Очень даже неплохо... Главная тема книги - обыденное такое взросление, превращение малчика :) в мужчину. Превращение без каких-либо экстремальных инициаций (войной, зоной и проч.), а, так сказать, спокойное, неспешное, интраспективно углубленное и естественное. Если совсем уж схематизировать, то в книге 2 линии повествования, плюс 3 эпизода :)))Первая линия - это, скажем так, половая идентификация :) Становление того самого мальчика мужчиной в смысле обретения сексуального опыта, осмысления и проживания этого опыта, и осознания себя самцом, особью именно мужеского пола.Вторая линия - это социальная идентификация, обретение своего места в обществе. В книге есть несколько персонажей, задающих социальную "систему координат" ГГ, но важнейшим "полюсом" в ней является близкий друг Тони.Три эпизода книги привязаны к трём возрастным периодам ГГ: школьник-старшеклассник - студент, стажирующийся во Франции - молодой (30-летний) отец семейства.Линия сексуальной идентификации выглядит так: неуверенный в себе мальчишка, переполненный эротическими фантазиями и страхами /написано, кстати, очень ржачно :)) вспоминал себя в прыщавом возрасте, и хохотал в голос :)))/ - молодой человек, описывающий новые для него ощущения и впечатления от первого сексуального опыта - молодой муж, любящий свою супругу и героически преодолевающий искушения адюльтером :)))Линия социальной идентификации: бунтарь, противостоящий социуму, с наслаждением "эпатирующий" общество, и ищущий смысл в "идеальном" (искусстве, в "просто наблюдении за жизнью" и т.п.) - человек, вообще выпавший из социума (он был во Франции во время студенческого восстания 1967 года, но, увлеченный своим первым романом, "беспорядков" никаких вовсе не заметил) - человек, ставший добропорядочным членом общества, имеющий семью, работу, дом, машину, грядки и т.п. (т.е. превратившийся в "буржуа", которых он презирал и эпатировал в начале книги). Если смотреть на схему - она проста и незамысловата... Но это только кажется! Автор мастерски расставляется в тексте (словно ловушки :))) незримые вопросы... Например, если пристальнее рассматривать линию половой идентификации, то на поверхности там всё хорошо - перерос детские фантазии, получил первый опыт, женился, родил ребенка, и т.д. и т.п. Но... про любовь в тексте ни слова :( Мало того, в третьем эпизоде этой самой линии, ГГ вдруг начинает мучать вопрос (провокационно подброшенный ему другом Тони): "А почему он должен всю жизнь спать со своей женой, и неужто ему не хочется перетрахать всех женщин на свете?". ГГ мало того, что впадает в унылые размышления на эту тему, так он ещё и идёт обсуждать этот вопрос с женой :( Хотя в тексте чётко есть: "Любовь - это уверенность". А вот ГГ, вроде бы созрев и доказав всему миру свою "самцовость" :))) этой уверенностью не обладает :((( А то, что он по этому вопросу с женой идёт советоваться - вообще инфантилизм, детский сад какой-то...Та же фигня и со второй линией (социальной идентификацией): вроде бы всё хорошо, все пункты анкеты на "взрослого, социально зрелого человека" заполнены плюсиками. Но тут, как призрак из прошлого, возникает альтер-эго ГГ - его друг детства Тони. Который не предал их подростковые бунтарские (анти-буржуазные) идеалы, а только укрепился в них! Он просто символизирует всей своей жизнью эту эпатажную анти-буржуазность! И этот самый друг Тони начинает жестоко троллить :) ГГ - во всей прямоте адресуя ему вопрос: "Почему ты предал наши анти-буржуазные идеалы? Почему ты предал сам себя?". Что характерно, ГГ четкого и убедительного ответа дать не может, мычит что-то маловразумительное :( Вот, собственно, текст и обрывается на двух этих неотвеченных вопросах: 1) Взрослый самцовый мужик ИЛИ 30-летний подросток-инфантил? 2) Предал свои верные и глубокие убеждения, превратившись в обывателя ИЛИ обрёл, то, что хотел, живешь счастливой и наполненной смыслом жизнью? Читателю предоставляется выбор самому дать ответы на эти вопросы. Но мне почему-то книга показалось трагичной (хотя местами она приправлена добротным английским юмором в лучших традициях). PS Моя оценка на "три" - это моё эмоциональное восприятие книги. Текст вполне себе тянет и на твёрдую "четверку с плюсом" ;)
I’ve recently read, and posted reviews of two other Julian Barnes’ novels, “The Sense of an Ending” and “A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters,” both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. “Metroland” reflects some of the same themes: obnoxiousness of young schoolboys who have read a few important books but not nearly enough, growing up, love, and memory. This being my third book by Barnes, I’m starting to get a feel for his authorial panache, and I can’t help being charmed by it. You get the sense that he’s always writing with a gentle smirk on his face, not unlike the one he always has on display on the back covers of his books. The story follows the narrator Chris and his best friend from school, Toni, as they grow up in the suburbs of London (the “Metroland” of the title). They both hate ordinary people, whom they contemptuously go around calling “bourgeois.” They profess to live for art and ideas, when really it’s just a kind of self-important high-mindedness they’re putting on. Part II sees Chris moving to Paris and growing a bit distant from Toni. While there, he meets and falls in love with a French woman named Annick and befriends three fellow art-lovers, one of them a woman named Marion, on a visit to the Musee Gustave Moreau. One day, he mentions to Annick rather heavy-handedly that he met Marion (with whom he has done nothing other than casually flirt), but Annick gets upset, leaves him, and is never seen again. And here’s where Barnes’ wonderful infatuation with irony comes to a head: he falls in love with Marion, has a child with her, takes on a mortgage and respectable job that he actually enjoys, and turns into one of those hideous bourgeois that he hated as a boy. However, he’s an adult now, and he’s come to find out that living a middle-class life can be full of the same happiness, stress, joy, and anxiety that even the life of an artist can. For a rough comparison, imagine two Holden Caulfields, except that Chris actually manages to make some moral and intellectual progress and crawl out of his teenage funk during the course of the story. Toni unfortunately doesn’t, and at the end of the novel is bitter that his writing hasn’t proven more successful than it is. Being a successful human being first helps, though – a lesson that Chris learned, by hook or by crook. This novel was published in 1980, and it resembles what you would expect Barnes then: the author finding his voice, a voice that still resonates in his later fiction - philosophical but not overbearing, witty but not caustic. For a debut novel, I thought this was very impressive. I didn’t find it as wonderful as some of his later stuff – “A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters” is still my favorite of the three – but it’s definitely worth checking out if you enjoy his other work.
