Product Description

A short novel of quite remarkable depth, power and poignancy by a writer at the height of his powers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-03
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Metro
'this graceful novella offered a series of perfectly realised moments'

Guardian
'In its precision, scope and force, this is an astounding novel, more tender than anything McEwan has hitherto produced'

Waterstone's Books Quarterly
`slow, detailed prose... reads like a pale memory of a forgotten age... a writer in complete control of his craft'

Customer Reviews

very disappointing
I've enjoyed most of McEwan's work, and thought Atonement was outstanding, but this failed to deliver. It really felt quite shoddy. If it had been written by someone else I wouldn't have had high expectations, but as it is it felt like McEwan couldn't be bothered. The language felt clumsy, and I didn't believe in the characters let alone empathise with them. I was also irritated by the fact that a couple of facts in the book were plain wrong - for example, about National Service which would have been pahsed out before Edward as eligible for it.

Having said all the above, I thought the subject itself was interesting and there were times when I could relate to the situation, but the chararcters let it down. It could have been so much more than it was, there was a lot there that could have been explored. This is one case where I think "less is more" definitely doesn't apply.

faultless
A perfectly crafted book. A very short book (I read it in one morning, on Salalah beach - very different from Chesil), but a flawless exploration of love, desire, uncertainty and the consequences of decisions.

A very Ian McEwan book, with all that his books think about personal relationships and brooding possibilities of disaster. I was swept away by Atonement and Saturday, which are great novels - but I now see the flaws in them - this I found faultess.

Far from his best
I think I have read all of McEwan's work, so obviously I am a fan. However I found it rather disappointing. It is still very readable, but really not up to the standard that McEwan has set.

Although very short, I found most of the book a little laboured - taking too long to get through a relatively small amount of plot. And then suddenly he covers forty years in a few pages, which is rather bizarre.

If, like me, you like McEwan's work you will probably read it anyway. If so, don't set your expectations so high as his better work and you will probably enjoy this as a mediocre work.

If you have not read McEwan before, I suggest you start elsewhere. "Enduring Love", "Atonement" and "The Cement Garden" are all excellent.