but only from the view of one character. This novel, however, shows why the wife had the affair, and also what effect it had on her and her own personal growth and development. It also had erotic scenes in it. This novel, Therapy: A Novel, written by Harrie Rose, like Kylie Ladd's After the Fall is to be released in June. Strange coincidence!
    • 5/5
      Kyle Ladd's "After the Fall" is a mesmerizing and intelligent psychological drama about adultery and its aftermath. It is an outstanding work of popular literature. There are passages so intense and realistic that steam seems to rise off the pages. But, don't get me wrong; there is nothing sleazy or voyeuristic about this work. This is raw emotional reality.The drama focuses on the psychological landscape of an affair, including all the betrayals and self-deceptions. In addition, the book follows the characters through the painful and life-altering process of recovery. If you are an empathetic reader, this  book will take you on an affecting journey of the heart.Personally, I found it almost impossible to put down. It was a unique and wholly captivating experience.  Perhaps this is true because the architecture of the storytelling is aggressively personal. The author pulls the reader into the story by forcing us to play the role of the listener. We're in the story and have a stake in the outcome. As we listen to each character's story, we are transformed into armchair psychologists. Each character recounts the events of this affair with as much candor, honesty, insight, and wisdom as he or she is capable of delivering. Each character has his or her own story, each brings a private, soul-searching personal perspective. Among all the perspectives, the reader is challenged to find the truth. Be forewarned: it is impossible to stay detached.This is the writing of an accomplished and polished storyteller. The prose is fresh, vivid, and emotionally complex. The characters are fully developed and spot-on perfect. I am hard-pressed to find anything about this novel that I would change. "After the Fall" should have an unusually wide appeal--men, women, young, old, popular fiction lovers, literary fiction seekers. It is a book that readers will think about for a long time afterward--a book that readers will want to talk about with their friends. Book clubs will have a field day discussing these characters and the moral landscape they inhabit. I recommend this novel without reservation...storytelling doesn't get much better.