On Chesil Beach in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jun 19, 2018 John Warner rated it liked it

Shelves: literary-fiction, relationships

In July 1962, Edward Mayhew and Florence Ponting, a classically-trained violinist and from a wealthy family marry and have traveled to Chesil Beach for their honeymoon. Edward, a graduate student of history, has been offered a position in his father-in-law's business. Their future appears bright. However, a wedding night incident endangers their future as a married couple.

Much of this novel/novella is told through Edward's and Florence's back story, e.g. lives before meeting, their encounter, an ...more

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Nov 21, 2019 Cat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, booker-prize-winners, 2019-11

I have no idea how McEwan packed so much into such a short book. Truly historical fiction, amazing breadth of character, wonderful pacing and plot. How on earth did he do this?? A true master

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Apr 01, 2019 Angela Jones rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is very good but in a disturbing and frustrating way. It is about an awkward subject and lots of miscommunication that destroys a couple's marriage before it has even begun. The main action takes place all in one night ...their wedding night and the rest of the book is set up as flashbacks that slowly help the reader to understand their relationship, how they even got together and why they are as they are. It is cringeworthy in so many instances and I wanted to shout at both of them to ...more

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Jun 11, 2007 Maggie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read this book on vacation and really enjoyed it. It's moving, but really sad. Definitely one of those books that make you want to yell at the characters. It makes you realize how important each second of each hour and day really is. ...more

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