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.
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Readers say they generally find Julian Barnes's 'The Sense of an Ending' well-written, thought-provoking, and engaging, with a compelling exploration ...
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!
The less you know of this story before you read it, the better. Our narrator is Tony Webster, a retired middle-aged divorcee living alone who remembers his four childhood friends, friends who swore to stay friends for life. Despite the less than eventful school years, a poignant moment sticks with Tony when he hears of another boy at the school who hung himself after getting a girl pregnant. When the four friends attend different universities at the end of school, their close friendship wanes.. until a lawyer's letter addressed to Tony turns up and he starts to question his childhood memories. A phenomenal short read where not everything is as it seems.
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