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Life's greatest tragedies are not always the most dramatic, the diseases and untimely deaths. They are frequently the smallest, most remediable -- but ultimately unremediated -- difficulties.
On Chesil Beach is a tragedy of the most sublime kind; not a bang but a whimper, the simple set of fears, lies, weaknesses, and desires that everyone is prey to, but to which only some fall victim with such fatal inevitability.
Two young people, very much in love, sincere in their concern for the other, each ...more
On Chesil Beach is a tragedy of the most sublime kind; not a bang but a whimper, the simple set of fears, lies, weaknesses, and desires that everyone is prey to, but to which only some fall victim with such fatal inevitability.
Two young people, very much in love, sincere in their concern for the other, each ...more
The blurb on the front of my copy the book says"breathtaking". I think my one word description would be "unforgetable". This short novel follows the first few hours of married life for Edward and Florence. For a novel to cover such a small window in time you must know that there will be no wasted sentences. Every moment we are witness to their first uncomfortable hours of marriage or the characters lament on their earlier lives.I ended up thinking of it as a cautionary tale by the authors words
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Beautifully written. Lyrical and introspective and taut, all at the same time. I want to read it again.
And it made me think. I know this is just one writer's take on what it was like to be a young adult in 1962, in England, (and middle-class, and probably a lot of other qualifiers to put out there but I won't), and so not 'conclusive,' but it made me think, made me see that point in modern history differently: "Even when Edward and Florence were alone, a thousand unacknowledged rules still appl ...more
And it made me think. I know this is just one writer's take on what it was like to be a young adult in 1962, in England, (and middle-class, and probably a lot of other qualifiers to put out there but I won't), and so not 'conclusive,' but it made me think, made me see that point in modern history differently: "Even when Edward and Florence were alone, a thousand unacknowledged rules still appl ...more
I truly enjoyed On Chesil Beach. I was disappointed by Saturday, and Amsterdam, the only other short Ian McEwan novel I've read, left me cold. But OCB is a short novel with a whole lot of emotion. This is partially because the book discusses choices and consequences, paths followed and paths not followed-- themes understood universally. More importantly, however, OCB succeeds because the reader becomes familiar with and invested in the story's characters, even if they are only known to us for le
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This novel is about the honeymoon night of a pair of young newlyweds.
It's a novel about expectations, hopes, fears and humanity.
Mr. McEwan has enormous talent for revealing to readers the foundations of his characters' actions, thoughts and beliefs, all without the characters understanding these things themselves; and so, with an insight atypical to Real Life, the reader sees the potential for good and unfortunate outcomes based upon simple everyday actions, and cannot help but wait, captive, ...more
It's a novel about expectations, hopes, fears and humanity.
Mr. McEwan has enormous talent for revealing to readers the foundations of his characters' actions, thoughts and beliefs, all without the characters understanding these things themselves; and so, with an insight atypical to Real Life, the reader sees the potential for good and unfortunate outcomes based upon simple everyday actions, and cannot help but wait, captive, ...more
Fabulously written and exquisitely executed. This book is written by a true master of the narrative.
McEwan's characters are round and their thoughts and dialogue are so, so human you can't help but see yourself in them at times.
This story is evocative and profound. This story gave me outward reactions--not something I always do. But there I was on my sofa, cringing, sighing, clucking my tongue...it can't be helped!
You MUST read this book with someone. Discussion is simply the ONLY way to round ...more
McEwan's characters are round and their thoughts and dialogue are so, so human you can't help but see yourself in them at times.
This story is evocative and profound. This story gave me outward reactions--not something I always do. But there I was on my sofa, cringing, sighing, clucking my tongue...it can't be helped!
You MUST read this book with someone. Discussion is simply the ONLY way to round ...more
As to be expected, beautifully written, but huge cringe factor as you know where things are headed. You just want to grab the characters and say, "Snap out of it."
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Not for me. Beautifully written book that sounded like a thought experiment, defying common wisdom of sexuality with what might be called "lie back and think of England" world. Ultimately sad and not something I would recommend.
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a keenly observed short novel about tragic misunderstanding within a newlyweds' relationship during the early 1960s.
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This is one very sad story
Memorable.
Sep 01, 2008
Kat (A Journey In Reading)
marked it as to-read
Oct 14, 2013
Leanne Brown
marked it as to-read
