The Sense of an Ending in Reading 1001

Sep 25, 2012 Kristel rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books, 1001-challenge, british-literature, booker-prize

The book is about Tony Webster who is a divorced, father of one adult daughter and one grandchild who having sought to live in peace is now seeking to make sense of his life. The title The Sense of An Ending is borrowed from Frank Kermode’s book, published in 1967 subtitled Studies in the Theory of Fiction, the stated aim of which is "making sense of the ways we try to make sense of our lives". The book is two parts, in part 1, Tony is reflecting back to 1960s and his four school friends and the The book is about Tony Webster who is a divorced, father of one adult daughter and one grandchild who having sought to live in peace is now seeking to make sense of his life. The title The Sense of An Ending is borrowed from Frank Kermode’s book, published in 1967 subtitled Studies in the Theory of Fiction, the stated aim of which is "making sense of the ways we try to make sense of our lives". The book is two parts, in part 1, Tony is reflecting back to 1960s and his four school friends and then they are divided as they head off to college. Tony has his first serious girlfriend, Veronica but things don’t go so well, they break up and that is the end. Later his best friend, dates Veronica. Tony marries Margaret, they have Susie and later divorce. Tony is now retired, divorced and a grandfather. The second part, Tony receives a sum of money in the estate of Mrs Ford. Mrs Ford was Veronica’s mother, this triggers Tony to begin to think about the past. He remembers things he hadn’t remembered for years and there is much he doesn’t know. In fact, Tony “just doesn’t get it”. The short little book is about life, death, aging and it is also how little things that don’t seem so large at the time can have big consequences. The book is also about memory and time. The book won the 2011 Man Booker. The two parts, both narrated by Tony with the first part, the imperfect memory of events as Tony has chosen to remember them and then Part 2 where Tony begins to see what he has chosen to not remember and how badly he has acted. This structure lends originality to the story. There are only Veronica and Tony in which there is much character development and mostly Tony. The other characters are only known as they have interlaced with Tony. None of the characters are particularly likeable. I did not like Veronica. Tony was okay and until he got to know him better. I liked his friend Adrian but we only know a little about him. Reviews have mentioned that this brief story uses languages with impact. There is tension and mystery. The reader is not sure why Veronica behaves in such an angry manner. I like reading books about aging and the aged. I compared this at times to Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout but don’t ask me how or why but maybe its just the inner narrative of older people. Its pretty philosophical and reading it again would be worthwhile. I wasn’t able to read it in one setting but it is a book that is made to be read from start to finish. ...more

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Feb 21, 2012 ms.petra added it

got half way through and had to return to the library... I am just really bad... it was only like 200 pages... lol sports really interfere with my reading!

I checked this out and reread the entire book. I like authors that are spare with their words and yet pack a powerful punch... A good book doesn't have to be 1000 pages! This will make you think about how you perceive your own past and decisions you have made. I don't have the exact quote from Tony, but something like when we are young we drea ...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

I won’t describe the story in detail, for fear of spoiling it. What I will say is that this is a brilliant book and well worth reading. It is brief enough to be read in one or two sittings. Barnes’ writing style reminds me of Ian McEwan, and there are some passages that are so enjoyable that I look forward to re-reading this novella again.

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May 06, 2014 Karen rated it really liked it

4 1/2 stars actually. I reserve 5 stars for books like Bleak House, War and Peace, Sense and Sensibility and Lord of the Rings. I have several books by Julian Barnes, but this is the first one I've read. A short book that is very thought provoking. Barnes takes a look at what words and actions can have long after they are done. ...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Janet rated it really liked it

While this is not an unusual plot, the story is enjoyable. Tony and his friends are very realistic characters. Veronica is extremely egotistical and especially annoying. Julian Barnes' prose, the best ingredient of the book, is lovely. ...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Nanosynergy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, reviewed, booker-prize, british, fiction-2000-2019, postmodern-lit, 2013read, aging

Good, but depressing. Well written look at a group of vacuous, largely self-centered individuals who exacerbate interpersonal issues with poor to non-existent efforts to communicate openly with one another. An interesting look at how, as we age, we each remember the events (history) of our lives--what we choose to forget, how we edit/revise what we remember, triggers that cause us to remember those forgotten memories, and how the perspectives of others alter how we view our personal histories an ...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Dree rated it it was ok

Shelves: england-uk-ireland, 1001-read, booker-long-short, 2012-reads

Old man, divorced and content, reminisces about his schoolboy days. A lot. An inheritance puts him in touch with an ex-girlfriend. They meet. He still doesn't really "get" her. More thinking, more reminiscences, he realizes his life choices have always been "safe" and "right". And, apparently, will continue to be so.

Everything that happens happens in the past.

B O R I N G. Put me to sleep on multiple nights. Thank goodness it was short. ...more

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