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Title: Metroland by JULIAN BARNES ISBN: 0-679-73608-5 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 27 October, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.08 (12 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Metroland
Comment: The thoughts and conversations of the two teenage boys and this book are certainly not typical of those of 'real' children. The device used by the author in attributing such sophistication to adolescents parallels one of the themes of the book, that of utilty versus aesthetics.
In the first conversation we read between Chris and Tony since Chris' marriage, Chris asks Tony to explain to him the use of their childhood, heartfelt, agonising studies of reactions to the arts.
As adolescents, the boys have no power but no responsibility - Tony, it seems, never develops responsibilty and is embittered by his subsequent lack of influence on the real world or, indeed, on the literary world.
Chris accomodates real responsibility with a gradual softening of his views on other peoples jobs and lives, (see school reunion,) and the novel ends with Chris looking at the effect of a sodium light - this time he doesn't worry about it turning the colour of his clothes brown, but is content that his daughter is comforted by the light outside her window.
Art has no 'use' other than to sustain our spirits and give support to our more duties as adults.
There is no 'selling out' in this novel, just a wish to avoid the bitterness, loneliness and futility of a life driven by criticism and cynicism.
Rating: 5
Summary: A book that is difficult to describe....
Comment: Metroland is the sort of book that, frankly, most people will not like (or even finish). However, those who do like the book will enjoy it a great deal. The theme is one that has been explored by almost every male author of note: A young man is attempting to sort out his own values while asking himself if he is living his life properly. This is, of course, a serious topic. Because of the gravity of the subject, many writers seem to cave in to the temptation to go overboard and the resulting work becomes hopelessly melodramatic. Julian Barnes, however, has avoided the cliches of this sub-genre by mocking the main character's periodic self-absorbtion. The result is a protagonist that the reader can truly care about and (ultimately) admire. Metroland's dialog is witty, and the narrative is very clever. The chapter dealing with Chris's attempts to impress his new French girlfriend are so realistic that they must be autobiographical. Metroland would be best enjoyed in small bites, a chapter or two at a time at the end of the day. You might hate this book, and I honestly wouldn't blame you, but I loved it.
Rating: 2
Summary: It simply won't do Julian.
Comment: I was immensely disappopinted with this novel. In contrast to the thoughts of most other reviewers it was the opening third which irritated me most. The two central characters as children were quite preposterous. Whilst recognising that Barnes wished to track the arc of their development from immature pretentions through to adult acceptance (in Chris's case) I really don't think he carried it off well. Unless these children attended a school for the outstandingly gifted, I suspect they could not have reched such a level of erudition and linguistic profficiency. I also found that the author pandered (perhaps unwittingly) to a certain strata of reader. Yes, the novel examines some universal themes, but much of it is devoted to the angst of the unknowingly privileged and after a while I found my face twitching as I read. As for Barnes' reputation as a witty and observant writer, if his Man Shop anecdote is his best attempt at humour, I suggest he sticks to the plays on words. Barnes' brand of humour is slick and clever, as you would expect, but it seems far too constructed and simply isn't amusing. Like most readers I admire Barnes greatly for his brilliant use of language and his insightful thoughts on the human condition, however this novel is ridden with hubris and an overall dillusion of applicability to the world in general. As a teenager in Newcastle I learned French at school. Most of the time I could barely remember the days of the week, and yet, compared to most kids, I was thought of as fluent! Perhaps this genius generation only ever existed in the Home Counties of England, but then since Englishness is defined, de facto, by those counties I suspect this offering is regarded as a representative piece of 'English' fiction. All in all, a highly insulated view. Posh twaddle - avoid if at all possible.
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Title: A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes ISBN: 0679731377 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 27 November, 1990 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Before She Met Me by Julian Barnes ISBN: 0679736093 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 27 October, 1992 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Letters from London by Julian Barnes ISBN: 0679761616 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 24 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: England, England by Julian Barnes ISBN: 0375705503 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 11 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Cross Channel by Julian Barnes ISBN: 067976755X Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 11 February, 1997 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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