On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

[Janet]

On Chesil Beach on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chesil-Beach-Ian-McEwan/dp/0224081187/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199264586&sr=8-1)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/Bagpuss/Bagpuss_Books%202008/001-2008-Jan-02-OnChesilBeach.jpg

The ‘blurb’
It is July 1962. Edward and Florence, young innocents married that morning, arrive at a hotel on the Dorset coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their private fears of the wedding night to come…

This is a very gentle story of two people and their first sexual experience. For those of us who grew up in more liberal times, it’s rather hard to imagine a time where people didn’t discuss their feelings, fears, wants etc before embarking on the lifetime commitment of marriage.

Edward shows a complete lack of compassion and understanding towards his new wife. She is terrified of having sex for the first time - he can think of nothing else. If he’d talked to her about her worries and been patient then it’s likely they’d have overcome these fears and worked things out. As it was, he was rather gutless in letting her walk away - he was thinking only of his needs and not considering hers.

I can’t say it was the most exciting book that I’ve ever read, and on that basis I wouldn’t say to anyone that it is a book they must read but I think the word ‘quaint’ sums this book up nicely and on that basis, I enjoyed it!

The paperback is 166 pages long and is published by Vintage Books. The ISBN number is 978-0099512790.

6½/10
(Read January 2008)

[The Library Nook]

I do like Ian McEwan and have been eyeing this one up in Smiths, I might have to give it a go!

[Janet]

It was half price in WHS when I bought it on Saturday. :)

[The Library Nook]

lol thats what had been tempting me:)

It was half price in WHS when I bought it on Saturday. :)

[Gyre]

I saw this in Asda the other day and I was going to buy it, but Mr Gyre was there moaning about the trolley so I forgot to pick it up.

I will give it a go. x

[skysky69]

I had seen this advertised and made a bee line to buy it but when I saw it, I was disappointed at how thin it was so decided against it at the time.I feel robbed unless I get 300 pages for my money :lol:

[Janet]

LOL - I know what you mean! I quite like a slim book sometimes though as I feel proud of myself when it doesn't take me 7+ days to read it! :lol:

[Inver]

I had seen this advertised and made a bee line to buy it but when I saw it, I was disappointed at how thin it was so decided against it at the time.I feel robbed unless I get 300 pages for my money :lol:
Yeh...the full price put me off too for such a thin book. Why don't you do a bookring/chain for it and share it with others!!

[NiceguyEddie]

It's a few months since I read this, but I'll bet the "spoiler" which was really interpretation will split the sexes. Yes, you may be right that had they talked, all would have been resolved, but you can't take the novel out of the context of the time. People didn't talk as openly then as they do now - or so I'm told. And don't forget Edward's discomfort around the whole "sex" thing. Then add the huge insult to his pride on the fateful night.

I enjoyed On Chesil Beach. I thought it was very clever.

[Clorms]

I'm suppressing my urge to look at the spoiler; this is on my shelf waiting to be read. Got it 2 for £7 at Tesco (partnered it with a Jeremy Clarkson collection of reprints of his newspaper column - enjoyable fodder if you don't read the Times every Sunday anyway)

[Janet]

Resist, resist, resist! ;)

[chicken]

I have the audible book of this, listened to a bit of it but was put off by the readers very boring voice ! Must try it again tho

[Bambi-eyes]

I bought this last week for my upcoming stay in hospital. I can't wait to read it as I love Ian Mcewan. It's really hard not to look at the spoilers, but resist I shall! :D

[Esiotrot]

Reading this just now and have to say its quite boring - about 1/3 of the way through and found myself drifting off! Hope it improves..

[Gyre]

Didn't it win the Galaxy prize?:D

[GoldenRosa]

I hope to borrow this book from the library, as I'm not sure it would be worthy to buy. I've heard some 'wishy washy' reviews about it.

[nicnic]

I loved this book. I know it doesn't take long to read, but for me the form suits the story of it. It takes place over the course of one evening, and if they did choose to make it longer, I do believe it would drag. It's short and intense in my opinion, like the evening in question.

My opinion is a bit of a spoiler...so hidden!

I don't think Edward ever meant to be unkind or pressure his new wife, like others pointed out they're both victims of the period, where sex was talked about, but in the most hush-hush manner. This effected men as much as women. As much as talking would have helped, much was expected of both sexes on their wedding night. It was assumed sex would happen for the first time then

[pontalba]

Ok, first I haven't read On Chesil Beach, and from the reviews and discussion threads I've read elsewhere I don't think I want to, of course that could change at the drop of a hat, er, book. :lurker:

But, in the discussion I read, they claimed that her father had sexually abused her whilst she was very young, and that turned her off of sex. [natch] I don't know, and really, that's the only reason I'd be tempted to read it, to see what I think of that theory. :)

Now. I hope this spoiler tag works! Otherwise it's DELETE!

[kb.marsh]

I haven't read any of his books, does he come highly recommended?

[Freewheeling Andy]

Highly recommended by many people. I can't stand his writing.

[kb.marsh]

I can't stand his writing.

How comes?

[Freewheeling Andy]

I find that it's written very correctly, but that for all the lightness of touch in the writing, absolutely nothing of any note really happens in the books and I find myself spectacularly underwhelmed by the wetness and lack of substance.

Atonement was the worst of the lot for me, but that might be because of the insanely high praise it received. It read, very much, like someone who's read too much Bronte and Austen stuff and wants to regurgitate it for the 21st century.

[NiceguyEddie]

I liked Chesil Beach and would recommend it. I thought it was cleverly constructed & a great source of debate. I do admit there were times though when I thought "just get on with it".

[kb.marsh]

I find that it's written very correctly, but that for all the lightness of touch in the writing, absolutely nothing of any note really happens in the books and I find myself spectacularly underwhelmed by the wetness and lack of substance.

Atonement was the worst of the lot for me, but that might be because of the insanely high praise it received. It read, very much, like someone who's read too much Bronte and Austen stuff and wants to regurgitate it for the 21st century.

In all honesty, I started watching the film and was bored within half hour so am not interested in reading Atonement. I might look into his other books. Although imitators of the Classics annoy me somewhat

[Kylie]

I haven't read any of his books, does he come highly recommended?

Highly recommended by some, not at all recommended by others :mrgreen:

And those who do love him seem to have very different ideas as to which book they like the most. I would recommend reading a few of his books - if you don't like the first one there may be something else that you'll like more.

Personally, I've only read Atonement: I liked some parts and disliked others, but I'll definitely try more of his work though.

[Lukeozade100]

I just read On Chesil Beach last night, it's a bit of an odd book, for the first 60 or so pages I couldn't tell what McEwan was trying to do, whether he was just trying and most of the time failing to be humourous, though there were a few laughs. Or if this was meant to all be taken seriously, i'd expect it would be the former though.

It does pick up as it goes along and after you get past the sex scene I thought it was actually a pretty good book. The ending as well I thought was superb.

Overall 7.5/10