“On Chesil Beach”

July 28, 2008 at 1:57 am | Posted in Fiction | 1 Comment

Ian McEwan has done something remarkable. He’s taken a basic plot outline worthy of a Farrelly Brothers script and turned it into a sensitive, sad story.

The tale of a couple on the night of their honeymoon could be handled in so many different ways. In 2008, what haven’t we seen? Ours is a tell-all culture with almost no taboos. (I’m prepared to argue what those taboos are, but this is a family blog so we’ll leave out any queasy-making details). In light of this, McEwan’s handling of a couple who both maintained their virginity until their wedding night almost needed to be set in 1962. Innocence and naivete aren’t easy to pull off.

While it isn’t a cheerful read, On Chesil Beach is an unforgettable story, with an ending that will stand out in your mind long after you’ve closed the covers.