title: England, England by: Barnes, Julian published: 2010-02-23 read: 2020-05 preview

I may not be English enough. Julian Barnes’ major works include “Metroland” (1980), “Flaubert’s Parrot” (1984), “A History of the World in 10½ Chapters” (1989), “England, England” (1998), and “The Sense of an Ending” (2011), which won the Man Booker Prize. Other notable works are “Arthur & George” (2005), “The Noise of Time” (2016), “The Only Story” (2018), and “Elizabeth Finch” (2022). These works showcase Barnes’ range from historical and biographical fiction to explorations of love, truth, and existential inquiries.

The History of the World was the first book I read, and got me hooked on him. Or rather, The sense of an ending did, about a Cambridge menage-a-trois-which-wasn’t. Especially the latter book, which I read when travelling in Venice, is one of those books I will never forget.

Flaubert’s Parrot I liked. Metroland I forgot. Authur & George I liked, then forgot. As Elisabeth Finch.

But England, England? II tried to start, restart and then finish England, England.  The first Barnes I really cannot swallow, and did not finish.  Perhaps because of Brexit that my love for the Brits was at freezing point.  The book irritates me. And since it was shortlisted for the Booker prize, it’s me, not the book.