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What Members Thought
My first Julian Barnes. (And not that this is the point but, I figured out the ending of The Sense of an Ending...).
But I remember what Old Joe Hunt said when arguing with Adrian: that mental states can be inferred from actions. That's in history--Henry VIII and all that. Whereas in the private life, I think the converse is true; that you can infer past actions from current mental states.
It strikes me that this may be one of the differences between youth and age: when we are young, we invent dif ...more
But I remember what Old Joe Hunt said when arguing with Adrian: that mental states can be inferred from actions. That's in history--Henry VIII and all that. Whereas in the private life, I think the converse is true; that you can infer past actions from current mental states.
It strikes me that this may be one of the differences between youth and age: when we are young, we invent dif ...more
4 1/2 stars actually. I reserve 5 stars for books like Bleak House, War and Peace, Sense and Sensibility and Lord of the Rings. I have several books by Julian Barnes, but this is the first one I've read. A short book that is very thought provoking. Barnes takes a look at what words and actions can have long after they are done.
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This may be a very short novel, but it isn't one to be read too quickly. There's too much going on, and there isn't a wasted word in it. I'm not entirely sure that I did actually make sense of the ending, but it highlighted the inaccuracy of memory and the turning points in life that seem to be so trivial at the time, yet so pivotal later.
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Deceptively simple with lovely minimalist prose. It's packed with the notions of guilt, remorse, selfishness, and the subjectivity of memory..
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Glad this one came up accidentally on my music shuffle as I had put off reading this for a long time, but ended up liking it and wanting to discuss it with others. I didn't particularly care for the narrator, however, the way it was read contributed to the success of the story.
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Dec 28, 2011
Jessica
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
england,
modern-lit
Barnes is clearly a big thinker, but I love that he can put forth challenging themes while still making his prose accessible - he doesn't fall into the trap of style becoming a substitute for substance.
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This is an incredible book, perfect. I'm inclined to reread it immediately. It is wise and sad and silly and suspenseful. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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Very quick read
Mar 05, 2012
Phoebe
added it
Sep 25, 2012
Anna
marked it as to-read
Nov 13, 2012
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Jan 17, 2013
Dana Arbelaez
marked it as to-read
Mar 26, 2013
Kathy Jo
marked it as to-read
Jan 22, 2014
Gary Dale
marked it as to-read
Aug 28, 2015
Shannon Wallner
marked it as to-read
