The Only Story, by Julian Barnes - Starting August 3rd 2018

[Felicia]

Would you rather love the more, and suffer the more; or love the less, and suffer the less? That is, I think, finally, the only real question.

First love has lifelong consequences, but Paul doesn’t know anything about that at nineteen. At nineteen, he’s proud of the fact his relationship flies in the face of social convention.

As he grows older, the demands placed on Paul by love become far greater than he could possibly have foreseen.

Tender and profound, The Only Story is an achingly beautiful novel by one of fiction’s greatest mappers of the human heart.

[Charley Girl]

16% (view spoiler)[ Kids, they never do what you expect them to do! LOL. I'm trying to fathom what a 48 year old woman would see in a 19 year old boy and vice versa. Paul says that he and Susan are sort of on the same playing field because of their lack of experience but it seems that talking to each other would be odd...strained. I guess not (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

24% (view spoiler)[ I actually really like Paul and Susan. Like yes, she's cheating on her husband and he's literally a kid... but I don't know, it feels almost healthy... (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Charley Girl wrote: "16% [spoilers removed]" (view spoiler)[ I definitely thought I would be more uncomfortable. But I like their vibe. He's like an old soul and she's a young soul so maybe they merge somewhere in their mental 30s haha (hide spoiler)]

[Charley Girl]

Lane wrote: "Charley Girl wrote: "16% [spoilers removed]" [spoilers removed]"

I agree. For whatever reason they seem to be on the same page.

[Charley Girl]

39% (view spoiler)[ Well, now I really don't know what to think. Paul spends most of his time at Susan's house with her daughters and husband. LOL!

Paul spends a lot of time in the book repeating himself but he does state that this is his memory of the past and it doesn't go in chronological order.

Joan is awesome!

I've been thinking about my story....and I think people would raise their eyebrows at mine too! (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

End of Part 1 (view spoiler)[ I can't believe they actually ran off together! This is a deeper relationship than I anticipated. I'm surprised his parents and Gordon didn't freak out more this whole time, though I guess his mom kind of tried. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Charley Girl wrote: "39% "

Right! It's so nuts that he's always there and no one says anything!

[Charley Girl]

48% (view spoiler)[ So wait? What? The elephant man is beating people? That is not cool. No more rabbit teeth. That was scary.

I wonder what is going through Susan's daughter's minds. I don't know how I would have reacted if it were my mother. Hmmmm...maybe I'm much more judgmental than Paul and Susan.

I think it is funny that Paul continuously compares the Macleod household with his parent's household. I giggle every time. (hide spoiler)]

[Charley Girl]

63% (view spoiler)[ Now it is just getting ugly! Drinking, lying, pretending. I hope they fix it. I was really sad when Eric said she was watering down his whisky. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ Well I guess the complete falling apart of their relationship was inevitable. Paul doesn't really deserve putting up with any of this. He has so much life to live. This is a very interesting take on alcoholism though. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Charley Girl wrote: "63% [spoilers removed]"

Everyone saw the signs but him!

[Charley Girl]

Lane wrote: "Charley Girl wrote: "63% [spoilers removed]"

Everyone saw the signs but him!"

He has fallen into the spiral with her.

[Lane]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I really thought that was a healthy relationship in the beginning, but now Paul is completely unable to love and connect, and Susan completely deteriorated so....no. (hide spoiler)]

[Charley Girl]

Finished (view spoiler)[ What a disappointing love story. I wanted a happy ending. The thought that everyone is changed from their past relationships was a bit sad and the though that once you are all in it doesn't make it a happy relationship. Very sad love story. (hide spoiler)]