What do You think about Metroland (1992)?
Julian Barnes' first novel has to be semi biographical. His account of male adolescence in 1963 resonated with my own experience only a year earlier than the narrator's (and the author's) own time. With one exception. Christopher and his friend Toni are exceedingly bright and attend a much more demanding school than mine ever was. In fact, these two boys are far too intelligent by half. Not only do they appreciate classical music but they listen with blindfolds on and describe and write down what they feel: "('Clear water; Hampton Court Maze?; shoulders wanting to swing; chirpiness - bit as if you've had a blood transfusion. Stuttgart CO. Munch-inger') Bach". And this happens fairly regularly, as does the French they use on a daily basis. So it is no surprise when the book then moves on to Paris in 1968 and finishes back in Metroland in 1977. Our narrator (and author) has grown up and grown away from Toni, and we learn how different they are now. This is wonderful book, not long but it is so well written that I can't wait to read it again.
—David
It is Just amazing that how the randomness of a certain event leads us to experience another event in relation to it. I somehow recall first the month of Jan this year where I coincidentally happen to go to a book store due to a power failure. So had the power not failed or had a british reader not recommended the book "The Sense of an ending" or had I did not see the entire work by Julian Barnes the probability of me reading this book would have been minimal.Julian Barnes in this book tells us the Story of two Boys/Lads/Teenagers/Men through different ages of Life. It's not a story so most of the readers will never say they liked the story but for me its the period of life that worked with me. I absolutely loved reading their Adolescent age but was also equally hooked with Chris Life in Paris. Chris first Sexual experience, His first Love, his first break up leading to his marriage, his conflict with Tony was saddening part of the book & that's where the Writer slowly loses the grip but all's well that end well. The Object Relations at the end of every stage of life was equally enjoyed & gave the book a depth, an inner meaning, an insight of tony on how he looks back at the time that went by.The book usually worked for me because of the equal combination of Wit & Philosophy. The books works wonders in provoking class, interest and above all provokes thought in every minds and a thought to Ponder!
—Ankit
Metroland is the first hand account of Christopher Lloyd, from growing up in the suburbs of London to the brief period after graduation in Paris and then the early years of marriage. As a child Christopher was obsessed with the idea of bourgeois lifestyle with his friend Toni. In Paris he remembers his French girlfriend Annick and now he has a mundane marriage.While this is a novel, it’s also a reflection of Christopher Lloyd’s life. As a child he has big plans as well as being obsessed with the idea of having sex. Then he finally meets Annick and has sex and has such fond memories of this relationship. Then looking at his marriage, he sees it’s not perfect and he wonders to himself is he really happy.Some people call it “growing up” and others “selling out”; this account of Christopher’s life was really interesting, his attitude and angst didn’t end and he just hasn’t let go with his old ideals. While his French girlfriend challenges his ideals and tries to explain that growing up isn’t selling out he never really gets it. It’s not until he reflects on his past that he starts to understand. Sure his marriage has its problems but he is not unhappy; he is content. But while you never find out what happens next, I got the feeling that Christopher has truly started to understand that his life is good and slowly is changing his thinking.I loved Julian Barnes’ A Sense of An Ending and I wanted to explore more of his writing. I decided to read this one because of it was short and it felt like a similar style. I really thought this book had a lot to offer, in the way of ideals, morals, relationships, love and just the way we view our lives. Looking back on our lives, it’s easy to remember the good and the bad but there is a whole lot in between we tend to forget, so when Christopher is looking at his past, he misses so much.A beautiful novel, while very short has so much in it to offer. I went and watched the movie adaption of this book as well. While it captured a lot of the books ideas, I couldn’t get past the idea of Christian Bale as Christopher Lloyd and felt it left out a lot of be beauty. Fans of Julian Barnes should check this book out. Christopher Lloyd is an interesting character; a coming of age novel but this hipster took a long time to really grow.This review originally appeared in my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2013/...
—Michael
