Thank you, Eric, for your thoughtful comments on this great novel, and the great novelist, Julian Barnes. It is some years now that you have made this video, but I watched because I soon will be leading the discussion on the universal and profound ideas that Barnes lays before us : themes such as 'what is history?', how do we reconcile with the suicide of a loved one? what is nostalgia ? how should we lead our lives ? should we opt for 'safety' or should we be 'more brave' and take frightful chances ? & Just what is a 'full life' anyway ? what is 'memory' and why do certain ones just pop into our head totally unexpectedly ? What is 'remorse' ? How do explain some totally unexplicable phenomena such as the Severn Bore ? (& how uses this phenomenon as a metaphor in the novel). How do we atone for the regretful actions we have taken in our lives ? So many profound ideas / dilemmas about our existence and relationships as human beings ! I really enjoyed not only reading the book; but also listening to the excellent narration of the book by Simon Vance.
I read The Sense of an Ending in 2012. It is a novel which has stuck with me, and I wish I could pinpoint why. I didn't know it was being screen adapted, and like you, I am curious to know how to pulled this off. I will definitely see the film, but I will re-read the book before I do. I kept the copy I had because I knew it would be one I would want to re-read at some point. Thanks for doing this video. :)
It has a lot of deep ideas so I think that's why it continues to resonate like that and a book that's so worth revisiting. I'll be so interested to hear what you think of the film!
I read The Sense of an Ending last January, and although I wasn't exactly blown away by it, there was much to like in the book. There something about stories that handle memory from the POV of unreliable narrators that I find really fascinating. Looking forward to seeing the film. A bit sad to hear that the film sums things up in a way the novel doesn't, because most often it is exactly this open-endedness that opens the story to broader range of interpretations. Good point about film and book being different media. In a similar vein, I was a bit sceptical about the movie adaptation for Ishiguro's "Remains of the Day" (a book that I really love) and whether or not the makers managed to convey the story of the book on the screen. I ended up loving the film, of course, despite all my doubts. Both the novel and the film are amazing in their own ways. Thanks for the video, I might go and see the film soon if I get the chance!
I've actually never read or seen the film of Remains of the Day - which is kind of crazy since I've read and love most of his other books (my favourite is The Unconsoled). Let me know what you think of the film of The Sense of an Ending if you get to see it.
One of the things that I loved about the book is the very brief mention of Stefan Zweig (an author I had never heard of), but now is one of my favorite authors.
Oh great! Zweig has had a bit of a resurgence lately, hasn't he? At least, I've seen several of his books have been republished in the last few years. I've only read his biographies of Balzac and Montaigne. They were so fascinating particularly because Zweig puts so much of himself into these accounts of the authors' lives. I've wanted to read more. What's your favourite book by him?
I have read many, many of his short stories. I loved The World of Yesterday, that he wrote just before he died. It is his memoir and a love story to a world that ceased to exist with the rise of Hitler. I also recommend the Post-Office Girl which is about the post WWI experience for an Austrian Veteran. Everything I have read by him is just beautiful.
Fine analysis.... The Sense of an Ending is one of my favorite books and I was very satisfied that the movie was so faithful to it. Such a great cast... Hey Eric, you are from Maine---did you by any chance attend Bates? I did.
Just read the book, have yet to see the film. I found the book a bit frustrating as I had just read the wonderful, broad picture Days Without End and found this book rather middle class male writer of certain age remembers youthful sex etc (cf Amis and McEwan). I found Tony thoroughly unlikeable. I could not believe his ex wife wanted to spend time with the old bore and listen to him go on about the past. Most women of that age are too busy with their own lives to spend time mollycoddling the ex! It was very clever book and did a marvellous job on unreliable narrator and repressed memories but I felt it lacked heart. Also I was slightly puzzled at the end and then went on the internet where I found many theories abounded..your review of the film v book is vey good and I shall look out for the film.
I can understand how you'd feel that way and usually I have equally little patience for middle class male writer of a certain age - I detest Amis! And that's funny about his ex-wife, but I think he does show she gets impatient with him and loses interest in his backward musing. And I did feel the book had a heart to it, but that's just my take on it. I think you'll find the film diverts from the book in some interesting ways which may make you like it more or less. :)
THE Sense of an Ending is a beautifully put together novel.It deals with time ,memory and the way we can get things wrong.Do we only keep the memories that prove us right and suppress less palatable memories.How can we get things so wrong ?
Thank you, Eric, for your thoughtful comments on this great novel, and the great novelist, Julian Barnes. It is some years now that you have made this video, but I watched because I soon will be leading the discussion on the universal and profound ideas that Barnes lays before us : themes such as 'what is history?', how do we reconcile with the suicide of a loved one? what is nostalgia ? how should we lead our lives ? should we opt for 'safety' or should we be 'more brave' and take frightful chances ? & Just what is a 'full life' anyway ? what is 'memory' and why do certain ones just pop into our head totally unexpectedly ?
