On Chesil Beach- Ian McEwan

[kelby_lake]

A couple in the 60's fear the obligations of their wedding night.

Part 5 of the book is very good, when it all makes sense and comes together. Suddenly realising the theme- that Edward studies History and has a very outdated view of marriage, whereas Florence who likes classical 'old' music has a suprisingly modern view- means the novel has a great impact, but it is an impact in the sense that regret of anything is poignant.

This would work well as a short story, or a novella of about 100 pages, but McEwan's prose style is very purple-prosy, very conscious of itself, so when you're 100 pages in, you still feel that nothing has really happened and that you were given a pebble- shiny, pretty in a strange way, but ultimately nothing. He also likes to indulge in Chatterley-esque descriptions, but without the impact.

If someone else had written the first four parts and left McEwan with the last, I'd have rated this much higher, but unfortunately I have to be honest and for the most part it was dull and could have done with 70% of the words cut out.

[Night_Lamp]

Great novel. I liked this as much, or more, than Atonement. Its very well written and I like the way it ends; rather than the happily-ever-after ending.

[kelby_lake]

Yes but the characters are so boring!

[mal4mac]

I think McEwan is one of the best of the modern Brits, but this had a very limited plot, unlike Atonement. Then again Atonement seemed a bit "dragged out", while "Chesil" was just about the right length. "Saturday" is my favourite by him - not dragged out & an interesting, varied plot. The only one I would re-read.

[kelby_lake]

The only bit I found boring in Atonement was Robbie at war.

The plot was 'Bad sex ruins a marriage because there was no education on such issues in the 60's and it ruined everyone's life and it was a boring time to live in.'

[Night_Lamp]

I think what McEwan is trying to imply in the novel is, that at least in Britain- because American culture was so different at this point- that there was a kind of second 'lost generation' between the late 1940s and the beginning of the sexual and social revolution of the mid 1960s. The two characters could easily have been set in 1911 than 1961.

[kelby_lake]

I think what McEwan is trying to imply in the novel is, that at least in Britain- because American culture was so different at this point- that there was a kind of second 'lost generation' between the late 1940s and the beginning of the sexual and social revolution of the mid 1960s. The two characters could easily have been set in 1911 than 1961.

That becomes apparent near the end- hence the old-fashioned names- but it's still ridiculous

[victorianfan]

I heard of Ian McEwan few years ago when Atonement (the movie) came up. I didn’t like it. Nevertheless, I presumed the book could be better, maybe. I forgot about it altogether until recently when discussion about Ian McEwan started going on in my circle of friends. Since I couldn’t borrow Atonement from a library, right away, I chose On Chesil Beach instead.

The first thing, which bothers me in this novel is, that I’m still not sure whether Florence was asexual, frigid or simply shy. Her life story (parents, childhood, etc.) doesn’t give much information about what exactly conditioned her to react like that. Except, of course, the time in which she lived. However, somehow that isn’t enough for me.

Secondly, in the novel, much space is used for their “bed struggle” and not what came after it, as if the writer wanted to finish the novel quickly.

Thirdly, I didn’t like McEwan’s “attitude” towards Edward, as if he’s to be blame for all. In my opinion, Florence is such a goose; a spoiled brat. On the contrary, I quite sympathize with Edward. Poor guy!

I don’t see it as a great love story, as some critics suggest. It’s more of a great misunderstanding. I don’t really know why this novel is so praised. It’s quite average, actually.

[TheBearJew]

I am not a huge Ian McEwan fan, as I generally find his writing to be a tad slow, however much I respect his masterful use of language. This was a powerfully delicate piece, but not very satisfying. Like most of McEwan's work; beautifully written, meticulously worded, but in the end, not very filling.

[kelby_lake]

I don’t see it as a great love story, as some critics suggest. It’s more of a great misunderstanding. I don’t really know why this novel is so praised. It’s quite average, actually.

McEwan tries to pull off the bed scene as if it was some tragic misunderstanding and they were born into the wrong period like in West Side Story. However because the characters aren't developed properly, it merely comes off as amusing.

Though we must applaud its cultural influence- it was used as a joke on Peep Show.

Oh dear! I've just seen on imdb and wikipedia that McEwan wants to turn On Chesil Beach into a film!

[LitNetIsGreat]

Read this yesterday on the train and quite enjoyed it I must say. I agree that the end it seem a bit rushed, but I enjoyed his prose style and the characterisation. Not a first rate novel but pretty good all the same.

[kelby_lake]

Apparantly Florence was abused but the writing was so dull and verbose that I missed that. That would have made it make a lot more sense but even then, what was McEwan's point? That Edward was stupid?

[LitNetIsGreat]

It would make some sort of sense that she was abused, I didn't catch that though so I'll have to look for that, if I fancy to - I wonder if that is an assumption or a fact? I didn't find the writing boring, in fact quite the opposite, his prose at time is wonderful, almost top drawer stuff - though he doesn't sustain that level all the time for me certainly.

I don't know what the point was, or if it even has to have one. I just took it to be a story of a relationship gone wrong; a sort of scene or event that one looks back upon and wonders "what if"? I suspect that almost all of us has done that to a greater or lesser extent to some degree.

I think it unfair to blame either party for error, it was just one of those things, one of those mistakes that people make in life because they are human. I felt it was quite touching in places.

[kelby_lake]

It would have worked as a short story but it was really just a concept forced over too many pages for what it was.

The abused thing...apparantly in an interview McEwan said that Florence was abused by her father and I vaguely recall some sort of female Oedipal comment by her but still...

[LitNetIsGreat]

It would have worked as a short story but it was really just a concept forced over too many pages for what it was.

The abused thing...apparantly in an interview McEwan said that Florence was abused by her father and I vaguely recall some sort of female Oedipal comment by her but still...

Possibly better suited to a short story yes, it might have worked better, that or build something more into it to develop it as a novella a little more or something, but it sit worked for me.

OK, so McEwan said so in an interview, but if is not in the text then we don't have to go by that. However, it would make sense for sure.