A review by kaph
The Only Story by Julian Barnes

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

started out a little bit weird, but oh boy.
tender, captivating, heartbreaking. but also lucid, cynical, phylosophical. a thorough description of love, the most complete I've found to date. could make it into the notebook of casey paul. I liked the switch from first person (=protagonism, lively) to second person (=a bit more detached, dramatic, powerful) to third person (=cynical, logical, rational). Again the theme of memories and human tropes and what is, if it exists, the truth about people and relationships. feels old but also modern.