Talking It Over

Rating:
Summary: THINKING IT OVER... I LOVE THAT BOOK!
Review: So far I've read it in 4 languages for more than 20 times. No point of repeating the good comments the other readers have already given to the writter. I'd like to encourage also the Greek/Italian/Danish speaking readers who are not so familiar to English language to read the book in their language without fear. There is nothing missing from the original! Compliments to the translators! They must be as brilliant as Barnes, to give the culture, spirit and black-humour of his into another language and still make sense! I furthermore suggest to everybody to RE-READ IT and you will be surprised to find yourself more in accordance with another character than you first did. That's really impressing! Because in this book there isn't any main character to lead you his way, it doesn't talk about good and bad guys, actually the book doesn't talk at all! Open it and become a witness! The tird eye! It's THEM talking it over...

Rating:
Summary: Witty and intelligent
Review: This is my first Julian Barnes' novel but after finishing Talking It Over, I'm not sure if this is the correct way to be introduced to one of Britain's most popular writer.
Overall I do enjoy the novel. The interview style makes the novel fast-paced, witty, and funny in many instances. In brief, the story is about 2 school chums who are best friends, though they couldn't be more different from one another. Stuart is the conservative, practical, and dull man who falls in love with Gillian and managed to get her to marry him. Ollie is the wild, bohemian man-child who managed to steal Gillian away from Stuart. The novel traces the many thoughts of Stuart, Ollie, and Gillian, and the people who knew them, thoughts from their first encounter, the betrayal, and the thereafter. After reading them, I came away with no sympathy for any three of the main characters -- all three were portrayed as self-centered individuals. Hence it is not surprising that no one party achieves any sort of true happiness at the end. Julain Barnes has wonderfully created a one of a kind story that will leave the readers with a smirk on their faces.

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING...SIMPLY AMAZING
Review: Yes, the plot line is rather simple-- a love triangle involving two men and a woman...(and one rather bitter, minor character who I loved, Val)...however, the writing is phenomonal! I think Julian Barnes is one of the greatest modern, English writers of the century. He knows what intrigues and what captivates. The style of writing is amazing; done in a sort of "confessional" style (if you've ever seen Real World, you'll know what I'm talking about).
The sort of "role-reversal" becomes apparent and Barnes did it amazingly.
I am so excited to read the sequel, Love, Etc. and many more novels by one of my favorites, Julian Barnes.