Alice D. (writereditor) reviewed The Sense of an Ending (Vintage International) on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Read this for my book club and it sparked a lot of discussion. While some (like me) really liked it, others did not, but that didn't diminish the discussion. Isn't that what good literature does....evoke a variety of responses and opinions. This book while short in length and compact in story is full of ideas that deserve discussing.
Helpful Score: 2
A fast, suspenseful read with involving characters that comes together in the last couple of pages. Highly recommended.
Esther F. (txreader361) reviewed The Sense of an Ending (Vintage International) on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
My bookclub read this book, and it was interesting to see all the theories and speculation about the characters' motivations that were expressed in the discussion. It can be read in one sitting, but it feels as if you've read a much longer book due to its depth. To me it's like an older person's Catcher in the Rye. I liked it!
Tiffany K. (tiffanyak) -
Helpful Score: 1
This is a difficult book to describe, as I did not like it so much as I respected it. That is to say, the writing and message appealed to me, even as the story was certainly not one that I loved. Basically, it is all about how our memory and the truth of things do not necessarily agree with each other. It is a compelling and honest message, buoyed by strong writing skill, which effectively carried me through to the end even as parts fell a bit flat to me. The main issue is, I suppose, the lack of likability on the part of any of the characters within the narrative. That may not bother you, but I was left wanting to yell at the primary narrator that he was not as great of a guy as he thinks, and the only real redemption granted the reader is that the guy does at least somewhat realize it in the end. If that sounds okay to you, then it's worth checking out.
Christine D. (christylisty) -
Helpful Score: 1
The Sense of an Ending is about the harsh passions of youth and the fog of memory with age. It describes like no other book I have ever read how our memories become wisps of detail, some meaningful and some merely sensory impressions. I read the book in a single sitting, aching, like its protagonist, to resolve the misidentified clues to his life. This book is also profoundly sad. Many people of a certain age will identify with the protagonist's dissatisfaction with having lived an average life. While those who are older will identify with Julian Barnes' masterpiece, it is a book that every young person should read to better understand anger, passions, loss, redemption, and what lies ahead. This book won the Man Booker Prize for very good reasons: beautiful writing, a deep understanding of human nature, and philosophical prowess. It will resonate with readers, philosophers, Dvorak lovers, and those who remember the Moody Blues.
