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On Chesil Beach

Ian McEwan

Why we're reading this: Beautifully written!
[close] Beautifully written!

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Nov 27, 2015 Alex rated it really liked it

Set in the pre-Beatles sixties, On Chesil Beach explores the minds and hearts of a young couple on their wedding night. Both are virgins and innocents in a time when sex for some (many?)had the weight of death. It would soon become just another dance, but on this night for this couple, sex is an undetonated bomb and Florence and Edward a couple of hapless sappers on their first assignment. McEwan meticulously, tenderly and evocatively unfolds each life, the rituals that brought the two together, ...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Lladroluv rated it it was ok

My first Ian McEwan book and I found it disappointing.

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Sep 06, 2007 pianogal rated it it was ok

I was really looking forward to reading this one. When I finally got to, I was disappointed. McEwan does excellent job conveying the awkwardness of the honeymoon night, but the book never moves beyond it. I kept waiting for resolution, but didn't get one that satisfied me. ...more

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Apr 16, 2017 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 200-page-reads

I love the rhythmic narrative of this about-love story. I could hear the strings of a violin screaming and lulling.
I kept wishing I knew more about music because I sense the tempo matches some classical piece.

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Jul 25, 2008 Kate rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book and read it within one sitting. McEwan takes a simple plot, a young couple's wedding night, yet with his unique style of writing made it seem nothing short of catastrophic. ...more

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