...inevitable task that lies ahead on their wedding night in July 1962. They know what is expected, but not how it will happen. Florence has bought a manual to explain everything, but it's only served to further repulse her. Being the early sixties, no one talks about sex and the couple is unable to be open with each other. Florence is deeply in love with Edward and wants to please him, but the idea of consummating their marriage sickens her.
Florence ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: beautifully written, moving, convincing, Disadvantages: too many flashbacks, lack of perception in the male character,
...have such a devastating effect on their marriage.
It left me wondering about this for a long time and that I feel this is the best possible accolade for a fine book. ...
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Advantages: a fairly interesting conceit Disadvantages: boring
...wrong. And so it goes on and on and on...until the marriage which was never consumed is instantly over.
Of course, even in the most sexually permissive era, there will be shy people, who have somehow never had the means or opportunity to become deflowered, but if this was such a massive stumbling block to sexual success, many of us would never now have been born. Our parents managed somehow and I know nobody who would consider a marriage over, simply ...
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25.10.2007
Quick review of On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan Review ofOn Chesil Beach - Ian McEwanby
janeite
McEwan is a master storyteller and he doesn't often disappoint but I did feel this this was less ambitious than his other works. Subtle it may be, but its brevity and the limiting ending makes it less enduring than his other novels. Part of the issue is its small scope - whilst this is a hugely interesting character study, it felt claustrophobic. I did like the way it dealt with the interesting issue of sexual desire, and there is something quite brave about a novel which explores sex from two sides - as something negative and depraved, as well as something natural and exciting. I did feel for the characters, both of them, but I can't help wishing the ending had been a little darker.
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07.07.2008
Quick review of On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan Review ofOn Chesil Beach - Ian McEwanby
jenerationx
i was expecting something with as much vigor and captivating as atonement but, this novel was left me hanging on a wim. maybe i just had higher expectations for it. it was written well, and had a nice plot that gradually built up....but then it dissolved, and it felt like everything went down hill from there. that could have been the point, i guess this just wasn't my style, as in mcewan's previous novel.
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Advantages: it was light reading Disadvantages: a little tediuos and pretentious
...novel progresses. The story focuses on one night, the night of a young couple's wedding and we learn of their worries and apprehension before the consumation of their marriage. I ended up wishing that they would just get on with it and finally grew bored of the characters. In my opinion this book was attempting to be intellectual and in doing so it lost it's purpose. ...
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