“I'm glad I gave another Ian McEwan piece a chance. This is the best book I've read of his so far. I found Atonement okay; In Between the Sheets, terrible; but On Chesil Beach is just...incredible.
Such a short novella, but as one review says, each sentence was perfect. While his other novels rambled on, On Chesil Beach used only what words were necessary, and made sure each one would count. The main story spans only a few hours after the wedding of two virgins in the late 1960s, Edward and Florence, but McEwan comfortably shifts between the two points-of-view as he relays tells the story between flashbacks and what each character is feeling at the moment. Much like Atonement, an epilogue discloses what ultimately happens to the characters after their life-altering decisions.
At once funny and heartbreaking, On Chesil Beach succeeds both in its haunting uniqueness and relatability. It uncomfortably exposes the tragedy of how seemingly simple lack of communication can affect even those who undeniably love each other. ”