Ian McEwan, On Chesil Beach Reviews

SunnySky's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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Good Points: As usual with this author, it's beautifully written and he builds up the claustrophobic atmosphere of the dreadful British hotel where a repressed couple have a disastrous wedding night with great control and verve. Unlike others, I enjoyed the story - the slowness was a vital part of it.

Bad Points: For me, it flagged a bit in the middle but this is a minor criticism.

General comments: A little gem. It is a sharp and sad portrayal of a disastrous marriage, made more poignant by its setting at a time just before the great social liberations and greater sexual freedoms of the sixties.

ruthie H's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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'On Chesil Beach' shares with other of the novels of Ian McEwan the sense that there can exist a pivotal, in this case cruel, moment which can change lives for ever. Perhaps the author allows his preoccupation with this central idea to override his sense of human authenticity in this piece.

rhwoodward's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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Set in England in the 60's, 'On Chesil Beach' tells the tale of two sexually inexperienced newly weds on their wedding night. Each has their own thoughts and reservations about their first time together - Florence is dreading the whole affair, but still wants to please her new husband, and Edward has fears that his over-excitement will spoil his first night with his new wife.
As the night unfolds, their doubts are made apparent to each other, and the consequences of that night will change the ...

rekhamurty's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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As a committed fan of McEwan I found this book his weakest attempt and am astonished at the nomination. The Booker must be more meritorious in its slew of titles.

On Chesil Beach is a short, insightful tale about when romance goes wrong.