Scan barcode
keepreadingbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“One feeling at least grows stronger in me with each year that passes – a longing to see the cranes. At this time of the year I stand on the hill and watch the sky. Today they did not come. There were only wild geese. Geese would be beautiful if cranes did not exist.”
I like reading about old age, and about life from an old-age perspective. I’m not sure why – preparation for that stage of life, knowing that it’s something that I will (hopefully) experience eventually? It’s a thing that will probably always feel alien to those who haven’t reached old age yet, yet it’s something most of us will experience, which makes it more intriguing to me than many other topics/perspectives that are not inevitable in the same way. Julian Barnes’ The Lemon Table is a collection of short stories that address the topic of growing old, and I had high hopes but was left feeling a bit dissatisfied.
I’m not sure it’s the collection’s fault – it’s mainly a case of not matching my expectations. Only one story (Appetite) gave me the feeling I was searching for, but at least that story was really spot on. It might be in the top 10 of my most memorable and moving stories. A few others were closer, but most of them were not. I had the feeling that they were mocking the follies of old age, and I was probably looking for something more moving instead. Maybe I got the intended tone wrong, but that’s how they came across to me. Barnes is a highly intelligent writer too, and a number of the stories were too erudite, in my humble opinion.
I like reading about old age, and about life from an old-age perspective. I’m not sure why – preparation for that stage of life, knowing that it’s something that I will (hopefully) experience eventually? It’s a thing that will probably always feel alien to those who haven’t reached old age yet, yet it’s something most of us will experience, which makes it more intriguing to me than many other topics/perspectives that are not inevitable in the same way. Julian Barnes’ The Lemon Table is a collection of short stories that address the topic of growing old, and I had high hopes but was left feeling a bit dissatisfied.
I’m not sure it’s the collection’s fault – it’s mainly a case of not matching my expectations. Only one story (Appetite) gave me the feeling I was searching for, but at least that story was really spot on. It might be in the top 10 of my most memorable and moving stories. A few others were closer, but most of them were not. I had the feeling that they were mocking the follies of old age, and I was probably looking for something more moving instead. Maybe I got the intended tone wrong, but that’s how they came across to me. Barnes is a highly intelligent writer too, and a number of the stories were too erudite, in my humble opinion.
paulineerika's review against another edition
3.0
Some stories I really enjoyed--"Hygiene," "The Revival"--while others I read just to get through the book, such as "Knowing French." This is the second Julian Barnes book I've read, the first being The Sense of an Ending, and I want to like him. I really do. And sometimes I do. The problem is, sometimes he gets a little too wordy and introspective and it's hard to get through, especially if there's no plot driving things along. I may persevere and check out some of his other books, but so far, I've been a little disappointed, if only because of my high hopes and expectations for his work.
deea_bks's review against another edition
3.0
I'd give a 5 to this book for some of the stories and a 2 for others. Not sure I understood "the others", the ones that I'd give two stars to.
bjr2022's review
4.0
If you want a well-done critique with synopses of each story, read Cecily's review.
Mea culpa
My reading time was fractured: I was constantly interrupted by work and then for several days I peered at the damned Kindle with its quirky formatting through blocked sinuses that made me feel stupid and sometimes a little insane. Also, this was my first Julian Barnes book, so I did not understand his references to his other books, and I am Amerkin, not British, so ditto re the Britishisms. Given my pathetic attention, clogged brain, and lack of erudition, it is a testament to Mr. Barnes that I still think he's a very good writer—plus which, lots of other smart Goodreaders have said he is, and, despite my wretched state, I know enough not to make waves from the bottom of a viscous sea.
The stories are all about getting older. (The titular lemon is a symbol of death—explained in the final story.) All are moving, honest, funny, saucy, and sophisticated. In a story called "Hygiene" a man is up on a ladder to clean the roof gutter—as he's done for 25 years:
That just about says it all.
Mea culpa
My reading time was fractured: I was constantly interrupted by work and then for several days I peered at the damned Kindle with its quirky formatting through blocked sinuses that made me feel stupid and sometimes a little insane. Also, this was my first Julian Barnes book, so I did not understand his references to his other books, and I am Amerkin, not British, so ditto re the Britishisms. Given my pathetic attention, clogged brain, and lack of erudition, it is a testament to Mr. Barnes that I still think he's a very good writer—plus which, lots of other smart Goodreaders have said he is, and, despite my wretched state, I know enough not to make waves from the bottom of a viscous sea.
The stories are all about getting older. (The titular lemon is a symbol of death—explained in the final story.) All are moving, honest, funny, saucy, and sophisticated. In a story called "Hygiene" a man is up on a ladder to clean the roof gutter—as he's done for 25 years:
. . . as he stood there, all protected, Wellington boots on his feet, windcheater around him, woolly cap on his head and rubber gloves on his hands, he would sometimes feel the tears begin and he knew it wasn't because of the wind, and then he'd get stuck, one rubber hand clamped to the guttering, the other one pretending to poke in the curve of thick plastic, and he'd be scared fartless. Of the whole damn thing."
That just about says it all.
lanagailani's review against another edition
3.0
The earlier short stories are very good- moving and interesting, effective windows on aging and relationships. rather melancholy, but well done. The later stories just get strange- I thought the last one couldn't be over soon enough, and I probably would have liked the book more if it hadn't ended with that particular tale.
maliatuqa's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
kanwar's review against another edition
4.0
Some great heart warming stories about love and nostalgia.
penguiniq's review against another edition
1.0
DNF after 4 stories. It was wasn't to my taste. Perhaps I'm too caught up in trying to hack out a living to worry about growing old right now. At work a gen X co-worker was shocked to learn that none of the Millennials he works with have savings accounts. "But what do you do with your extra money" he asked, in complete sincerity. I laughed at him. So no, this collection simply didn't resonate with me. Not right now anyway.
staklene_perle's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75