On Chesil Beach: A Novel

by Ian McEwan | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780385522403 Global Overview for this book
Registered by indygo88 of Lafayette, Indiana USA on 10/29/2007
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This book is in a Controlled Release! This book is in a Controlled Release!
11 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, October 29, 2007
"It is July 1962. Florence is a talented musician who dreams of a career on the concert stage and of the perfect life she will create with Edward, an earnest young history student at University College of London, who unexpectedly wooed and won her heart. Newly married that morning, both virgins, Edward and Florence arrive at a hotel on the Dorset coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their worries about the wedding night to come. Edward, eager for rapture, frets over Florence’s response to his advances and nurses a private fear of failure, while Florence’s anxieties run deeper: she is overcome by sheer disgust at the idea of physical contact, but dreads disappointing her husband when they finally lie down together in the honeymoon suite.

Ian McEwan has caught with understanding and compassion the innocence of Edward and Florence at a time when marriage was presumed to be the outward sign of maturity and independence. On Chesil Beach is another masterwork from McEwan—a story of lives transformed by a gesture not made or a word not spoken."

Picked up this nearly-new hardcover copy at Goodwill today. Despite my difficulties getting through Ian McEwan in the past, I'm gonna give this short one a go & possibly see if there's interest in a bookring.

Journal Entry 2 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, November 2, 2007
IT'S A BOOKRING!!!

General guidelines apply. Please try not to keep the book in your possession for too terribly long. If something comes up (or if you're backlogged & would like to be moved further down the list), please PM me to give me an update so I don't worry! :') And as always, please journal when you receive the book, with your review, and when you're mailing it back out. Thanks to all! And enjoy! :')

Mailing list:

msjoanna (NY)
classicfox (OH)
chambejd (MA)
kiptrix (SC)
spoiledrotten (NJ)
jnpert (KY)
perryfran (MD)
valerief (NY)
300dogs (NJ)
sarradee (TX)
indygo88 (IN)

Journal Entry 3 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Sunday, November 4, 2007
I have a hard time with McEwan. I think you either like his writing style or you don't. He is wonderfully descriptive, but if you're a person who likes dialogue, then you may have trouble fully appreciating his novels. I guess I fall into this category. I found "Saturday" extremely dull & gave up about halfway through, which I rarely do with any book. But there are so many people who really enjoy his writing, so I keep giving him another chance. Similarly, this story is short on dialogue & long on description, but I found the book's short length encouraging for me & overall, I have mixed feelings. It's hard to say much about plot without giving away the ending. I think McEwan did a very good job of exploring both male & female characterizations. And I thought the last two pages of the book were the best & the most thought-provoking. I'm interested to see how other readers will respond to this book.

Journal Entry 4 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Sunday, November 4, 2007
This will be going out in tomorrow's mail to msjoanna to start the ring. Happy travels!

Journal Entry 5 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Tuesday, November 13, 2007
This has arrived in NYC. I'm nearing the end of the book I'm currently reading and will start this one next. Since it's such a short book, I'll go ahead and PM the next in line so I have an address ready.

Journal Entry 6 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Monday, November 19, 2007
This book was terribly sad. Heartbreaking. Thoughtful. Gut-wrenching. And I highly recommend it. The tiny book is smaller in size than most paperbacks and only about 200 pages of spare prose. But the characters are played out so beautifully. I'm not sure I've ever read a moment captured more precisely. I adored this book.

I am confident that the feeling of this book will stay with me. I can only hope that I have the courage for action at the moments when it's required.

I'm definitely going to bump on of McEwan's other books to the top of the to-be-read list -- I have both Saturday and Atonement on my shelves somewhere.

(mailed 11/21/07)

Journal Entry 7 by classicfox on Monday, November 26, 2007
This came in the mail today and I plan to start reading it within the next few days. This will be my third McEwan. The first one, The Comfort of Strangers, I liked. The other one I'm reading now, The Child in Time, is not doing it for me and I'm going to give up on it. Hopefully this will be the best one yet for me. I also have Saturday and Atonement on Mt. TBR. So far I have mixed feelings about McEwan, so this book will be the tie breaker for me!

12/01/07 Finished: While This has been my favorite McEwan so far, it did not enthrall me. I found myself skimming over many descriptive passages which I feel are integral to his stories, but they do nothing for me. I think this will be the last of his I read even though I have two more on my shelf; but I really did try my best to like him after having "gotten through" 2 1/2 books. I kept slogging on, hoping each book would get better but I'll leave him to his fans. He is popular but apparently not to everybody's taste--but then who is? Glad to have read this though--at least it was short!

Journal Entry 8 by classicfox at controlled release in Catalunya, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 3, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (12/3/2007 UTC) at controlled release in Catalunya, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed today to chambejd, next on the list.

Journal Entry 9 by chambejd from Millbury, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, December 13, 2007
This arrived on Tuesday. Thanks so much for sending it. I'm really looking forward to reading it!

Journal Entry 10 by chambejd from Millbury, Massachusetts USA on Friday, December 21, 2007
I finished this book last night. My boyfriend walked in the room right after I finished and was really concerned when he saw the tears streaming down my face. It was short on dialogue and heavy on description as others have said and I also tend to be one who prefers more plot than description. That said though, it did hold my interest and I read the last half in one sitting. It is a sad story and I was frustrated with the characters at times... and more with Florence than Edward. My boyfriend is going to read this quickly and then I'll get it in the mail soon. Thanks, indygo, for letting me read this. It was my first McEwan and I have several in Mt. TBR that I'll be getting to at some point.

Journal Entry 11 by chambejd from Millbury, Massachusetts USA on Friday, January 11, 2008
My boyfriend read this book too but didn't really comment on it. I'll have to ask him what he thought...

