|
A History of the World in 10½ Chapters |
History around the themes of love and survival. Often cynical, sometimes very funny.The first chapter tells the story of Noah's Ark as seen through the eyes of a strange stowaway. Another gives a graphic account of the hijacking of a Mediterranean cruise liner. There's also a remake of part of the film 'The Mission', where things don't turn out quite as planned. And lots more.
(Wendy Swann - bwl 4 July 2000) |
|
|
Arthur & George |
George Edjali, - solicitor son of a Scottish mother and Indian father, the local vicar in a Staffordshire village - is tried and shamefully convicted of mutilating horses following anonymous letters sent to the family. George endures a sentence of 7 years philosophically and courageously. On hearing of this scandalous miscarriage of justice, Arthur Conan Doyle, famous creator of Sherlock Holmes, determines to see justice done. Historically correct, Julian Barnes's 'novel' is a riveting account.
(James Baker - bwl 35 July 2006) |
|
|
Flaubert's Parrot |
A gentle and discursive stroll around one of France's 19th century literary giants, Gustave Flaubert, author of 'Madame Bovary'. Definitely not a formal biography but instead Barnes's reflections on different aspects of Flaubert's life and experiences, as well as on aspects of his own life. Amusing and, I found, a satisfying gap-filler for reading, spasmodically rather than straight through, between two more serious works. I enjoyed it.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 39 April 2007) |
|
|
Levels of Life |
Barnes writes about his grief for his wife by finding parallels with the first attempts at balloooning and the 'balloonatics' involved, particularly one who fell in love with Sarah Bernhardt. He also explores early photography and new perspectives on life as the world is viewed from above. The section dealing with his grief I found almost intoxicatingly poignant. His feelings are so raw and so honest you have to forgive him going on a bit.
(Victoria Grey-Edwards - bwl 70 Autumn 2013) |
|
|
Love, Etc. |
Despite a rather inconclusive end, what a genius! I love 'the offstage close-harmony tinkle of forks cascading into their little stacking nooks.....' and Julian Barnes is as good with human emotions as he is on loading the dishwasher. I never persevered with 'Talking it Over', which introduced the three main characters in this 'love triangle', but found this one witty, entertaining and perceptive, though with (finally) quite a chilly outlook on life etc.
(Victoria Grey-Edwards - bwl 11 October 2001) |
|
|
The Noise of Time |
Dimitri Shostakovich, the great Russian composer, spent most of his creative life under Stalin's terror with his bags packed at the ready in case of his arrest. Julian Barnes brilliantly evokes this terrible era and gives us a picture of a creative soul in torment which make his achievements all the more remarkable.
(David Graham - bwl 80 Spring 2016) |
|
|
The Noise of Time |
I've often wondered about the ethics of writing fictional accounts of real people, as Barnes does here with Russian composer Shostakovich (and previously Flaubert). I started reading this as biography - Barnes has certainly done his homework - but how would Shostakovich himself feel about the tormented character that emerges? Whatever, Shostakovich's real and imagined sufferings under the crazy Soviet system, recounted in telling hiccoughs, are compelling, whatever their provenance, and I was enthralled.
(Annabel Bedini - bwl 85 Summer 2017) |
|
|
The Only Story |
Paul, 19, falls in love with Susan, 48 and married. Paul believes their love will last forever, and with all the intensity, egotism and bravado of youth, decides to live with her. Their relationship lasts decades, including years of decline. The repercussions last forever. If this is his attempt to understand and define love, Barnes concludes 'Perhaps love could never be captured in a definition; it could only ever be captured in a story.' Painful but beautiful: I loved it.
(Denise Lewis - bwl 88 Spring 2018) |
|
|
The Pedant in the Kitchen |
This started as a series of articles in the Guardian Review and for that reason is better in small bites than consumed whole. Written with style and humour it will resonate with anyone who, unsure of their cooking skills and knowledge, seeks precision in recipe books. An entertaining alternative to yet another recipe book, perhaps.
(Christine Miller - bwl 22 February 2004) |
|
|
The Sense of an Ending |
A compelling story told in later life about relationships formed when young, the relevance of history, the ambiguity of the written word, the fallibility of memory and the consequences of immature emotional reactions. Because of its unsettling denouement, the book demands a second reading (only 150 pages) to fully appreciate Barnes's skill. As finely crafted as a poem, almost every word carries multiple layers of meaning and the impact of the whole resonates long in the mind. Brilliant!
(Denise Lewis - bwl 63 Winter 2012) |
|
|
The Sense of an Ending |
As a young man, Tony Webster blames his failed romance with Veronica on his close friend Adrian. For decades Tony continues to believe this explanation . . . until Veronica's mother leaves Adrian's diary to him in her Will. What follows is a skilful unfolding of the truth of the matter. It is a small masterpiece with a surprise ending that lingers in your thoughts.
(Sharron Calkins - bwl 95 Winter 2019) |
|
