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It is a story that makes you feel sorry for both of them
British author Ian McEwan (1948) was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2007 with ‘On Chesil Beach’, and ten years later came a film adaptation.
The book has, Vintage edition 2008, 166 pages and is divided into five parts. Each part switches from present day to past.
In the first part, 22 year olds Edward and Florence are sitting in a hotel room on Chesil Beach having dinner and they are just married, and it is their honeymoon. It is the 1960’s and both are inexperienced, virgins still. Edward can’t wait, consuming the marriage, while Florence has other thoughts.
The second part goes back to the youth of Edward and Florence, their childhood and family, and how they meet. Here lays the foundation of their different thoughts when they are adults.
Going back to present in the third part, both are in the bedroom. But Florence struggles, feeling different about what should come, while Edward is confused and eager.
The meeting continues in the fourth part. Where they both invite each other out more often.
The conclusion is in the fifth part that makes clear how the future of both will be.
Ian McEwan gives feeling to the emotions without writing the emotions itself, making the struggles the protagonists have more real. McEwan however does not add details about the scenery, the rooms feel empty, although it can be done for a reason too not to distract. The only detail McEwan adds is the beach and the sounds from there, that returns. Through a scene with a television McEwan makes clear in what period of time the story takes place. McEwan lets the protagonists be silent mostly throughout the present day, making it mostly thoughts.
It is a story that makes you feel sorry for both of them, mostly because of the communication problems they have. The readings of each other's reactions, body language, and the actions that are understood differently. One thinks that it is teasing, while the other just wants to delay. It is a beautiful dance until the end.
The book has, Vintage edition 2008, 166 pages and is divided into five parts. Each part switches from present day to past.
In the first part, 22 year olds Edward and Florence are sitting in a hotel room on Chesil Beach having dinner and they are just married, and it is their honeymoon. It is the 1960’s and both are inexperienced, virgins still. Edward can’t wait, consuming the marriage, while Florence has other thoughts.
The second part goes back to the youth of Edward and Florence, their childhood and family, and how they meet. Here lays the foundation of their different thoughts when they are adults.
Going back to present in the third part, both are in the bedroom. But Florence struggles, feeling different about what should come, while Edward is confused and eager.
The meeting continues in the fourth part. Where they both invite each other out more often.
The conclusion is in the fifth part that makes clear how the future of both will be.
Ian McEwan gives feeling to the emotions without writing the emotions itself, making the struggles the protagonists have more real. McEwan however does not add details about the scenery, the rooms feel empty, although it can be done for a reason too not to distract. The only detail McEwan adds is the beach and the sounds from there, that returns. Through a scene with a television McEwan makes clear in what period of time the story takes place. McEwan lets the protagonists be silent mostly throughout the present day, making it mostly thoughts.
It is a story that makes you feel sorry for both of them, mostly because of the communication problems they have. The readings of each other's reactions, body language, and the actions that are understood differently. One thinks that it is teasing, while the other just wants to delay. It is a beautiful dance until the end.
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