The Sense of an Ending
BOOKER PRIZE WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A novel that follows a middle-aged man as he contends with a past he never much thought about—until his closest childhood friends return with a vengeance: one of them from the grave, another maddeningly present.
A novel so compelling that it begs to be read in a single setting, The Sense of an Ending has the psychological and emotional depth and sophistication of Henry James at his best, and is a stunning achievement in Julian Barnes's oeuvre.
Tony Webster thought he left his past behind as he built a life for himself, and his career has provided him with a secure retirement and an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, who now has a family of her own. But when he is presented with a mysterious legacy, he is forced to revise his estimation of his own nature and place in the world.
A novel so compelling that it begs to be read in a single setting, The Sense of an Ending has the psychological and emotional depth and sophistication of Henry James at his best, and is a stunning achievement in Julian Barnes's oeuvre.
Tony Webster thought he left his past behind as he built a life for himself, and his career has provided him with a secure retirement and an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, who now has a family of her own. But when he is presented with a mysterious legacy, he is forced to revise his estimation of his own nature and place in the world.
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Community Reviews
I had previously ready "Flaubert 's Parrot" by Barnes and forgot how witty, brilliant and captivating it was (he really is a most excellent writer!). This book brought me back to that enjoyable reading experience - this story is clever, thought-provoking - with beautifully spun prose...a great start to my 2025 reading list!
Most baffling Booker prize book I've yet read. Hated everyone in it, except maybe his poor ex-wife (god only knows what the woman had to endure, married to that.) Barely a semblance of a plot. Very little to say. Why does this book exist?
Such a slim volume, such a struggle to get through it.
Such a slim volume, such a struggle to get through it.
A short book and a quick read that stayed with me for a while after I put it down. It's about the past and our memories of that past and how different the two can be. Definitely worth a read.
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