Among the things to like, before you even start reading, is knowing that The Sense of an Ending was 2011's winner of the Man Booker prize. Besides, the book is small and short and comfortably written, pleasant to hold and to read.
On the surface the plot is relatively simple. Tony, now 60-ish and retired, looks back on his life, particularly his time in secondary school. There, he'd been close friends with three other young men, including intelligent and outstanding Adrian, and briefly, Tony had dated Veronica, before she and Adrian became a couple.
Now in the present, Tony receives a bequest after the death of Veronica's mother, a big surprise after all these years. A modest mystery follows, as Tony again locates Veronica, and learns some truths about those years which he could not have guessed.
More than this relatively straight-forward plot, Barnes deals with the relationship of one's memory to actual events. Tony begins to look back at his whole life and to question if his memories and his sense of himself are true and real. As I read, I did the same, and wondered how many of my memories would match what actually took place many years ago.
Sense of an Ending was easy to read, but offered lots of ideas I'd enjoy discussing. I know I would enjoy a second reading, and would probably understand much that I missed the first time through.
(Thanks, Dorla.)
Comments