Reading Group

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

It is July 1962, Edward and Florence, young innocents married that morning, arrive at a hotel on the Dorset coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their private fears of the wedding night to come......

Our reading group book for February and we had great fun reviewing it this week. I am always amazed that we read the same book but each of us has a different take on it. As usual there was quite a lot of disagreement about the book.

Was Florence damaged by her father? Ian McEwan seems to hint at abuse throughout the book. Florence is devastated when the wedding night has the effect of "summoning memories she had long ago decided were not really hers."

What effect did his mothers accident and subsequent withdrawl from reality have on Edward? Did this lead to his feelings of anger and violence?

Ian McEwan successfully shows the gulf between the sexes and the damage lack of communication can do to a relationship. How easy it is to resort to anger and recrimination as a defensive posture.

'If only' are the two saddest words in the English Language.