I finished The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes on Monday. I had the day off, which I enjoyed gratefully, and read the last half or so sitting at my desk with all my papers, pens, mugs and other books strewn around as if I were the live participant in a vertical live burial.
Right after I finished I was so befuddled, I sat pressing my eyebrows with my fingertips, wondering if what I thought just happened happened, and came to the inescapable conclusion that it did. It was one of the most affecting reading experiences -story-wise- that I've had in a hugely long time.
One thing that makes The Sense of an Ending so effective is the easy pacing and sympathetic narrator.
You're ill-prepared for the shock.
My daughter walked in to my room right as I had accepted the hypothesis, and said something mundane like, 'I need some money,' then stopped and said, 'What's wrong with you?'
I made a sweeping gesture towards the bed, where the book lay.
'Oh my god,' I explained.
I know there is another very plausible theory about the plot of this book, but I'm not buying it.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Exactly how I felt at the finale to Part IV
of "Downton Abbey".
Guess I'll have to read your book now.
johanna
like this. i know that sweeping gesture.
Oh, geez. Now I have to read it! You made me laugh. And, of course, sympathize.
Terrific blog post. I'm going to have to read the book now although I'm not entirely sure I want the experience of being a live participant in a vertical live burial. The only book that has similarly seized hold of my imagination recently was 'As Meat loves Salt' by Maria McCann but that was more of a 'read it and weep' than being buried alive.
The vertical burial wasn't directly related to the book! Was very good, this book.
It is an excellent book. I was also almost left gasping.
Good to see your blog after a long while Sarah
Post a Comment