Still others argue that she’s traumatized from childhood sexual abuse. Others say she’s obviously asexual or a lesbian. Some readers see Florence as a willing but naive and nervous participant. I sometimes poke through other reviews before writing my own, and the reviews for On Chesil Beach have more range than most. If the narrative were from a single perspective, it would be easy to assume the worst of the other party, but by showing both sides, something much more interesting and tragic emerges. Things end badly, but not from any intentional duplicity or maliciousness on either part. If this were a movie, the secondhand embarrassment would have kept me peeking through my fingers, but that doesn’t work with a book. McEwan’s chief skill is how he bounces the narrative between their perspectives to show the ways they misunderstand and misinterpret each others’ actions and words. The miscommunications between Florence and Edward are awkward. There’s an imperceptible shift into an engaging story it’s like a magic trick. After a swift recap of the wedding and dinner, the book launches into a detailed description of Florence and Edward’s awkward, bumbling wedding night. It’s a bit awkward to recommend On Chesil Beach to friends and family because it’s a book I’d never read aloud (or in front of) friends and family.
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