The adolescent Christopher and his soulmate Toni had sneered at the stifling ennui of Metroland, their cosy patch of suburbia on the Metropolit... read full description
reviews
Dec 06, 2011
Sergei_kalinin
rated it: 
Очень даже неплохо... Главная тема книги - обыденное такое взросление, превращение малчика :) в мужчину. Превращение без каких-либо экстремальных инициаций (войной, зоной и проч.), а, так сказать, спокойное, неспешное, интраспективно углубленное и естественное.
Если совсем уж схематизировать, то в книге 2 линии повествования, плюс 3 эпизода :)))
Первая линия - это, скажем так, половая идентификация :) Становление того самого мальчика мужчиной в смысле обретения сексуальног More...
Если совсем уж схематизировать, то в книге 2 линии повествования, плюс 3 эпизода :)))
Первая линия - это, скажем так, половая идентификация :) Становление того самого мальчика мужчиной в смысле обретения сексуальног More...
Nov 26, 2008
Had to read this for class, but goodness I enjoyed it so much. I also am still thinking about the ending, which when I first finished it filled me with a warm glow (unusual for a book read in a literature class) but can be also interpreted in more than one way. But it made me realize quite acutely how happy married suburban couples can be, and why, and how content and satisfied most of them probably are. Who needs art if you find true happiness? So I still think of it as a happy ending, I suppos
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Sep 25, 2011
Carley
rated it: 
Metroland is the first of many novels written by Julian Barnes and the first I had ever read. This coming of age novel outlines the characters of Christopher and Toni as they make the transition from young adults to adults. Separated into three parts, we experience Christopher's upbringing in the suburbs of London, his time as a graduate student in Paris and the start of his marriage. In his youth, Christopher and his best friend Toni aspire to be artists. While both characters begin in the
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May 18, 2010
Ditte
rated it:
Ik moest even inkomen bij dit boek. De Nederlandse vertaling is nogal slecht, wat het lezen niet prettiger maakte, en het verhaal is ook gewoon niet opvallend origineel. Julian Barnes lijkt wel originaliteit na te streven, maar zeker in het eerste deel van het boek komen de personages (daardoo?) vooral een beetje onnatuurlijk over. Er zullen ongetwijfeld tieners zijn die zijn als Tony en Christopher in Metroland, maar zoals vaak in boeken en films het geval is met kinderen en jongeren, komen ze
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Oct 31, 2009
Lee
rated it:
"Ah - a new definition of "adult": the time during which one has sold out", remarks Toni caustically. But then it's certainly not the majority of us who maintain an adolescent's sneering contempt of the bourgeoisie (as they might term it in London, at least) and of such traditional life choices as marriage, children, mortgages, and steady jobs on into what can solidly be considered the adult years. The debut novel of Julian Barnes is a coming of age story that extends into th
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May 25, 2008
Ben
rated it: 
I think there are two types of teenagers. The first kind see the world as signifying nothing. The second kind see the world as signifying too much. Both are full of angst, convinced that they can see clearly what the rest of the world--particularly grown-ups, society, the establishment, etc.--is too dull and superficial to notice. Teenagers of the first type are enthralled by J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, and find in Holden Caulfield a more eloquent expression of their own ill-formed vie
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Apr 02, 2008
Carolyn
rated it:
Okay, I admit, I picked this book up largely because of its cover. The edition I found for supercheap at a local bookstore has an illustration of two young men in the Underground, the lights of a train coming towards them. I have a thing for subways and the image just sort of spoke to me.
I'm glad I picked it up, though the first 72 pages of this slim novel were a bit of a slog for me. Those pages are concerned for the most part with the friendship between Chris, who narrates, and To More...
I'm glad I picked it up, though the first 72 pages of this slim novel were a bit of a slog for me. Those pages are concerned for the most part with the friendship between Chris, who narrates, and To More...
Jan 30, 2009
Beth
rated it:
My first thought is, I can't believe that this book isn't more well-known. It has the feel of a classic coming-of-age novel to me. It details the way in which an irreverent, anti-anything-conventional teenager ends up becoming a married suburbanite. The 1963 section of the book so perfectly captured adolescence that it was startling--I wanted to copy something down off pretty much every page.
