Hanif Kureishi's Intimacy

With more free time now, I wanted to begin reading fiction again, and afraid of plowing into big works, decided to read Hanif Kureishi's slim Intimacy. The yellow cover is very attractive and the front blurb says it is Kureishi's best so far. And I am glad I took it up. 

Intimacy is about one man's thoughts, doubts and recollections the night he finally decided to leave his wife and children for another woman. The novel's first sentence will grip any reader: It is the saddest night, for I am leaving and not coming back. If you have seen The Bridges of Madison County, the general mood of Intimacy is comparable to that of the scene where Meryl Street was gripping the car knob, not sure whether to stay or take flight.

It is a painful book to read at times. I guess reading about people drifting apart always is, but Kureishi's prose is honest and beautiful. It is a book you can read at one sitting, or carry with you while waiting for your flight.