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cthedan 's review for:
The Sense of an Ending
by Julian Barnes
The movie based on this book was very bad, but I thought it might have been a ghost of the source material. No, the book might actually be worse (rarity).
This book is purportedly narrated by a man in his sixties reminiscing about his twenties. Actually, his small world view and expressive limitations have not developed at all since his youth. What passes for the narrator's wisdom is actually, oh how does Julian Barnes describe it, "transcribed from some corporate book of wit and wisdom." The entire book, every character, is like this!
Here are some more quotes from the book, with commentary.
"You might think this is rubbish--preachy, self-justificatory rubbish."
Yes, that's really a quote, and actually a great description of the book. Sometimes preachy rubbish can actually be well-constructed, but this isn't even that.
"Does character develop over time?"
Not in this book.
"But then I was never any good at maths."
Then don't 'write' characters who are supposed to be. Or at least do just a little research, please.
This book is purportedly narrated by a man in his sixties reminiscing about his twenties. Actually, his small world view and expressive limitations have not developed at all since his youth. What passes for the narrator's wisdom is actually, oh how does Julian Barnes describe it, "transcribed from some corporate book of wit and wisdom." The entire book, every character, is like this!
Here are some more quotes from the book, with commentary.
"You might think this is rubbish--preachy, self-justificatory rubbish."
Yes, that's really a quote, and actually a great description of the book. Sometimes preachy rubbish can actually be well-constructed, but this isn't even that.
"Does character develop over time?"
Not in this book.
"But then I was never any good at maths."
Then don't 'write' characters who are supposed to be. Or at least do just a little research, please.