tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post3779365569071520912..comments2024-03-25T20:57:40.930-04:00Comments on Gulfside Musing: On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwanJoAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-20114468764142065892011-11-30T16:47:46.773-05:002011-11-30T16:47:46.773-05:00Kathleen - Beautiful and contemplative... On Chesi...Kathleen - Beautiful and contemplative... On Chesil Beach is definitely both of those!<br /><br />Les - Since you're already a McEwan fan, this is sure to be hit!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-10901186962364041292011-11-29T21:19:57.537-05:002011-11-29T21:19:57.537-05:00"McEwan's writing, however, is the main a..."McEwan's writing, however, is the main attraction - beautiful, compassionate, and simply a pleasure to read."<br /><br />Sold.Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345657431432380804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-22507680796222781772011-11-25T00:02:29.594-05:002011-11-25T00:02:29.594-05:00Sounds like a beautiful, contemplative read.Sounds like a beautiful, contemplative read.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739982274914536036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-62129394892917153542011-11-21T20:22:03.991-05:002011-11-21T20:22:03.991-05:00Rose City Reader - Atonement is the only other McE...Rose City Reader - Atonement is the only other McEwan book I've read. Can you recommend any others?JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-58428730026339056102011-11-21T18:53:27.502-05:002011-11-21T18:53:27.502-05:00I would give it 5 stars too. I loved it.I would give it 5 stars too. I loved it.Gilion at Rose City Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18080293172467000794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-11042594866909709082011-11-20T21:26:12.005-05:002011-11-20T21:26:12.005-05:00Amy - McEwan's writing does take your breath a...Amy - McEwan's writing does take your breath away! Besides this, I've only read Atonement, but will slowly work my way through more of his novels. He certainly is a keen observer of human relationships. I kept having to remind myself that this was 1962 and things were much different than they are now, but still felt so bad for both Edward and Florence.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-43539989727403598492011-11-20T17:57:27.937-05:002011-11-20T17:57:27.937-05:00McEwan's writing is amazing, it often takes my...McEwan's writing is amazing, it often takes my breath away. I haven't read that many of his books but I always seem to find one or two whenever I'm in a book store and look through them or sit and read them if I have the time.<br /><br />This book sounds extremely sad and harrowing. I feel for Florence and Edward although I also find it odd that they married when they're not able to communicate well. I'm also surprised that, when things don't work out well in bed, they still can't talk about it. I'm going to have to read this book!<br /><br />McEwan has an interesting and a disturbing mind! I wonder what he sees or thinks when he observes a couple together!<br /><br />I enjoyed your review very much, JoAnn, thank you :o)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866342436745173619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-83827745983519830192011-11-19T08:07:17.149-05:002011-11-19T08:07:17.149-05:00This is the second McEwan review I read to day. I ...This is the second McEwan review I read to day. I don't know why I just find him boring. I've read two of his novels and I hated the characters and thought the stories were only meh. I am in a camp of one, I realize.Beth Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627666337961326265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-35546410518061275062011-11-17T07:20:32.083-05:002011-11-17T07:20:32.083-05:00Staci - You should give McEwan a try. His writing ...Staci - You should give McEwan a try. His writing is gorgeous!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-16272045389349429452011-11-16T19:10:51.879-05:002011-11-16T19:10:51.879-05:00You are killing me!!!! I have often thought of rea...You are killing me!!!! I have often thought of reading this author and now I MUST!! excellent review!Stacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600979915661464945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-44180069139448450932011-11-16T17:05:01.895-05:002011-11-16T17:05:01.895-05:00Linda - I hope you get a chance to read On Chesil ...Linda - I hope you get a chance to read On Chesil Beach. It's a wonderful little book.<br /><br />Margot - That phrase is my favorite... must have read it a dozen times when I first stumbled upon it. It's a gift to be able to write like that!<br /><br />Care - The more I think about this, the more I love it! Such amazing writing... I have both Saturday and Amsterdam on my shelf. Not sure which I'll read next.<br /><br />Darlene - This is definitely one of them! Every sentence deserves to be savored, yet the overall effect is devastating.<br /><br />Nana - Atonement is my only prior experience with McEwan. It's been years, but I don't remember the writing being quite as beautiful as in On Chesil Beach.