On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan (2007) – Shortlisted for Man Booker prize 2007
I acknowledge that I am a McEwan fan, Atonement is one of my favorite novels, I have read First Love, Last Rites, Enduring Love, Amsterdam and Saturday and enjoyed them all.
I am not sure that I can entirely explain what it is about McEwans writing that speaks to me. I think some of it has to do with his very Englishness. I love a novel that transports me so clearly to an English landscape. His prose is very beautiful and precise. He has a scientific bent, I appreciated all the neurobiology details in Saturday and there is a lot of well researched scientific detail in Enduring Love. All this only partially explains my attraction to McEwans writing..
On Chesil Beach does not disappoint. I think it is a perfectly crafted miniature artwork. There was a lot of discussion around the length of this book – but to me that is irrelevant, it is the ideal length for the story it contains. McEwan uses his words wisely and I appreciate that.
This story is a very sad love story, about Edward and Florence and their inability to consummate their marriage. It is frustrating to see these characters struggle to communicate their feelings. They are a product of their 1940s upbringing and to a certain extent their English sense of reserve and propriety.
“ …Edward had been mesmerized by the prospect that on the evening of a given date in July the most sensitive portion of himself would reside, however briefly, within a naturally formed cavity inside this cheerful, pretty, formidably intelligent woman. How this was to be achieved without absurdity, or disappointment, troubled him….” As indeed the mechanical details will trouble the reader for several uncomfortable but beautifully written pages. Once again the sense of place and time is central to understanding this novel, ” The Pill was a rumour in the newspapers, a ridiculous promise, another of those tall tales about America. The Blues he heard at the Hundred club suggested that all around him just out of sight, men of his age were leading explosive, untiring sex lives, rich with gratifications of every kind. Pop music was bland, still coy on the matter, films were a little more explicit, but in Edwards circle the men had to be content with telling dirty jokes, uneasy sexual boasting and boisterous camaraderie driven by furious drinking, which reduced further their chances of meeting a girl.” Beautiful and heartbreaking. A well deserved Booker shortlisted novel.. 4.5 starsI am always about a year behind in my reviews of prize winning novels, so there are probably heaps of blog reviews of this book – here are a couple I admire, ( well the writing at least if not the opinion….)
First Tuesday Bookclub Transcript To quote host Jennifer Byrne – the book is about “The missed moment, the one thing that destroys everything..” which I think is very true. The scene on the beach at the end is the defining moment of the novel.
Next Up : Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
Trevor Berrett said,
July 15, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I also really liked this book, though I had a problem with the seemingly rushed ending. After spending so much time with intricate details of every action, the ending was such a contrast – but I see what McEwan was doing. Of last year’s shortlist, this was the one I considered to be the most well written.
By the way, I look forward to your remarks on Unaccustomed Earth. I haven’t read it yet, but really like Lahiri.
Also, thanks for your comments on my blog. It’s great to have some interaction!
kelskels said,
July 15, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I LOVED this book.
I am also a huge McEwan fan. I’d highly recommend McEwan’s The Daydreamer next. It’s such a nice read, very McEwan, and it speaks to everyone’s fantastic imagination.
Literate Housewife said,
July 16, 2008 at 1:47 am
I need to read at least one of his books. I have Atonement, so I’ll probably start with that. Thanks for the wonderful recommendation!
redheadrambles said,
July 16, 2008 at 8:50 am
Trevor – Thanks for your comments too. What was your pick out of the 2007 shortlist? I have read Mr Pip and the Reluctant Fundamentalist – out of which I would select Mr Pip – only partially because he is a New Zealand author !
Keiskels – I didn’t realize McEwan had written a childrens book -but I checked it out and it does look good – thanks
L.H – Yep, start with the masterpiece – Atonement
Trevor Berrett said,
July 16, 2008 at 11:14 am
Readhead – my overall experience with last year’s shortlist was not that great, though I haven’t read Animal’s People or Darkmans. I really did not like The Gathering on any level. On Chesil Beach was wonderfully written but felt too rushed at the end (yep, I’m on that train). Mr. Pip and The Reluctant Fundamentalist I read straight through, absolutely bolted to my seat, but in the end I wasn’t sure either of them paid off. I think if I were choosing I would have gone with The Reluctant Fundamentalist, but my office window looks across the street to the WTC site, and other parts of this novel spoke to me. It was a great novel about identity as much as about terror. Still, compared with winners (and shortlists) of the past, I didn’t quite feel any of them quite fulfilled me as much as I hoped. I can’t wait for this year’s!
redheadrambles said,
July 16, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Umm I have yet to do my due diligence on the 2007 shortlist, meaning I have yet to read The Gathering – but based on reviews I am not that thrilled. Some of the longlisted books appeal to me, particularly The Welsh girl and The Gift of Rain.
Yep, I am excited about the 2008 list too, not sure how many I will be able to read..
Stewart said,
July 17, 2008 at 11:20 pm
You know, I was also in the camp that thought On Chesil Beach felt a bit rushed. But, thinking about it now, I wonder if this was a deliberate attempt by McEwan to mirror a certain act – namely the story no longer able to contain itself and making that final lunge to conclusion.
Trevor Berrett said,
July 19, 2008 at 5:00 am
I hadn’t considered that perspective, Stewart. Hmmmm.