I mailed this book this morning to kiptrix. Thanks again for sharing it with us!

Journal Entry 12 by kiptrix from Summerville, South Carolina USA on Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Received this in the mail today. I loved Atonement and also liked Saturday very much, so I have high expectations! I'll start this as soon as I finish my current book. Thank you!

Journal Entry 13 by kiptrix from Summerville, South Carolina USA on Thursday, January 24, 2008
McEwan didn't disappoint me. He writes so beautifully, puts into words what I would never be able to articulate. I got sucked into this novel slowly, and eventually couldn't put it down.

Will be sending it on as soon as I have an address.

Journal Entry 14 by kiptrix from Summerville, South Carolina USA on Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The book is on its way to spoiledrotten in New Jersey. Hope you like it.

Journal Entry 15 by spoiledrotten from Waldwick, New Jersey USA on Monday, February 4, 2008
Received in the mail along with four other book rings. Please be patient as I will read as fast as I can! Thanks for including me.

Journal Entry 16 by spoiledrotten from Waldwick, New Jersey USA on Thursday, February 14, 2008
This is the first book I read by this author. I thought the story line was interesting enough, if a little wordy at times. I don't think I will anything more by him. Thanks so much to indyq088 for including me and introducing me to a new author. I mailed this out this morning to jnpert. Hope she enjoys it more than I do.

Journal Entry 17 by jnpert from Ridgefield, Connecticut USA on Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Received the book in the mail today. I just started another book a few days ago, but this will be the next one up.

Thank you!

Journal Entry 18 by jnpert from Ridgefield, Connecticut USA on Saturday, March 8, 2008
Finished this afternoon. I've been trapped in the house since yesterday afternoon due to a snowstorm- 12 inches- which made for good reading time!

I enjoyed the book. I loved the description in the book- it captured that type of infatuation you find in your early 20s. I was very saddened by the relationship and loved the bittersweet ending as Edward looks back on the whole situation.

I have perryfran's address so I will head to the post office later this week.


Journal Entry 19 by jnpert from Ridgefield, Connecticut USA on Saturday, March 15, 2008
Sent off to perryfran via media mail today.

Thanks!

Journal Entry 20 by wingperryfranwing from Elk Grove, California USA on Monday, March 17, 2008
Received in today's mail. Looking forward to reading this but I do have a couple of books to finish first. Thanks for including me in this bookring!

Journal Entry 21 by wingperryfranwing from Elk Grove, California USA on Friday, March 21, 2008
Finished reading this short McEwan novel this morning. What a tragic story of love lost because of insecurities by man and wife on their wedding night. McEwan was very effective in his slight prose in telling this story giving the history of how the couple met and their brief time together. Then at the end he fast forwards into the future and tells what the ultimate outcome of the events were. Overall, I thought it was very well done. This was my second McEwan novel - I read "Atonement" a couple of years ago and enjoyed it a lot. I recently saw the movie version and would recommend it as well. I also have a few other McEwan novels on my TBR list which I hope to get to soon.

Thanks indygo88 for including me in this bookring. I will be getting it in the mail to valerief today.

Journal Entry 22 by wingperryfranwing at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 21, 2008

Released 16 yrs ago (3/21/2008 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to valerief in New York to continue this bookring. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 23 by valerief from Queens, New York USA on Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Arrived over the weekend. I have two books ahead of this, but should get to it within April. Thanks!

Journal Entry 24 by valerief at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, May 2, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (5/3/2008 UTC) at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

This is one of my favorite books of the year so far. Having just had a long-term relationship that collapsed mainly due to poor communication, I sympathized with Florence and Edward and wished they could have worked their differences out better. Mcewan typically plays off of how lives are affected (often negatively) by a single misunderstanding, granted the misunderstanding occurs slightly later into this book. I would have liked to hear more of Florence's later experiences at the end of the book; it seemed a bit one-sided to focus on Edward. Atonement had left me cold, but every other Mcewan book I've read since has been much better. I agree with previous readers that his writing is spare but beautiful.

RELEASE NOTES:

This is off to 300dogs in the mail. It should not take too long to arrive as it's going right across the Hudson River to NJ.

Journal Entry 25 by 300dogs from Jackson, New Jersey USA on Sunday, May 18, 2008
Received in yesterdays mail. I look forward to reading this!!

Journal Entry 26 by 300dogs from Jackson, New Jersey USA on Saturday, June 7, 2008
My favorite sentance of the entire book was in the last paragraph, on the last page -- "...how the entire course of a life can be changed--by doing nothing." What a powerful statement. Obviously, the whole outcome and their lives would have changed had Edward just called out her name. Wow.

This book will be mail next to sarradee in Texas.

Journal Entry 27 by sarradee from Mansfield, Texas USA on Friday, June 13, 2008
Arrived safely here with me, I'll get started as soon as I'm done with my current read. Thank you so much for including me as a late entry into your ring, I've heard so many good things about this book, and I was excited to see it offered on the forums.

Journal Entry 28 by sarradee from Mansfield, Texas USA on Monday, June 30, 2008
What a tiny yet powerful book. Such a sad situation. It's hard to say more without leaving spoilers so I won't go into details on the specifics. As others have said the author is big on description but short on dialogue. I have Saturday or maybe it's Atonement on my TBR pile and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does with a longer novel.

Will return to indygo asap.

Journal Entry 29 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, July 7, 2008
This book has returned home to me. Thanks to all for participating and passing the book along so efficiently! :')

Journal Entry 30 by indygo88 at Lafayette, Indiana USA on Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (1/2/2009 UTC) at Lafayette, Indiana USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending off to PBS member. Enjoy! :')

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