<br /><br />Trish - Saturday and Amsterdam are on my shelf, too. I would also like to reread Atonement. I know what you mean about the brainpower though. I was pretty stressed a couple of weeks ago when I put On Chesil Beach aside and read Her Fearful Symmetry instead. Was glad to come back to it with a clearer mind.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-2261623040719004512011-11-16T13:36:45.519-05:002011-11-16T13:36:45.519-05:00Five stars?! I've only read Atonement by McEwa...Five stars?! I've only read Atonement by McEwan but have a few others on the shelf. Not this one, sadly, since your review certainly has me curious. From Atonement, though, I can agree that his writing certainly is beautiful and haunting. I tried to read Saturday while on maternity and just didn't have the brainpower to get past the first couple of pages. Also have Amsterdam on the shelf.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-71181561411272469432011-11-16T09:04:10.785-05:002011-11-16T09:04:10.785-05:00This is a book I enjoyed and I agree with you on a...This is a book I enjoyed and I agree with you on all points made, especially regarding McEwan's writing. This is his first and only book I've read and therefore difficult to compare with others.ImageNationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021414643103601330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-39319183125275174312011-11-16T07:31:48.736-05:002011-11-16T07:31:48.736-05:00Oh JoAnn, I love books that force you to read slow...Oh JoAnn, I love books that force you to read slowly and this sounds like one of them. And five stars!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-34864763853035209502011-11-16T06:06:46.756-05:002011-11-16T06:06:46.756-05:00INTENSE. I was squirming and riveted to this book...INTENSE. I was squirming and riveted to this book. I clearly remember reading most of it while walking (running?) on the treadmill and thinking O.M.G. while my heart was breaking. I was amazed with what the author could do.<br /><br />And yet, it's been over a year since I have declared my devotion to McEwan. Must pace them out. I am thinking I will tackle Saturday sometime in 2012.Carehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478474870247729611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-86462198635678887112011-11-15T23:50:38.122-05:002011-11-15T23:50:38.122-05:00I love the quote you gave us and especially, the l...I love the quote you gave us and especially, the language. ". . . only a comforting broth of warm emotions, a thick winter blanket of kindness and trust." - so beautiful. How does he do it?Margothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07422981969760935118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-20191419325699127932011-11-15T23:35:36.000-05:002011-11-15T23:35:36.000-05:00I've heard mixed things about this one, but yo...I've heard mixed things about this one, but your review is almost glowing. Makes me rethink not picking this one up. Perhaps it will find it's way on to a challenge list for next year.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14004178422343485278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-83856622874299453992011-11-15T21:03:20.048-05:002011-11-15T21:03:20.048-05:00Chris - I know EXACTLY what you mean! This novel h...Chris - I know EXACTLY what you mean! This novel has me wanting to revisit Atonement (read it years ago), and make time for Amsterdam and Saturday, both waiting on my shelf. McEwan may, indeed, have a screw loose... his novels are incredibly intense and, in many ways, scary. But he is an amazingly talented writer. Not sure where I'll turn next, but I will definitely keep reading him... no matter how much his novels drain me.<br /><br />E.L. Fay - The novel does, in a sense, seem Victorian. It is set exactly on the cusp of the sexual revolution... don't think it had reached the English countryside yet though.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-79166005350184156402011-11-15T19:04:33.360-05:002011-11-15T19:04:33.360-05:00I wonder why sex was such a big issue for them? 19...I wonder why sex was such a big issue for them? 1963 wasn't the Victorian era.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058705381647529328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-56355540389671122082011-11-15T18:01:13.619-05:002011-11-15T18:01:13.619-05:00JoAnn, I find McEwan's novels to be extraordin...JoAnn, I find McEwan's novels to be extraordinary things. I simply can't read him anymore. It isn't because he's a bad writer--he's not, he's actually a very, very good writer. I think it is because he <i>always</i> writes about the most discomfiting things imaginable. <i>Atonement</i> just gutted me. Without giving anything away, let me just say that I wanted to commit homicide and kill a fictional character; which goes to show that I had become as warped as the author. I have long maintained that McEwan has a serious 'screw loose' deep within the recesses of his psyche. It has produced some amazingly intense novels, but it frankly scares the hell out of me. I don't know if what I've said made <i>any</i> sense whatsoever, but then I'm talking about McEwan ;-) I did, however, love your review of the novel. Cheers! ChrisChristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00428150254760548485noreply@blogger.com