What is 'remorse' ? How do explain some totally unexplicable phenomena such as the Severn Bore ? (& how uses this phenomenon as a metaphor in the novel).
How do we atone for the regretful actions we have taken in our lives ?
So many profound ideas / dilemmas about our existence and relationships as human beings ! I really enjoyed not only reading the book; but also listening to the excellent narration of the book by Simon Vance.
I read The Sense of an Ending in 2012. It is a novel which has stuck with me, and I wish I could pinpoint why. I didn't know it was being screen adapted, and like you, I am curious to know how to pulled this off. I will definitely see the film, but I will re-read the book before I do. I kept the copy I had because I knew it would be one I would want to re-read at some point. Thanks for doing this video. :)
It has a lot of deep ideas so I think that's why it continues to resonate like that and a book that's so worth revisiting. I'll be so interested to hear what you think of the film!
I read the novel a few years ago and enjoyed it. I think I am going to follow your example and re-read it before watching the movie.
It's really worth rereading! Let me know what you think of the film.
I read The Sense of an Ending last January, and although I wasn't exactly blown away by it, there was much to like in the book.
There something about stories that handle memory from the POV of unreliable narrators that I find really fascinating.
Looking forward to seeing the film. A bit sad to hear that the film sums things up in a way the novel doesn't, because most often it is exactly this open-endedness that opens the story to broader range of interpretations. Good point about film and book being different media.
In a similar vein, I was a bit sceptical about the movie adaptation for Ishiguro's "Remains of the Day" (a book that I really love) and whether or not the makers managed to convey the story of the book on the screen. I ended up loving the film, of course, despite all my doubts. Both the novel and the film are amazing in their own ways.
Thanks for the video, I might go and see the film soon if I get the chance!
I've actually never read or seen the film of Remains of the Day - which is kind of crazy since I've read and love most of his other books (my favourite is The Unconsoled).
Let me know what you think of the film of The Sense of an Ending if you get to see it.
One of the things that I loved about the book is the very brief mention of Stefan Zweig (an author I had never heard of), but now is one of my favorite authors.
Oh great! Zweig has had a bit of a resurgence lately, hasn't he? At least, I've seen several of his books have been republished in the last few years. I've only read his biographies of Balzac and Montaigne. They were so fascinating particularly because Zweig puts so much of himself into these accounts of the authors' lives. I've wanted to read more. What's your favourite book by him?
I have read many, many of his short stories. I loved The World of Yesterday, that he wrote just before he died. It is his memoir and a love story to a world that ceased to exist with the rise of Hitler. I also recommend the Post-Office Girl which is about the post WWI experience for an Austrian Veteran. Everything I have read by him is just beautiful.
Thanks Karen! Those sound excellent.
I read this book a few times and like it so much that I dare not to watch the film. I will go to watch it after your review. Thanks.
Fine analysis.... The Sense of an Ending is one of my favorite books and I was very satisfied that the movie was so faithful to it. Such a great cast... Hey Eric, you are from Maine---did you by any chance attend Bates? I did.
I didn’t go to Bates but I know some people who did.
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Just read the book, have yet to see the film. I found the book a bit frustrating as I had just read the wonderful, broad picture Days Without End and found this book rather middle class male writer of certain age remembers youthful sex etc (cf Amis and McEwan). I found Tony thoroughly unlikeable. I could not believe his ex wife wanted to spend time with the old bore and listen to him go on about the past. Most women of that age are too busy with their own lives to spend time mollycoddling the ex! It was very clever book and did a marvellous job on unreliable narrator and repressed memories but I felt it lacked heart. Also I was slightly puzzled at the end and then went on the internet where I found many theories abounded..your review of the film v book is vey good and I shall look out for the film.
I can understand how you'd feel that way and usually I have equally little patience for middle class male writer of a certain age - I detest Amis! And that's funny about his ex-wife, but I think he does show she gets impatient with him and loses interest in his backward musing. And I did feel the book had a heart to it, but that's just my take on it. I think you'll find the film diverts from the book in some interesting ways which may make you like it more or less. :)
Okay, this was a book I enjoyed very much, and I was worried how the unreliable narrator part would translate to the screen. Thank you:)
Glad I could help! Let me know what you think of the film if you get a chance to see it.
You sound a lot like Peter Dinklage!
Thanks! I'm flattered.
Great video, too! Perfect analysis!
THE Sense of an Ending is a beautifully put together novel.It deals with time ,memory and the way we can get things wrong.Do we only keep the memories that prove us right and suppress less palatable memories.How can we get things so wrong ?