The Sense of an Ending in Around the World in 80 Books

Feb 06, 2012 Sera rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-fiction, library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. If you consistently read my reviews, I'm sure that you've noticed that I frequently make reference to authors who have the ability to keenly capture the human nature of people or to provide insight into the human experience. I am a thoughtful person who has difficulty articulating these types of perspectives (even though I often ponder them), which makes me greatly appreciate those who are able to do so.

For the most part, The Sense of an Ending is that type of book. I found the author's insight If you consistently read my reviews, I'm sure that you've noticed that I frequently make reference to authors who have the ability to keenly capture the human nature of people or to provide insight into the human experience. I am a thoughtful person who has difficulty articulating these types of perspectives (even though I often ponder them), which makes me greatly appreciate those who are able to do so.

For the most part, The Sense of an Ending is that type of book. I found the author's insights to be fascinating. For example, the thought that when we view our future that we can imagine it be full of various possibilities and that when we view our past, especially as we get older, that we tend to revise it, often in a more gracious manner. Or, the thought that living a full, non-average life comes from putting oneself into situations where one can experience a full range of emotions and excitement, rather than waiting for the life to come to you.

What made this book interesting to me was that it all of these ruminations took place in the mind of the narrator who attempts the reconcile a past relationship that he had with a woman with the present. I had no idea where this reconciliation was going, and frankly, the twist at the end threw me for a loop. However, the story isn't about what the narrator did - it's about how he perceives what he did in conjunction with how he views himself and how he takes credit for a turn of events that I find unlikely. All of this led me to believe that the story isn't about this man's faulty memory, but actually his vanity, which is why he is unable to maintain his personal connections and finds himself alone and lonely, even though he won't admit it. Yes, the narrator is an unreliable one, but not because he is aging and has difficultly remembering the past; but instead, because he has recreated and continuously revised his role in it so as to make himself either better than what he was or playing a more starring role than what actually happened. In the end, the narrator ends up with himself and his own thoughts of his self, and that will have to be enough for him, because he has no one left around him, irrespective of whether he thinks otherwise.

Overall, a fascinating book that I would highly recommend, even though most people I know who have read it, really didn't care for it. ...more

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Oct 15, 2017 Stil de scriitor rated it liked it · review of another edition

Temele cărții pe care Barnes le abordează sunt iubirea, familia, prietenia și mai ales, destinul uman. Titlul este o metaforă sugestivă care are legătură cu ideile și viața personajului masculin principal, Tony Webster. Este o carte destul de complexă și eu nu am citit-o atât de rapid pe cât aș fi vrut deoarece are idei pe care trebuie să le analizezi la modul profund. Nu pot spune că am înțeles atât de bine cartea, poate și pentru că ideile nu se leagă prea mult între ele. Mă așteptam la mai mu ...more

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Oct 01, 2013 Astrid Lim rated it liked it

Shelves: british, literature, tragedy, dramatic, twist, book-club, contemporary, man-booker

This is the kind of book that you'd like to read in one sitting, just to find out what's going on and where it takes you; but at the end of the day, after you finish the last page and close the book, you just don't know what to think‎ of it.

The narrator of this story is Tony Webster, living in England and currently in his 60s. He told us the story of his life, and how one simple act could result in a catastrophe that changed his life forever.

Tony had three close friends during his high school da This is the kind of book that you'd like to read in one sitting, just to find out what's going on and where it takes you; but at the end of the day, after you finish the last page and close the book, you just don't know what to think‎ of it.

The narrator of this story is Tony Webster, living in England and currently in his 60s. He told us the story of his life, and how one simple act could result in a catastrophe that changed his life forever.

Tony had three close friends during his high school days: Colin, Alex, and the smartest of them all, Adrian. After finishing high school, they drifted apart even though still been in touch with each other. Tony went to a college in Bristol and met with Veronica, who became his first serious girlfriend.

But a chain of events made Tony realized that he and Veronica were not meant to be together, and they broke up in a relatively hostile circumstances.

Tony tried to forget Veronica, and at the same time, cut off his ties with his old friends. He lived his life separately from them and even went to America for a while.

But his past kept on haunting him, especially when a tragedy occurred and Tony needed to visit his past one more time; even meeting with Veronica again to clear things up. But his contemplation and investigation brought back all the sad memories, pain, and the guilt from the past. One thing for sure: you would never know what your actions would cause, and that became a painful lesson for Tony.

It's hard to review this book without giving out too many of its plot and even some spoilers. Because this book was narrated from beginning to end with some puzzles and vague moments that weren't clear even until the end of the book. Julian Barnes has left so many holes to be filled in by the readers, and even some space for interpretation.

This book needs so many discussions and talks, and you can easily become addicted to it. I chatted with Opat after reading this book because I know that she had read it. And we can't even come up with the same conclusion! :D

I also do some googling and searching and found some useful posts that tried to explain the meaning behind all the symbolism inside this vague story with its unreliable narrator. But funny enough, the comments of these posts made me think of other solutions and meanings as well. So it's a never ending circle!

I recommend this book for readers who love symbolism, vague story, interpreting things, and also for those who'd love to try reading a Man Booker Prize book. Because as controversial as this book is, it is enjoyable to read and can be done in one sitting. ...more

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Mar 13, 2014 Erica rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

Deceptively simple with lovely minimalist prose. It's packed with the notions of guilt, remorse, selfishness, and the subjectivity of memory.. ...more

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Sep 29, 2016 Tok rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-english

4.5

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Jul 21, 2012 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: booker-prize, owned, hot-lit

Someone whose recommendations are always spot-on told me he hated this book. But the guy at B&N convinced me to give it a try anyway. We'll see... ...more

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