tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post1821338137165815473..comments2024-01-29T10:10:55.378+00:00Comments on Bibliofreak.net - A Book Blog: Review: The Sense of an Ending by Julian BarnesMatthew Selwynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-23706326423152133902012-09-18T20:37:33.757+01:002012-09-18T20:37:33.757+01:00It is, isn't it? Be fascinating to know exactl...It is, isn't it? Be fascinating to know exactly what the letter contained, but clearly that's not likely to be disclosed any time soon.Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-46400447100196675282012-09-17T18:47:06.263+01:002012-09-17T18:47:06.263+01:00I didn't know the background of Barnes' le...I didn't know the background of Barnes' letter to Amis. It's interesting that he might have reworked his personal regrets and anguish into a Booker prize winning novelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-8802779120835618482012-06-23T09:06:31.835+01:002012-06-23T09:06:31.835+01:00Thanks for a great comment Grace!
I didn't fe...Thanks for a great comment Grace!<br /><br />I didn't feel too much of the story was contrived, just the small section at the end where Tony realises that there is something to 'get' and then everything becomes unnaturally allusive for me – although this is a very small criticism of a book I really enjoyed.<br /><br />I definitely feel there was subtlety to the novel when compared to many other author's work, but I somehow found the style a little straight-forward for a novelist of such experience. It's an odd thing and I find it a little difficult to truly express what I felt on this score.<br /><br />It's interesting that you went off Tony after reading the letter. Whilst it was really quite vile, I put it down to the impetuousity of youth, an ill-judged act of a boy who was hurting. If Tony was irredeemable beyond that point, where does that leave Barnes himself?Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-90424567739499959082012-06-22T15:33:44.372+01:002012-06-22T15:33:44.372+01:00This is a great review, Matthew, and very thorough...This is a great review, Matthew, and very thoroughly researched. I forgot about the fallout between Barnes and Amis and it is a rather important fact when you consider the subject matter of this book so thank you for mentioning it. You’ve picked on imagery very well (time/water and broken egg), although you missed one thing – Tony’s conversation in a pub about hand-cut chips – on more example of simple things that Tony just couldn’t ‘get’. I don’t agree with the statement that the build-up leading to the final revelation is contrived or that the book lacks subtlety. I found it very subtle and some observations on age and passing time are very moving, particularly when Tony writes about his ex-wife: “She sees only what’s gone, I see only what stayed the same” (there is a long paragraph when he writes about her and it’s rather touching). I don’t see anything contrived in this story – this is something that could have easily happened. People’s memories tend to be very selective and people usually remember the bad rather than the good, distorting the perception of events, consciously or subconsciously. I really liked this book, including the fact that my opinion of Tony changed half-way through. Initially I was very sympathetic to his character but it all changed after reading his vile letter – so cruel and unnecessarily vicious. As for the ending, there couldn’t be another ending to this story, not one that spelled out all the facts and the truth, as otherwise it would’ve been somebody else’s ending (Adrian’s, Veronica’s her mother’s, etc.).Linguamaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13761309516786299970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-27740048808189308582012-05-28T11:44:27.385+01:002012-05-28T11:44:27.385+01:00Thanks for stopping by Graham. Yes, it seems the e...Thanks for stopping by Graham. Yes, it seems the ending is the part that has proved the most problematic for readers. I completely take on board the criticisms, but for me it worked sufficiently to round off the piece.Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-24606163971139311922012-05-26T22:22:21.948+01:002012-05-26T22:22:21.948+01:00An interesting and insightful review Matthew. I sa...An interesting and insightful review Matthew. I saw that you made your peace with the ending. For me, although I enjoyed <i>The Sense of an Ending</i>, the actual ending was a bit of a problem for me.Grahamhttp://mybookyear.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-60877584645949148632012-05-25T21:09:50.392+01:002012-05-25T21:09:50.392+01:00@ James Dugan
Kind words indeed. It's often h...@ James Dugan<br /><br />Kind words indeed. It's often hard to add to the discussion about a book when so much is written online these days, so if I have in this case, then I'm glad. :)Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-45423608846044451582012-05-25T21:08:20.512+01:002012-05-25T21:08:20.512+01:00@ Dawn
Thanks very much - hopefully it's some...@ Dawn<br /><br />Thanks very much - hopefully it's something that can get people talking. Sadly, I don't think much more is known about the letter than is mentioned in the quote.Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-75626406927438666532012-05-25T02:16:28.754+01:002012-05-25T02:16:28.754+01:00Well done. You placing the symbols and pointing ou...Well done. You placing the symbols and pointing out the letter actually is a review of the book that adds to the discussion. I usualy find books by serendipity or friends, and I search for reviews afterwards. I look for what I missed or a point of contention or agreement, and you offer that in this. I appreciate the review.jamesduganlbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10581760127502862497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-50078858239311085602012-05-25T01:56:57.136+01:002012-05-25T01:56:57.136+01:00Put me in the "I didn't know anything abo...Put me in the "I didn't know anything about the letter sent as a result of the falling out between Amis and Barnes" camp! Such a fantastic tie-in that you've made (and, made us curious to learn more, I'm sure).Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09285873722005594325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-1209861033345481252012-05-24T16:27:05.274+01:002012-05-24T16:27:05.274+01:00Thanks Judith - I do my best, but I think this one...Thanks Judith - I do my best, but I think this one lends itself it particularly to discussion and picking apart. Hearing others opinions definitely gave me a wider view of the book.<br /><br />No problem. I guess it's just a handy cross-over of my interests that brought it to mind.Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-27820210275073841812012-05-23T18:11:43.406+01:002012-05-23T18:11:43.406+01:00A brilliant review, Matthew. You obviously have a ...A brilliant review, Matthew. You obviously have a great eye for the invisible connections in this book, such as the foreshadowing. For me, it was really useful to discuss this book with a small book group as there were so many things I overlooked.<br /><br />I didn't know about the falling out of Barnes and Amis, thanks for pointing that out.Judith / Leeswammeshttp://leeswammes.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-21824882829397262152012-05-23T09:58:27.119+01:002012-05-23T09:58:27.119+01:00@ whisperinggums
Thanks - I know I've already...@ whisperinggums<br /><br />Thanks - I know I've already told you, but I really enjoyed the fullness of your review :) Glad you got something from mine too.<br /><br />I'm still working out how the letter fits in. I don't think I'd rank the book as an apolgia, but maybe more along the lines of an explanation, a reflection of the foolishness of youth, and the motivations behind cruel words.Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-60198091081433684092012-05-23T09:55:14.273+01:002012-05-23T09:55:14.273+01:00@ Heather
Thanks very much Heather. Yes, I'm ...@ Heather<br /><br />Thanks very much Heather. Yes, I'm a bit surprised that there hasn't been anything in the big reviews about the fallout and letter - it's something that leaped into my mind immediately, and you'd think fans of Barnes would also have read plenty of Amis.Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-57707780560972843282012-05-23T00:57:33.858+01:002012-05-23T00:57:33.858+01:00Great review Matthew. I loved this statement: &quo...Great review Matthew. I loved this statement: "The idea that memory is an entirely subjective concept, distorted by time and subsequent events, is visited repeatedly, and touches on something very poignant about human psychology and the way we subconsciously doctor our personal history to make it congruent with our own self-perception and subjective reality". It's perfectly put.<br /><br />I didn't know that about the letter though have vague recollections of the fall-out. So the book could be an apologia? He does play the "remorse" word hard doesn't it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-14545876557932508922012-05-22T12:14:03.723+01:002012-05-22T12:14:03.723+01:00This is a fantastic review, and I'm so glad yo...This is a fantastic review, and I'm so glad you liked the book. I was unaware of the fallout between Barnes and Amis, so thank you for including this note about it. That definitely sheds more light on some aspects of the book and makes it even <em>more</em> interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600022529355932646.post-9632956817386325112012-05-10T16:44:35.695+01:002012-05-10T16:44:35.695+01:00There is a passage in Richard Bradford’s recent bi...There is a passage in Richard Bradford’s recent biography of Martin Amis, which deals with the letter sent by Barnes to Amis. I thought it might make useful reading in relation to <i>The Sense of an Ending</i>.<br /><br />Here Christopher Hitchens, close friend of Martin Amis, is discussing the letter Barnes sent to Amis, following the latter’s decision to leave his literary agent, Pat Kavanagh (Barnes’s wife), in favour of Andrew Wylie. <br /><br />‘…Then there was the notorious letter from Barnes to Martin written shortly after the latter had informed Pat of his decision. The document is in Martin’s possession but copyright means that it is not quotable verbatim without Barnes’s permission. Nevertheless, Martin’s friends commend him unreservedly for abstaining from at least an indication of its content. It affected him greatly and one detects his mortification in <i>Experience</i> but to his credit he didn’t indicate what his erstwhile friend actually wrote.’ According to Hitchens, Martin was left stunned by two passages in particular. In one he stated that Salman [Rushdie], through his association with Wylie, would be killed, but appeared to feel no anguish at the thought. Next he offered Martin hearty congratulations on the break-up of his marriage and the distress caused to Antonia. According to Hitchens, ‘it was beautifully, evilly, crafted, especially the last comment on Martin’s marriage. He didn’t of course compare this explicitly with Martin’s decision to leave Pat but he didn’t need to. Julian is an excellent, compelling stylist. Without actually saying so, he made Martin feel like he had sold his soul to the devil. I mean, it was hardly as though Pat had gone bust, she was still one of the most prestigious, prosperous agents in London. But let’s be blunt, she wasn’t as <i>good</i> as Andrew. Business is business and Julian’s response was made up of pure malice. I’d never seen a letter like that. Martin eventually got back with him, to an extent. But I have not.’<br /><br />Bradford, Richard (2011), <i>Martin Amis: The Biography</i>, London: Constable, p285.Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.com