ON CHESIL BEACH, BY IAN MCEWANRead about the other entries on the list.
This novel tells the story of a young couple. You hear their love story (think Oxford village romance) and go along to their wedding.
The plot really peaks on their wedding night when Edward tries to consummate their marriage.
He fails.
A combination of nerves and over-enthusiasm on his part with her lack of understanding and fear lead to a disaster.
Florence thinks it's his fault. He thinks it's hers.
The sexual awkwardness is so bad that this couple- who were so much in love- split up.
It's agonising to read - and feels all too real.
On Chesil Beach also appears among Ella Berthoud's five top books on love, Eli Gottlieb's top 10 scenes from the battle of the sexes, and on John Mullan's lists of ten of the best honeymoons in literature, ten of the best beaches in literature, ten best marital arguments in literature, and ten of the best failed couplings in fiction.
--Marshal Zeringue