On Chesil Beach ***

After "Atonment" and "Saturday", this book by Ian McEwan is somewhat more concise but equally penetrating. Exploring the complexity of a marital relationship where both partners are equally infatuated with each other. The difficulties of the ultimate marriage evolve as a result of the wife suffering from coitophobia. What unresolvable trauman evolves from one partner intense on having sexual intercourse and the other partner having totally inability to participate.

The narrative is articulate and evolves compassion for the characters. Empathy is not enough to resolve the anguish.