May 27, 2011
David
rated it:
My second Barnes book and this is one book about relations that stuck with me since I read it 25 years ago. In fact I remeber vowing I would never become like Christopher in the end seeing everything brown. Damn, Barnes knew something about human nature so early on.
Oct 13, 2010
Tracey
rated it:
Really enjoying. Very English and set in its time (1960's and on). Written in two parts. I have read the schoolboy part and he is now living in France and a bit older. I have laughed aloud at parts. At my school, the Journalism teacher rates Julian Barnes as one of her alltime best authors to read.
Finished reading now - he's all grown up and way less idealistic - best friend still holds to and lives according to youthful values though. Enjoyed.
Finished reading now - he's all grown up and way less idealistic - best friend still holds to and lives according to youthful values though. Enjoyed.
Sep 27, 2011
Aninjasdream
rated it:
My first Julian Barnes book. I love how he makes the fatuity of youth and foolishness of being in love all okay. Most importantly, the protagonist is a traditionalist I am okay with.
Aug 27, 2011
Scott
rated it:
I loved the French in it, the Englishman in Paris aspect and view on sex and relationships. Also, it had a happy ending which was nice.
Apr 15, 2008
Tim
rated it:
A knowing and sympathetic novel about a teenage boy whose cultural elitism and judgmental misanthropy (somewhat poorly) shields his social and romantic bafflement, until he moves off, does some belated growing up, and eventually settles into life and love and a comfortable early 30s lifestyle. I didn't identify with this book at all. No sir. Ahem. [cough] Not the parts about commuting to school by train and silently reviling the squares. Nor the parts about a profound, if eventually diminishi
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Sep 09, 2009
Guy
rated it:
Rings true of any by growing up a with a good ally and a restless inner life.
Oct 29, 2011
Meenakshi
rated it:
Amazing read....sharp,witty...thoroughly enjoyed it.A brilliant first novel.
Jan 19, 2011
Max
rated it:
I loved a lot about this book, but it took me a long time to get through (and it's short!). A smart, sophisticated coming-of-age book with a lot of really wonderful relationship-related thoughts and neuroticisms in it. But occasionally it would go off on tangents about life and travel I wasn't quite so interested in.
I really admired the writing and the intelligence and the sophistication of it, wished it had been a bit more of a page-turner, I guess.
I really admired the writing and the intelligence and the sophistication of it, wished it had been a bit more of a page-turner, I guess.
Mar 26, 2008
Pierce
rated it:
I think this is about accepting being ordinary. It reminded me of precocious teenage years where you think you are all that so the first third I was squirming a lot. Later on he gets to grips with the suburbs and it's actually not depressing!
Could somebody please tell me how a debut writer can be so assured and structured in their first novel? This is not a rhetorical question you guys I actually need an answer for this.
Could somebody please tell me how a debut writer can be so assured and structured in their first novel? This is not a rhetorical question you guys I actually need an answer for this.
May 20, 2008
Kim
rated it:
It's been so long since I read this book that to be honest, I don't remember exactly it was that made me love it so much. I guess I need to reread it. I remember that I loved the two guys' obsession with French, which I shared, and how they would pronounce it "syphilise" instead of "civilise"--hilarious.
Jul 02, 2008
Bachyboy
rated it: 
This book has an interesting style but not a gripping storyline. I found it quite hyperactive writing and the story somehow never settles down. Christopher and Toni are friends from the 1960s and the novel explores their psyche and choices.
Oct 15, 2011
Carolee
rated it:
I was torn between idealistic Chris and the realistic Chris. I'm straddling the two worlds.
Oct 21, 2007
Bradley
rated it:
I guess that's Mr. Barnes thing, the suburbs of the UK, and he does it well here. Buuuuut sometimes it just seems too cliche pal.
Jun 23, 2009
Leigh
rated it:
Dear Julian Barnes,
If you're not busy later, I'd like to have some of your children.
xoxo,
Leigh
If you're not busy later, I'd like to have some of your children.
xoxo,
Leigh
Feb 13, 2012
Feb 11, 2012
