Joe, a popular-science writer, takes his partner Clarissa on a picnic in the Oxfordshire countryside, but the planned blissful afternoon is shattered by a ballooning accident.
Joe joins several other bystanders in rushing to the stricken balloon, but tragedy cannot be averted. Jed, one of the other men, urges Joe to pray in the aftermath, and Joe, the rationalist, feels embarassment and discomfort in refusing.
A traumatic and troubling day, but as Joe lies in bed that night he receives a phone call from Jed, who says "I love you."
What follows is part psychological thriller, part exploration of love and humanity. Joe struggles to fit Jed into his rational world where everything can be broken down like a machine, and Clarissa is the main casualty of his confusion.
Enduring Love somehow manages to be an addictive page-turner and a piece of touching and thought-provoking literature, and is highly recommended.
5 stars (out of 5)