Close
The Sense Of An Ending
"Larger Image
The Sense Of An Ending

The Sense Of An Ending

by Julian Barnes

Random House of Canada | February 21, 2012 | Trade Paperback

Based on 20 ratings | Rate this | 6 reviews
Winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize and #1 international bestseller, The Sense of an Ending is a masterpiece.

The story of a man coming to terms with the mutable past, Julian Barnes''s new novel is laced with his trademark precision, dexterity and insight. It is the work of one of the world''s most distinguished writers.

Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at school. Sex-hungry and book-hungry, they navigated the girl drought of gawky adolescence together, trading in affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Maybe Adrian was a little more serious than the others, certainly more intelligent, but they swore to stay friends forever. Until Adrian''s life took a turn into tragedy, and all of them, especially Tony, moved on and did their best to forget.

Now Tony is in middle age. He''s had a career and a marriage, a calm divorce. He gets along nicely, he thinks, with his one child, a daughter, and even with his ex-wife. He''s certainly never tried to hurt anybody. Memory, though, is imperfect. It can always throw up surprises, as a lawyer''s letter is about to prove. The unexpected bequest conveyed by that letter leads Tony on a dogged search through a past suddenly turned murky. And how do you carry on, contentedly, when events conspire to upset all your vaunted truths?
In Stock
This item is eligible for FREE SHIPPING.
See details
save 24%

$15.16


was $19.95

$14.40


Member Price

or, Used from $18.90

add to cart
add to wish list add to gift list
Found in: Fiction and Literature

Find it in Store

See if this item is available in a store near you.

* Prices may vary in store
find it now

Reviews of The Sense Of An Ending

6 reviews from our community
see all | write a review
  • 4 months ago
    Not sure why I added this to my wish list
    I cant remember why I added this to my wish list, it did not become any clearly either during or after reading it. Honestly I would not recommend it unless you want an idea of what you might expect to happen to your memory as you get older. I can save you some time and tell you to live life to the fullest and never waste an opportunity even if it presents like a huge challenge. Not that I think that is the authors message but reading about a someone else self professed mediocre life, that's how it made me feel.
    …read more
    Was this review helpful?
    2
    1
    reply
  • 7 months ago
    Aims to be Plain and Achieves
    The thing about award-winning books that you read AFTER they've won the awards is you spend the entire time trying to fathom just what IT is, if this book is deemed to have had IT. This was my first encounter with the already-acclaimed Barnes, and upon completion of it, I've decided that it is a fine attempt to express something surprising, a Dickensian twist, but to do it in an intentionally normal, boring, and to use the author's word "average" life. The intent was to make it as human as possible, and though that's something many writers aspire to, there is much that leaves you wondering what the point is. The voice is not distracting, but nor does it make you thrill as many Man Booker winners in the past have made me do. It's fairly conventional, and yet there are times when it dives into the rumination of time or life or epitaphs that we find some of the most riveting work. And yet, it still just comes together too nicely, with a fairly plain mystery and a fairly plain explanation in the end. In the real world, it would be noteworthy, but in fiction it is just life.
    …read more
    Was this review helpful?
    2
    0
    reply
  • 8 months ago
    Couldn't wait for it to end
    I should have known that as a winner of the Man Booker prize, this book and I were not going to get along. This is a book about a man who mis-remembers his youth, is confronted with his self-righteous smug judgments of the past, and in the end nothing of any consequence really happens. At a scant 160pp, this book dragged on forever. Couldn't wait for it to end, but persevered to the last out of bookclub commitment only.
    …read more
    Was this review helpful?
    3
    0
    reply
  • 10 months ago
    Wow
    I have not read a novel so polarizing as The Sense of an Ending. Just look at some of the other reviews. It is so well crafted and achieved that the reader may question the fact it was on purpose. But all one needs to do after reading is look to the title and I defy you not to at least smirk. If you are the type of reader who enjoys a novel that is tied up in a nice bow by the end I would avoid this book. This novel seems ideal for any book club. The desire to discuss and confirm the narrator’s take on events in book make it self-reflexive. You look to other people around you to help you make ‘sense’ of the book. This process may be fun it is ultimately futile. The reader should try and decide for themselves before seeing what other readers have to say. This fact makes the book difficult to review or even describe to friends. All you can say is just read it. This book may not engage your heart but it will engage your mind. The Sense of an Ending is about, “Making sense of the ways we try to make sense of our lives.” Deep. Check out my first published work Defenseless
    …read more
    Was this review helpful?
    6
    0
    reply
  • 14 months ago
    Riveting!
    You will not be able to put this book down--it is absolutely compelling.It is well written, clever, humorous and unpredictable.
    …read more
    Was this review helpful?
    8
    0
    reply
  • 2 years ago
    One of the best novels
    The best novel I have read in a long time. This was my first time reading Julian Barnes. The language, character development, the movement of the story were exceptional. I am now curious to read more by him. Truly enjoyed the book and have no reservation recommending the book.
    …read more
    Was this review helpful?
    26
    1
    reply
Write a review using your social networks

– More About This Product –

The Sense Of An Ending

The Sense Of An Ending

by Julian Barnes

add to cart

From the Publisher

Winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize and #1 international bestseller, The Sense of an Ending is a masterpiece.

The story of a man coming to terms with the mutable past, Julian Barnes''s new novel is laced with his trademark precision, dexterity and insight. It is the work of one of the world''s most distinguished writers.

Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at school. Sex-hungry and book-hungry, they navigated the girl drought of gawky adolescence together, trading in affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Maybe Adrian was a little more serious than the others, certainly more intelligent, but they swore to stay friends forever. Until Adrian''s life took a turn into tragedy, and all of them, especially Tony, moved on and did their best to forget.

Now Tony is in middle age. He''s had a career and a marriage, a calm divorce. He gets along nicely, he thinks, with his one child, a daughter, and even with his ex-wife. He''s certainly never tried to hurt anybody. Memory, though, is imperfect. It can always throw up surprises, as a lawyer''s letter is about to prove. The unexpected bequest conveyed by that letter leads Tony on a dogged search through a past suddenly turned murky. And how do you carry on, contentedly, when events conspire to upset all your vaunted truths?

About the Author

JULIAN BARNES is the author of three books of stories, two collections of essays, eleven novels, including A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters and Arthur & George (finalist for the Man Booker Prize), and a non-fiction book, Nothing to Be Frightened Of. His honours include the Prix Medicis, the Prix Femina, the Somerset Maugham Award and the E. M. Forster Award. He lives in London.


From the Hardcover edition.

Bookclub Guide

1. Would you describe Tony Webster as an 'unreliable yet sincere narrator'?

2. To what extent do you think Julian Barnes uses "peripeteia", the unexpected twist in plot, to encourage the reader to adjust their expectations?

3. Do you agree with Anita Brookner's review, "his [Julian Barnes] reputation will surely be enhanced by this book". The Telegraph, July 2011.

4. The Sense of an Ending is a novel about the imperfections of memory. What insight does it give the reader into ageing and memory?

5. Is the ending unforeseen, does it leave you with a sense of unease?
 
Copyright ©2011 The Man Booker Prize 2011 at www.themanbookerprize.com

Format: Trade Paperback

Published: February 21, 2012

Publisher: Random House of Canada

Language: English

The following ISBNs are associated with this title:

ISBN - 10: 0307360822

ISBN - 13: 9780307360823

  • My Gift List
  • My Wish List
  • Shopping Cart