Find discussion questions and reading group guide for the sense of an ending by julian barnes. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The sense of an ending julian barnes, 2011 knopf doubleday 176 pp. In addition to adrians earlier statement about history, barnes offers other. The sense of an ending is a short, sharp novel about a man who tells his own story and then comes to doubt it. Julian barnes is the author of eleven novels, including metroland, flauberts parrot, a history of the world in 10. I immediately turned back to the first page and started over again. One of the judges who awarded him the 2011 man booker prize described him as an unparalleled magus of. The sense of an ending by julian barnes reading group choices. Memory and history, responsibility and blame, deceit, misunderstandings, aging, guilt, remorse and, of course, a safely passive coasting on the smooth sailing surface of life, occasionally interrupted by the tidal waves of unexpected upheavals and disturbances, just like severn bore, seen once by tony. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on julian barness the sense of an.
He has also written three books of short stories, cross channel, the lemon table and pulse. At the books ending, tony reaches the shocking conclusion that. In it julian barnes reveals crystalline truths that have taken a lifetime to harden. This is a fascinating read that will spur profound thought on several topics, but especially the ending and the meaning of the title. The sense of an ending is narrated by a retired man named tony webster, who recalls how he and his clique met adrian finn at school and vowed to remain friends for life. The sense of an ending is his most recent novel and the winner of the 2011 man booker prize for fiction.
It is the work of one of the worlds most distinguished writers. To ask other readers questions about the sense of an ending, please sign up. I know that this is late, but i chose this book for a book club that i lead. Written by julian barnes, its a book in two halves construction. I recently read julian barnes the sense of an ending vintage international, 2012, and when i finished it, i did something i have never done before. The phrase eros and thanatos, or sex and death, comes up repeatedly in the novel. Follows a middleaged man as he reflects on a past he thought was behind him, until he. Reading guide for the sense of an ending by julian barnes. Literary fiction buy now this book is on reading list for april 2012. Should your book club read the sense of an ending by julian barnes.
The sense of an ending book club kit book club kit. A novel so compelling that it begs to be read in a single setting, the sense of an ending has the psychological and emotional depth and sophistication of henry. I didnt do this because i so greatly enjoyed the book, exactly. Memory and history, responsibility and blame, deceit, misunderstandings, aging, guilt, remorse and, of course, a safely passive coasting on the smooth sailing surface of life, occasionally interrupted by the tidal waves of unexpected upheavals and disturbances, just like severn bore, seen once by tony webster and veronica. The sense of an ending by julian barnes book club discussion. The sense of an ending what do people think of the ending.
I discovered this book by julian barnes when reading comments about chesil. The sense of an ending book club kit hennepin county library. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Reading guide for the sense of an ending by julian barnes discussion guide for book clubs. The sense of an ending is a short book, but not a slight one. The novel opens with a handful of waterrelated images.
The sense of an ending is the 11th novel by julian barnes. Julian barnes s new book is about ballooning, photography, love and grief. Tony webster and his clique first met adrian finn at school. The sense of an ending study guide literature guide litcharts. Recommend for book clubs who enjoy a literary read. Julian barnes the sense of an ending has a lot packed in the short 150 or so pages. The book is insightful, expounding on the intricacies and fragility of being human and the condition of aging. Barnes could have tweaked it a bit so the ending made more sense.