I can’t believe how much emotion and depth can be compressed in just 160 pages. McEwan is my literary hero. The way he finds the perfect balance between simplistic and intensive imagery. The way he bends, stretches and uses time in all its facets. What did the end of WW2 mean for two young British lovers? How can a single moment shape the course of forever? Why do minutes feel like hours when you’re in agony? And why do weeks feel like cursory breaths when you’re in paradise. The way McEwan turns the most mundane, human experiences into something so unexpectedly layered. I’m in awe.
Plot Summary
Two young virgin lovers arrive On Chesil Beach to spend their honeymoon but things go terribly wrong. True to his narrative style, McEwan delicately unfolds the first meetings, the social mileus, the ambitions and the traits of each lover spanning the history of their one year relationship. It is up to us to try piece together what could have contributed to the present events.
Now, there is a lot to unpack in this novel. I could go on about the curse or gift of youthful ambition, marriage and our expectations of it, and the impact family has on our life-decisions. But I will choose to speak about love. Something that to me, is the closest thing humanity has to an absolute.
1. “Love it not a steady feeling”
Love is not a steady feeling. It’s like the waves that crash against the shore of our hearts. Just because the waves fall back, doesn’t mean the ocean has disappeared. So I guess I’m learning not to keep chasing that euphoric feeling that we often mistake for love. I think this is important to understand because we have a tendancy to do whatever we can to preserve the rose-tinted glasses. We hide aspects of ourselves, we supress who we truly are in fear of tainting the fragile image of perfection we have in the beginning of a relationship. But the truth always comes out. When Florence finally releases her anger and scathing words, she realizes how “frightfully polite” they both were together. They were not truly themselves, but rather the most “poised” versions of themselves. I’ve learnt that we can let go of the chase for fleeting paradise because love is not a single and perfect emotion. It masks itself in many fluctuating feelings and actions.
2. If Love is the heart, Patience is the lungs.
And the body needs both to function. I love that I’m writing this in autumn. I am noticing how each leaf takes its time to turn and eventually fall off its branch. Some leaves still cling on with all their red fury. But nature doesn’t rush them. She knows she has the time to reach the full essence of her beauty. She trusts in that time. I think that’s the patience we need to give our loved ones. Patience in their journey toward self-betterment.
“Love and patience – If only he had had them both at once.
On Chesil Beach, page 166
3. Know what you want and why
As someone whose thoughts tend to overspill into the future, I know I need to be careful when taking this advice. There is something so freeing about taking life moment by moment.
However, when it comes to deciding who you want to spend your life with. I believe its important to reflect on what you are pursuing and why. Is it to prove something? Is it to fill an empty hole? Is it to feel safe and secure? Is it for no reason at all? I’m slowly learning that the easiest way to be honest with others, is to be honest with yourself first. I think Florence and Edward could have saved themselves a lot of hurt if they took time to reflect on this. And of course to see if their desires were alligned.
Well…
Thank you for making it this far on my-lets-pretend-Lukanyo’s-a-love-guru blog. I really hope this review inspires you to read this book one day. It is truly an exquisite and light page-turner. Happy reading!