The Sense of An Ending- Book Review

The Sense of an Ending is the winner of the Man Booker prize 2011, now the Booker Prize. The 150 pages of it pivot on the imperfection of memory. An excerpt reads: We live with such easy assumptions, don’t we? For instance, that memory equals events plus time.

Julian Barnes is the kind of author that makes you want to have an all-access pass to his mind; curious at the depth and breadth of it. He comes off as quite advanced and dynamic in thought. It is impressive how he simultaneously builds cases around opposing and parallel philosophical tenets, making it enjoyable for a reader to assess different viewpoints.

The book is essentially Tony Webster’s account of his story. History produced where the imperfections of his memory meet the inadequacies of documentation against the backdrop of time. His story is beautifully written, strung with figures of speech that masterfully bring the book to life.

The content is as a tripod stand of History, Time, and Memory, supporting the lens through which Tony creates meaning. The first section of the book includes witty conversations had with friends and teachers during his younger years; rich exchanges that tickle your ears and activate your mind, in the wake of which you assess the quality and contents of your own engagements.

The first section conceptually prepares you to appreciate the drama that unfolds in the second, where Tony grapples with the sense of an ending of a story that began over 40 years earlier; revealing the nuances around the self-serving nature of memory. (that produced Africa’s history as remembered by the west.) This section is also underpinned by an unexpected apprehension that makes you reluctant to put the book down in the quest for reconciliation.

The joy of reading this book is not only in the plot of the story, but also, if not more, in the clever choice of words and phrases that culminate in a harmonious presentation. Those who enjoy physically highlighting profound sections of a book may as well color the whole book.

And the ending? Well, let’s just say that in a thrilling twist, there’s no sense to it.

While engrossed in Tony’s thread, I also contemplated the Covid-19 history taking place right underneath our noses. What will be the memory of the survivors? The paradox is that living through it guarantees no clarity.

Pick it up and you will see why the book is worthy of recognition, leaving you (as it did me), eager to look at more of his works.