Narration is the Jewel Of This Book. Review on The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes

Something of a type I'd never read.

The author puts a blanket over the events listed in the story, limits your perception by revealing only what is necessary and takes you on a long journey broken down into various jaunts.

For me it was a haunting account of a story the memoirs try to reconstruct. And you know that memories can be deceptive.

And one statement from this novel will stay with me forever:

"History isn't the lies of the victors, nor is it the self-delusion of the defeated,

rather it's the memories of the survivors, most of whom are neither victorious nor defeated"

The style and flow of the book is simply superb. Again, the story may not be a crowd puller or the kind of the one you would expect with the narration of this level. But every page is worth the time spent in absorbing the depth of each sentence. Most of the verses are emotionally poignant sending the reader into a small introspective journey. It opens our eyes to the fact that the everyday events we take for granted somehow assume so much importance in the bigger picture.

The book drives the point that what we remember from our memories is just our version of the events and there might be more to the whole story. The journey of knowing protagonist’s memories, perceptions of life and the way they change when he encounters the truth is an enriching one. The book is more than just 150 pages of a story; it’s also a lens our lives can use at some point or other.

A must read for all those who are looking for a different kind of book which entertains and at the same time is not shallow.