The Lemon Table

Julian Barnes

4/4/2005

Aging - we all get older. Eventually we're no longer in our 20's, 30's or 40's, or even 50's. Barnes has written a group of short stories about being older. These are "slice of life" stories, a glimpse of these people's lives. There are few beginnings or ends. These are poignant stories, sometimes sad, sometimes funny.

The conductor and composer looks back over his life - he was a drunk whose wife refused to accompany him to any more concerts. He has an unfinished symphony. Instead of finishing it, he spends his time reflecting over the meaning of his life.

In another story, Mr. Barnes, an author, receives letters from an 80+ year old woman. She is a character who is still in good health. She has entered a "home" because she has no family and doesn't want to be a burden. She's reading through the home's library starting with "A": She found Mr. Barnes while in the "B's" and decided to write to him. The story is the chronicle of her letters.

There are the widows who get together to talk, each remembering the faults of the other's husband. A man records his thoughts while at the barber shop throughout his life. A second wife cares for a husband with Alheimers. One man is making his annual trip for reenactment and tryst. There are more stories as well.

I don't look for insight in stories while I'm in classes. These stories deserve more depth than I was prepared to give them. They didn't pull me in enough. The writing is descriptive of thoughts and emotions of the characters. Younger readers (20's and 30's) probably won't appreciate these stories overly much. Older readers will start identifying.

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