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A review by strawberrymivvy
The Only Story by Julian Barnes
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A difficult novel to describe, this story of Paul's one love, his "only story", is told in each part in a different voice - first, second and third person.
Paul is a young man, home for the summer, who embarks on a decades long relationship with a much older woman, and that love affair defines the rest of his life.
The story is told in short paragraphs and in no apparent logical order, with occasional "spoilers" and a definite weaving backwards and forwards in time and memory. It is a story of memory, of love, but of all kinds of love including friendship and parental love.
There is also a lot of sadness, a sense reading the novel that Paul missed out on so much by becoming entwined with Susan at such a young age, not least when she descends into alcoholism.
Beautifully written, Barnes has an incredible way with language and on several occasions I wanted to stop and record particular paragraphs or send them to friends.
Paul is a young man, home for the summer, who embarks on a decades long relationship with a much older woman, and that love affair defines the rest of his life.
The story is told in short paragraphs and in no apparent logical order, with occasional "spoilers" and a definite weaving backwards and forwards in time and memory. It is a story of memory, of love, but of all kinds of love including friendship and parental love.
There is also a lot of sadness, a sense reading the novel that Paul missed out on so much by becoming entwined with Susan at such a young age, not least when she descends into alcoholism.
Beautifully written, Barnes has an incredible way with language and on several occasions I wanted to stop and record particular paragraphs or send them to friends.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism