On Chesil Beach: A Novel (edit title)

• Rated 0 stars

“very good book, great for discussion”

• Rated 2 stars

“I wanted to shake this couple-newly weds at an English beach hotel on their wedding night, caught up in mid 20th century social prudery and unspoken expectations. Like the characters in Trevor's short stories, they are unable to express their deep feelings. Opportunities for real life slip by. They've never heard of "carpe diem". ”

• Rated 0 stars

“Nothing yet! I just started. Shouldn't be long though, as the book is short. Steve said it's sexy. Dana Wickware likes McEwan but not this one.”

• Rated 2 stars

“Too cold and uncompromising for me. Uncomfortabe reading and I hated the ending.”

• Rated 4 stars

“There is no one to beat Ian McEwan for taking a misunderstanding/mistake/misheard word and exploiting the repercussions: in this case, the heroine's inability to explain to her fiance how she really feels has heartbreaking consequences. Florence is exquisitely drawn, you feel for her even as she is flinging the harshest of words at the man she loves.

Only McEwan really understands what human beings do to each other and the reasons why.

My only gripe: I wish he'd made it longer so I could have read more about Florence's life after the fateful night. But maybe that's why it's perfect: we are left to draw our own conclusions and fill in the blanks according to our own moralities.”

• Rated 3 stars

“SAD!!! Short. Good. But, SAD.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Good book, fast read”

• Rated 1 stars

“hated it”

• Rated 4 stars

“Story of one man and one woman who grew up in the fifties and went to university and are thoughtful. Very precise descriptions of their intensely private feelings about themselves. Each keeps most of their feelings concealed from the other during their developing relationship, but on their wedding night they fail to communicate anything positive and instead say some mean things in anger, partially revealing important truths that would have been better discussed earlier.
Good argument for having sex before one's wedding night, and learning to live together nicely too, though this was pre-pill, I think.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Full of good stuff the literati critics can pull out and analyze to death but was it an enjoyable read? Not really.”