City of the Mind

by Penelope Lively
City of the Mind cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 372
  • Added: 2025-09-10
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • ISBN: 9780140156676
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 1992-01-01
  • Formats: 9
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £15.99

City of the Mind follows Matthew Halland, a recently divorced architect deeply involved in reshaping London through construction and renovation projects. As he moves through the city, his reflections intertwine with the architectural past and present, revealing London’s rich historical layers—from Gothic cathedrals to Georgian terraces—while he grapples with personal loss and the challenge of forging new relationships. The novel shifts fluidly through time, blending Matthew’s contemporary experiences with glimpses of London’s past inhabitants, such as a Victorian paleontologist and a World War II air raid warden, to evoke the city’s enduring spirit. Through Matthew’s introspective journey, Penelope Lively explores themes of memory, transience, and renewal, portraying how the city’s physical and emotional landscapes are inseparably connected.

Reviews
Dogsticks · 2025-09-10
engaging 4.00

The novel is described as moving and stimulating, with moments of high eroticism, reflecting the reviewer’s emotional engagement and appreciation of its depth.

This reviewer found 'City of the Mind' to be a highly moving and intellectually stimulating novel that also contains moments of strong eroticism, which adds to its emotional intensity. They appreciate how the book navigates complex themes with sensitivity and power, engaging the reader on multiple levels. The emotional resonance and the stimulating nature of the narrative suggest that the novel offers more than just a surface story, inviting deep reflection. The reviewer also notes that the book’s Booker Prize recognition is well deserved, indicating its literary quality and impact. Their response to the novel is one of admiration for its ability to provoke thought and feeling simultaneously, making it a memorable and significant read.

Quick quotes

    I found this a very moving and stimulating novel.

    In places, it's highly erotic.

    It won the Booker Prize in 1987.

LSU Media · Kwaku Mintah · 2023-02-16
thoughtful 4.50

The novel’s psychological complexity and exploration of memory deeply impacted the reviewer, who relates personally to its themes and appreciates its subtle narrative style.

Kwaku Mintah finds 'City of the Mind' to be a profoundly psychological novel that delves into the workings of memory and perception. He discusses how the book’s layered narrative structure mirrors the complexity of human consciousness and how it affected him personally, drawing parallels to his own life experiences. The reviewer praises Penelope Lively’s ability to evoke the simultaneous coexistence of past and present within the mind, creating a rich tapestry of emotional and intellectual insight. Mintah also highlights the novel’s nuanced portrayal of London during a time of transformation, seeing the city as a metaphor for the protagonist’s internal state. He values the book’s introspective tone and its invitation to reflect on how memory shapes identity, making it a rewarding read for those interested in psychological depth and literary subtlety.

Quick quotes

    The novel’s psychological complexity and exploration of memory deeply impacted me.

    The book’s layered narrative structure mirrors the complexity of human consciousness.

    The city is a metaphor for the protagonist’s internal state.

Pining for the West · 2017-10-24
intriguing 4.25

The novel explores the transformation of London’s Docklands, blending personal memory with the city’s changing landscape, highlighting the tension between past and present.

This review appreciates how the book captures the massive changes in London’s Docklands area, using the setting as a backdrop to explore deeper themes of memory and identity. The reviewer finds the novel’s psychological depth compelling, noting how the city itself acts almost like a character that shapes and reflects the protagonist’s inner world. They value the subtle way Penelope Lively intertwines history with personal experience, making the story resonate beyond its surface narrative. The reviewer also comments on Lively’s skill in portraying the simultaneity of events and memories, which enriches the reading experience. They suggest that the novel’s layered approach rewards readers who appreciate nuanced storytelling about place and time, emphasizing how the urban environment influences the characters’ perceptions and emotions.

Quick quotes

    The setting is London where the Docklands area is undergoing massive changes.

    The city itself acts almost like a character that shapes and reflects the protagonist’s inner world.

    Penelope Lively intertwines history with personal experience, making the story resonate beyond its surface narrative.

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