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Book Review of The Sense of an Ending (Vintage International)

The Sense of an Ending (Vintage International)
christylisty avatar reviewed on + 45 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


The Sense of an Ending is about the harsh passions of youth and the fog of memory with age. It describes like no other book I have ever read how our memories become wisps of detail, some meaningful and some merely sensory impressions. I read the book in a single sitting, aching, like its protagonist, to resolve the misidentified clues to his life. This book is also profoundly sad. Many people of a certain age will identify with the protagonist's dissatisfaction with having lived an average life. While those who are older will identify with Julian Barnes' masterpiece, it is a book that every young person should read to better understand anger, passions, loss, redemption, and what lies ahead. This book won the Man Booker Prize for very good reasons: beautiful writing, a deep understanding of human nature, and philosophical prowess. It will resonate with readers, philosophers, Dvorak lovers, and those who remember the Moody Blues.