tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post379770654247585457..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: The Sense of an Ending - Julian BarnesStuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-13403972287629254492014-09-02T01:52:23.241+01:002014-09-02T01:52:23.241+01:00Isn't that the point? History is full of examp...Isn't that the point? History is full of examples of things that don't ring quite true. Isn't it the same with life? Haven't you ever listened to someone's story and wondered about the holes? The mystery? I thought the book was genius. It's so sad and introspective. I think that is what has caused the reaction on so many blogs; in attempting to understand the book, readers are in effect trying to rationalise their own life and their own experiences. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-49390071213130316522014-06-16T12:55:51.095+01:002014-06-16T12:55:51.095+01:00The writing is beautiful and easy to read. I found...The writing is beautiful and easy to read. I found myself re-reading the last 10 pages a few times to make sure I really grocked the ending which was not super straightforward. I highly recommend this well-written book with a very exciting and thought-provoking conclusion.Seattle Divorce Attorney websitehttp://www.seattledivorcelawyer.pronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-8631723284322114342014-05-10T14:40:43.083+01:002014-05-10T14:40:43.083+01:00The story's facade is simple, refined almost t...The story's facade is simple, refined almost to monotony and dependent on the revelation of a secret towards the ending. But what is hidden between the lines is far more chaotic—and likely to leave the reader anxious for days after finishing the book. I loved that the book made me really think about regret, and repentance. It also made me think about the idea that we are always dishonest narrators of our own lives. And the book was very disturbing that it made me think about how easy it is to think you are one kind of person, when you are actually not and how universal human frailty is.<br />The ending was excellent that it left me lost in the lines, sitting there, recollecting all the little pieces of story back together in my mind. And it left me chaotic and disturbed for days after finishing the book.Nehahttp://hindisms.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-87941824197870105102013-08-30T17:08:03.344+01:002013-08-30T17:08:03.344+01:00Finally my inability to read more than half a Juli...Finally my inability to read more than half a Julian Barnes novel bears fruit! CashFundhttp://www.cashfund.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-12777333562678001082012-12-10T22:39:29.922+00:002012-12-10T22:39:29.922+00:00Oh dear, I'm afraid all the details of this ha...Oh dear, I'm afraid all the details of this have gone from my mind!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-53684705678526806892012-12-10T21:23:31.404+00:002012-12-10T21:23:31.404+00:00Hi, just completed the book & I loved it! But,...Hi, just completed the book & I loved it! But,like Tony,I just don't get it:-) I.e who is the Adrian in care and the 'sister' Mary.help pls!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-43403763525935286512012-11-04T11:50:57.291+00:002012-11-04T11:50:57.291+00:00Sorry for all of you who didn't appreciate the...Sorry for all of you who didn't appreciate the book. As Veronica would say "you just don't get it" period.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-67092321216638252902012-06-29T22:39:01.483+01:002012-06-29T22:39:01.483+01:00I thought it was a great read with all the beautif...I thought it was a great read with all the beautiful references to time, our memories and especially our perceptions. I think the ending fits together nicely with the beginning of the book to close the circle and gives the reader the opportunity to contemplate about some of the earlier quotes and passages. <br />All in all, as I said, I thought it was a great read with a lot of small treasures in it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-49054307939270618582012-04-03T10:28:45.845+01:002012-04-03T10:28:45.845+01:00Here I am with my booksing gloves. I think the boo...Here I am with my booksing gloves. I think the book bears a heavy burden of a big prize and everyone judges it by 'is it the best book in 2011?' I like the publicity and debate big prizes bring but it is slightly odd to compare and reward pieces of art.<br /><br />I tried to approach it as any other book and I liked it. I think it is more about how we change throughout the life and end up as completely different person although memory and how we select what to forget is a motif as well. The form doesn't bother me and I found the length of the book just right to tell what author wanted to tell. You can call it novella or a long 'short story' but that would not make it better or worse from my perspective.<br /><br />I think opinions vary because of the expectations readers have when they start reading. Too big expectations or a negative approach from start often produce bad reading experience. You also balance it by saying that some people may enjoy it and it is exactly like that. I enjoyed it and after finishing the book thought about my life and my memories (can’t remember more details now…;-) )CuriousBookFanhttp://www.curiousbookfans.co.uk/2011/fiction-books/8039/julian-barnes-the-sense-of-an-ending#contentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-57944893755499471052012-02-11T23:58:19.490+00:002012-02-11T23:58:19.490+00:00Make sure you do that! ;) I'm always up for a ...Make sure you do that! ;) I'm always up for a book fight... I certainly had one with this book at my book group... it brought out fairly wide-ranging opinions!