Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 10, 2007 15:40:03 GMT -5
I'm almost finished reading this book, and I am finding it amazing. I really like McEwan's style and the way he's bringing the past into the present. I know Zelda is, or was, reading this too. I thought we could talk about the book a little...
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Jun 10, 2007 19:09:05 GMT -5
I really loved this book!
I loved how well he writes emotion. And the entire novel was very readable; I enjoyed it a lot.
the next part contains ****SPOILERS****
I really liked the ending. It was heartbreaking. I liked that it didn't have a cheesy ending. Everything that happens to Edward after the wedding night is believable. It's a beautifully sad portrait of what can happen if you let pride get in the way of a reconciliation with someone.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 10, 2007 19:34:04 GMT -5
N I know! I finished it a couple hours ago, and I was so glad that the ending wasn't all happy and cheesy. I agree that it was totally believable, especially how he never really managed his life after that point.
***SPOILERS*** Do you think that Florence would've been able to overcome her digust of sex after doing it once, if she found pleasure in it? Do you think they could've worked something out, if Edward had just talked to her about it? ***END SPOILERS***
I really definitely enjoyed this book. I agree that he wrote emotion really well. And I really liked the way he wrote the past into the present. By writing the way he does, McEwan tells the whole story of Florence and Edward's relationship in an unchronological order that is not boring like many stories. He tells parts of the beginning and middle while really explaining the end. It was great.
I highly recommend this book to everyone! It's short and sweet (I read it all in one sitting)Here's a link to the Amazon.com page for it: www.amazon.com/Chesil-Beach-Novel-Ian-McEwan/dp/0385522401/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5757029-3936622?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181521872&sr=1-1 (sorry, looks like you'll have to copy & paste)
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Jun 10, 2007 21:17:58 GMT -5
***SPOILERS*** I definitely think that if it was just an ordinary fear of it, that she would have been able to overcome it. It stinks that because of the time period, she didn't have a lot of people to turn to for advice. Also, they were both so awkward about discussing it. But I think that with time she could have gotten over it - as she and Edward became closer through time they would have felt more comfortable talking about it. And as the years went by and society got more liberal, she would have more external sources of help - books, friends, therapy, etc.)
However - did you pick up on very subtle hints that she might have been abused as a child? Perhaps by her father? It never came out and said it, but there were some places where she was remembering her past (especially about her dad), and her past feelings, that seemed very dark and made me think that. Also - the fact that she has such an extreme fear of being entered in any way - even just french kissing leads me to believe that. Maybe she doesn't even remember it? I've heard that a lot of times people who were abused very young block it out because it was so traumatic - they are still emotionally damaged, but don't remember the specific event. **END SPOILERS**
And I second Kristie's recommendation of this book! A very short read, but very moving and wonderful.
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Post by Dominique on Jun 10, 2007 21:19:12 GMT -5
I skipped over the spoilers because after reading the New York Times review of it (online of course ) I've been really interested in picking up a copy. Not sure if it's out in Australia yet or not though...
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 11, 2007 9:48:33 GMT -5
***SPOILERS*** However - did you pick up on very subtle hints that she might have been abused as a child? Perhaps by her father? It never came out and said it, but there were some places where she was remembering her past (especially about her dad), and her past feelings, that seemed very dark and made me think that. Also - the fact that she has such an extreme fear of being entered in any way - even just french kissing leads me to believe that. Maybe she doesn't even remember it? I've heard that a lot of times people who were abused very young block it out because it was so traumatic - they are still emotionally damaged, but don't remember the specific event. **END SPOILERS** And I second Kristie's recommendation of this book! A very short read, but very moving and wonderful. ***SPOILERS*** YES! I definitely picked up on the possible child abuse. There was the one scene she described about how Edward undressing reminded her of a time her father was undressing on a ship when she went with him on one of his business trips. This was when my suspicions of abuse were almost completely confirmed, because, as you said, McEwan never does say if she was abused or not. And I know that sometimes children block that sort of stuff from the memory. Abuse was the only rational reason I could think of for her fear. ***END SPOILERS***
Hope you get to read it Dom!
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Post by Carma on Jun 11, 2007 10:14:53 GMT -5
I just looked up this book and I think they've translated the title weird.. if I translate it back to English it says: To chesil beach... does that make sense? or did they just make a mistake?
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 11, 2007 14:21:53 GMT -5
It might just be a difference in the way our grammars work. Or it could be a mistake. Are "on" and "to" very similar in Dutch? Can they be interchanged?
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Jun 11, 2007 19:55:58 GMT -5
***SPOILERS*** However - did you pick up on very subtle hints that she might have been abused as a child? Perhaps by her father? It never came out and said it, but there were some places where she was remembering her past (especially about her dad), and her past feelings, that seemed very dark and made me think that. Also - the fact that she has such an extreme fear of being entered in any way - even just french kissing leads me to believe that. Maybe she doesn't even remember it? I've heard that a lot of times people who were abused very young block it out because it was so traumatic - they are still emotionally damaged, but don't remember the specific event. **END SPOILERS** And I second Kristie's recommendation of this book! A very short read, but very moving and wonderful. ***SPOILERS*** YES! I definitely picked up on the possible child abuse. There was the one scene she described about how Edward undressing reminded her of a time her father was undressing on a ship when she went with him on one of his business trips. This was when my suspicions of abuse were almost completely confirmed, because, as you said, McEwan never does say if she was abused or not. And I know that sometimes children block that sort of stuff from the memory. Abuse was the only rational reason I could think of for her fear. ***END SPOILERS***
Hope you get to read it Dom!That's another reason why I loved the book so much - how subtle everything is. He doesn't have to come out and narrate many of the deep emotions, he expresses them other ways. He is a very talented writer and I'm excited to read more of his novels.
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Post by Carma on Jun 12, 2007 8:39:29 GMT -5
It might just be a difference in the way our grammars work. Or it could be a mistake. Are "on" and "to" very similar in Dutch? Can they be interchanged? hmm, now I'm thinking about it.. 'on' could be translated correctly... is on meant as 'being there'..?
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 12, 2007 9:04:43 GMT -5
Yes, it means they're "being there"
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Post by Carma on Jun 12, 2007 9:09:51 GMT -5
ok, than it's wrong..
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 12, 2007 11:18:37 GMT -5
Haha, that happens I guess. Is it an easy mistake to make?
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Post by Carma on Jun 13, 2007 9:09:56 GMT -5
I don't think so actually... I'd translate it differently... but if you use that word differently it can be correct.. but I think of the other meaning first... if that makes any sense...
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 13, 2007 12:38:06 GMT -5
Haha, I think I understand what you mean
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