The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Of course the overwhelming reason as to why I read this novel was due to it痴 length. I have never liked long books; I often times find the monotonous and wordy. Before beginning the novel I assume you would need to know somewhat about the culture of the sixties and also social customs and terms originating from the United Kingdom seeing as that痴 where the majority of the novel takes place. This setting is only imperative to the novel because lends reference. The novel opens on four schoolmates who are all seemingly very intelligent and philosophical and we can sense that before this opening scene, they have all been sent to a boarding school by their parents and they all seem to very much enjoy it. The story is told from the perspective of Anthony (Tony) Webster, who is also one of the four schoolmates. As the novel progresses we see the main character痴 attempt to not be out-shone by his friend Adrian who will later on begin dating his ex girlfriend and ultimately commit suicide. Tony struggles with his over processing mind and also the perilous struggles that every young adult faces such as messy relationships, school and work. Though the novel can tend to rant on about philosophical self-evidence and theories that can at times be above me, the author captures my attention excellently through his fast pace and extensive vocabulary.

We live in time ?it holds us and moulds us?but I致e never felt I understood it very well. And I知 not referring to theories about how it blends and doubles back, or may exist elsewhere in parallel versions. No, I mean ordinary, everyday time, which clocks and watches assure us passes regularly.Then Sense of an Ending (p. 10) This quote here summarizes the views that Tony Webster has on time. The everyday time that passes. It represents the rapid pace at which the novel moves and shows the lack of representation that this everyday time actually has; the simple passing of life.

At this point in the novel, we see the main