Kaylee Final Post

            Now since I have finished reading The Sense of an Ending, I have so say I’m pretty indifferent to my feelings about the book. I’m not in love with the book, but I don’t dislike it. I think that the story as a whole had a consistent flow of ideas on how life plays out and how we change as individuals as it progresses. Part One served as a good background to the story and was possibly my more favored part of the novel. (This may just be because I wasn’t as rushed reading it)

            I thought Tony Webster was an interesting protagonist and narrator. I liked how he was straightforward about his opinions and desires. I enjoyed getting into his thoughts and the arguments he held within. I believe that everyone can relate to Tony in the sense that he lives a seemingly average life, floating along society. He is constantly comparing himself to others, esp. Adrian, which we find ourselves doing everyday. He also struggles with the memories of his past and continuously asking himself, “what if?”. The concept of memory is touched upon numerous times in the novel. Or rather time as a whole. “Time tells all” he repeats in the story. I find this statement going both directions, in regards to times ability to wear a person down or times ability to feed the individual more knowledge and experience. Throughout the novel Tony is trying to uncover some of his fondest memories from his past, at some times he is successful and others he is not. Barnes also discusses how memories are connected with history. He criticizes history in regards to its reliability and origins.

            Overall I think this book has depth and significance within the topics of human life that are presented by Barnes. I have so say the ending wasn’t what I expected. It took me a second to really sink in the information and I think it is an interesting conclusion, however kind of random. Part two was directed completely at what Adrian had left behind and such, however I was left feeling unfulfilled. I am curious and happy to be discussing this book (if we are) in class so we can focus in on the details of the novel.