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-33625668847814804492012-02-11T18:10:08.726+00:002012-02-11T18:10:08.726+00:00Hi, apologies. Didn't want to be rude. I didn&...Hi, apologies. Didn't want to be rude. I didn't read the book (we have few reviewers on the site) so I was not able to give my own opinion but only offer a link to Ian's review. It is on my TBR list so will come back soon and then we can have a proper 'fight'... ;)CuriousBookFanhttp://www.curiousbookfans.co.uk/2011/fiction-books/8039/julian-barnes-the-sense-of-an-ending#contentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-78257856599757705742012-02-09T09:49:33.604+00:002012-02-09T09:49:33.604+00:00People at book group kept saying the writing was b...People at book group kept saying the writing was beautiful, and I just didn't see it... it was simple, but I never 'got' the sort of beauty in simplicity that some writers have. Hmm. But might well try him again, one day.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-82732043066432204872012-02-09T09:47:15.755+00:002012-02-09T09:47:15.755+00:00Just that they're both Jacobean playwrights......Just that they're both Jacobean playwrights...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-78417928861271538752012-02-09T09:30:21.413+00:002012-02-09T09:30:21.413+00:00So glad you liked it! I agree with your assessmen...So glad you liked it! I agree with your assessment completely. I definitely recommend the only other Maxwell title I've read - They Came Like Swallows.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-10834724085123319862012-02-09T09:29:33.547+00:002012-02-09T09:29:33.547+00:00I'm surprised I mustered up enough to write a ...I'm surprised I mustered up enough to write a whole review, really...! Although I've got to say, if this was the most literary on the list, I feel sorry for the others...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-54501930468408368572012-02-09T09:28:06.888+00:002012-02-09T09:28:06.888+00:00Thanks so much for this link, Dan - I enjoy readin...Thanks so much for this link, Dan - I enjoy reading hatchet reviews (although the Barnes wasn't particularly hatchetty - as you say, he said it was average, which isn't quite the same thing, is it?)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-23954114263988096202012-02-09T09:27:20.382+00:002012-02-09T09:27:20.382+00:00I am a bit surprised that you didn't like So L...I am a bit surprised that you didn't like So Long, See You Tomorrow (although I agree that it's nowhere near as good as Gilead) - the only other Maxwell I've finished, They Came Like Swallows, was better, thought I.<br /><br />And, no, I think you can safely stay away from Barnes!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-67194882599518616332012-02-09T09:26:32.305+00:002012-02-09T09:26:32.305+00:00Oh, do, and I'd love to hear your thoughts!Oh, do, and I'd love to hear your thoughts!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-36365044299072341672012-02-09T09:26:13.850+00:002012-02-09T09:26:13.850+00:00Haha! Well, keep it one side for a later date, pe...Haha! Well, keep it one side for a later date, perhaps... my copy has already been given away.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-2017827797205247742012-02-09T09:25:01.783+00:002012-02-09T09:25:01.783+00:00I did see how many comments you had on that review...I did see how many comments you had on that review - astonishing numbers! Our book group discussion on this was quite animated, mostly because two people found it hilarious (which was bizarre to me) and the rest of us didn't... I thought it would be difficult to argue about a book I thought average, but I managed it ;)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-3563998012718899402012-02-09T00:22:19.935+00:002012-02-09T00:22:19.935+00:00I wasn’t a big fan of this book. As ever with Jul...I wasn’t a big fan of this book. As ever with Julian Barnes, a lot of the writing and use of language is absolutely exquisite. I normally love his stuff. However, with this one I really struggled with the plot - maybe outright plot-holes, or, at least, an awful lot of things just didn’t ring true for me. Short doesn’t necessarily mean slight and lacking depth, but it did here, in my opinion. Still a big fan of his in general though.Jim at 366bookshttp://366days366books.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5559405843552946392012-02-08T21:10:16.169+00:002012-02-08T21:10:16.169+00:00I'm a bear (cat, physicist) of little brain, b...I'm a bear (cat, physicist) of little brain, but I'm not unhappy to admit that no I don't "geddit" ! Please enlighten me?Dark Pusshttp://morganas-cat.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-43202993596480154502012-02-08T20:15:05.235+00:002012-02-08T20:15:05.235+00:00Haven't read this book but I read 'So Long...Haven't read this book but I read 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' on your recommendation and subsequently came across it in a secondhand bookshop. I thought it was an absolute gem: restrained, enlightening, truthful, authentically ambiguous with stunning prose. Oh, to be able to write like this. I will search out other Maxwell titles now; thank you for this recommendation.Hilsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-87966563768882864912012-02-08T19:59:29.920+00:002012-02-08T19:59:29.920+00:00I really liked this novel, great post!I really liked this novel, great post!Mikehttp://www.edgarwallace.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-22525677777115697622012-02-08T16:50:54.922+00:002012-02-08T16:50:54.922+00:00Glad you liked it! I'd love to know your thou...Glad you liked it! I'd love to know your thoughts on the Maxwell, when you get around to reading it. I wonder if it'll change your view on the Barnes!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.com