The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes Review – Unveiling Memories

Imagine you are sitting at a café or just strolling through a park when you cross path with an elderly man unexpectedly. The old man starts sharing his childhood stories and many more. the man lives alone after the retirement. While he is telling your memories will you politely listen his stories or find some reason to leave the old man. Maybe you listen to his stories for a little time and then leave. Now think for a while that these same memories are written by Julian Barnes. You will surely not want to miss that.

The book The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is just 150 pages long. This short book has been divided into two parts. The first part is about the group of school friends, later joined by fourth member. All the group members are smart as well as arrogant. Among this group is Adrian Finn who was exceptionally talented and intelligent. The first part is all about his school life and how the actions of Adrian leave a lasting impact. After school, all the group members promised that they will maintain their friendship. In college, Tony who are the narrator met a girl named Veronica Mary Ford. One day he visited her family, which led to some unexpected events. You need to read the book of you want to know what happened to Veronica, Tony and the family and what led to the premature death of Adrian.

In the second part, Tony receives a letter from the lawyer of Mrs. Sarah Ford who was mother of Veronica. Surprisingly, she left him some money and Adrian’s diary in her will. This turns the story upside down. The question is why she left money after all these years. What is the connection between Veronica and Adrian’s diary. The readers along with Tony are required to unleash these mysteries. The plot becomes gripping as he tries to retrieve the diary of Adrian from Veronica.

In conclusion, “The Sense of an Ending,” by Julian Barnes, which won the 2011 Man Booker Prize, is engrossing and provocative. It’s divided into two parts for a reason, unlike typical memoirs or nostalgia-based novels. The first section puts the pieces together and presents a picture based on the narrator’s memories. In the second section, he breaks down the puzzle and builds a new picture based on his idealized version of events. It is a distinctive example of construction and deconstruction coming together. You, the reader, must ultimately decide what “The Sense of an Ending” really means.