Saturday, December 08, 2007

Book Review: On Chesil Beach

"This is how the entire course of a life can be changed - by doing nothing."

That's a quote at the end of the book I just finished reading called On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. I like the quote a lot and its implication that not only do your actions affect your life but your nonactions do also. In the story, the main character basically just lets his wife walk away after an argument - he doesn't go after her and he doesn't try to settle their problems - and they never see each other again and yet he basically stays in love with her his whole life. Sad. But other than that, the whole premise of the book is so bizarre. It starts on the couple's wedding night and goes through, play by play, their troubles with consummating their marriage. He's overeager; she's very reluctant and quite honestly, disgusted by sex.

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