On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

book_reader · Post by **book_reader** » 06 Feb 2008, 01:25

A 2007 Booker shortlist, more of a novella than a novel and an enjoyable read. This was my first McEwan and I liked it. Though not one of my favorite books, I liked the book enough to pick another McEwan. I am thinking Atonement.

Excerpt from my review:

On Chesil Beach is about Florence and Edward, the newly weds who decide to go to Chesil Beach for their honeymoon. The book opens with the two of them sitting uncomfortably in their honeymoon suite and wishing that the dreadful moment of their marriage consummation never occurs. Florence thinks she is ‘odd’ because she has never felt the physical urge and she finds the very thought of it repulsive. She is a virgin, of course, and is not really looking forward to that moment when she has to give it up.

Edward, on the other hand, is perfectly normal and fantasizes about it and looks forward to it. His worry is that he might act too quickly and thus spoil his bride’s fun. The author captures this tense moment beautifully and the reader really wishes that the dreaded moment never occurs.

This is a nice, little book, little being the key word here. Give it a try. If you like it, well and good. Even if you don’t, you don’t have to worry too much about it, because you won’t spend so much time reading it.

BTW, the last two paragraphs of my review contain spoilers.

BlackVeil · Post by **BlackVeil** » 06 Feb 2008, 07:23

I should like to read it - the era in which it is set - the transition from the 1950s to the 60s - is of interest. A real turn in history.

blushingmilk · Post by **blushingmilk** » 06 Feb 2008, 20:15

Ive been wanting to read this for ages, it seems.

book_reader · Post by **book_reader** » 07 Feb 2008, 03:25

blushingmilk wrote:Ive been wanting to read this for ages, it seems.

Do pick it up. It's a very small book and it will be over in no time. I finished it in like a few hours.

bookerprizewinner · Post by **bookerprizewinner** » 06 Apr 2008, 15:34

Better than atonement!...and that's saying a lot!

book_reader · Post by **book_reader** » 07 Apr 2008, 04:27

bookerprizewinner wrote:Better than atonement!...and that's saying a lot!

Really? I heard the exact opposite. Ok, now, am I getting confused with Amsterdam?

I heard that "Chesil" is better than the book which didn't win Booker and is worse than the book which won the Booker.

Which one win and which one didn't?

Rach · Post by **Rach** » 08 May 2008, 18:43

I read this book as it was part of the Man Booker Short List. There was a lot of debate about it at the time, mostly due to its size, but also that it was felt that it was chosen because of its author rather than the quality of the book.

Personally I haven't read another Ian McEwan as yet, but I would like to, because he is an amazing writer. At the time I read it, I wrote a short review:

This is a beautiful book, it is deep and powerful, full of emotion and pin pointing the importance of a single moment. It explores the journey to one choice, on which the whole future of the two main characters rests and how they choose to deal with their feelings, desires, wants, needs and the sense of duty they feel.

The story is wonderfully written, it is poignant and beautifully captures England in the sixties, the description of the beach, the hotel, the setting place you there, looking uncomfortably in on their world as they struggle with their first wedding night. I also admire the subject for this book, dealing so openly and honestly with the competing emotions of the two characters.

My partner also read the book after I did and we'd discussed it a bit before doing so. He then wrote his review:

From our conversations I was expecting to find it rich but only distantly engaging - like a beautiful old vase viewed through an antique store window. Actually I was very emotionally engaged by it, I really felt for the characters, and how their internal worlds were so different, unbeknownst to each of them. And how misinterpreted or unspoken actions or words, or choices made in one brief moment, can forever change the course of a life. Very poignant. It actually really did get to me, maybe coming hot on the heels of having been deeply wrenched by Mister Pip and having recently waded through an entertaining but non emotionally engaging Darkmans!