Virginia Reeves - The Behaviour Of Love

Rating: 4/5

Review:
Engaging and thoughtful

I enjoyed The Behaviour Of Love. Virginia Reeves is a fine writer and she creates a profound portrait of her two principal characters here.

This isn’t an easy book to review because the real meat of it comes in the second half and to reveal what happens would be a huge spoiler. Principally, though, this is a very intimate portrait of a marriage, of two rather different people and of love under strain. Set in the 1970s, we follow Ed and Laura Malinowski as Ed, a psychologist, becomes head of an institution in Montana for people with a variety of mental health issues, including – shockingly to a modern reader – epilepsy. Ed is a passionate and compassionate doctor, which leads him to overwork and neglect his wife and family. He is also charismatic, attractive and sexually somewhat promiscuous which leads to other problems, including in his relationship with a pretty young patient. Laura, a talented artist, finds herself isolated and neglected but determined to make a life she finds fulfilling. As the book shows us episodes over about 10 years we see how things work out (or don’t) for both Ed and Laura, with sections told from both their points of view.

It’s very well done, with the 70s background of casual sexism and widespread lack of understanding of and sympathy for metal health also very well drawn. Reeves writes very well and I found her characters engaging (if not always likeable) and very convincing.

I thought Work Like Any Other was exceptionally good. The Behaviour of Love is good, too, but perhaps not in quite the same league. Nonetheless, I can recommend it as an engaging and rewarding read.

(My thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC via NetGalley.)