You all know how huge a fan of Ian McEwan I am, even though he’s a bit polarizing at times. I don’t like all his work equally, either, though most of it can be described as interesting or highly provocative (for every Atonement, there is Between the Sheets, his not-great collection of short stories). I heard about Nutshell, and I was intrigued. The story of death and betrayal, as told by an unborn child? All right. And then I read an interview in which McEwan […]
A moving, but devastating Ian McEwan (Wait! isn’t that all of them?)
So this might be a weird affectation, but whatever it is what it is. I have zero interest in physically reading Ian McEwan’s books. I tried Atonement, but his writing style does not lend itself to my enjoyment. What I do enjoy is listening to his books. All the beautiful prose, and none of giant, never ending blocks of text. This tale is a snippet in time in the life of Fiona, a high family court judge in London. At the start, one evening while […]
One of my favorites, but definitely polarizing.
Ian McEwan tends to be a polarizing author in literary fiction circles. I have friends who LOVE HIM (my sister and I are in that camp, for sure), friends who HATE HIM and despise his work, and friends who run hot-and-cold. If you’re not sure if you’ll like McEwan, Atonement is actually the perfect place to start, since it’s largely considered to be his finest work (and I certainly agree with that argument). It definitely lacks the macabre that characterized his early works. [sidenote: ask […]
Words as Weapons
This book’s masterful use of language makes everything I write about it seem pale in insubstantial. I don’t have the words to say how beautifully McEwan put words together. The words are good in this one, guys! The words! Part of the reason I loved this one so much is how I related to young Briony. A lot of times, people think kids are dumb (and they kind of are, even scientifically because the lobes are still forming), but that doesn’t mean they don’t have […]
Ironic Title Alert!
This is the long way around of saying that I was fundamentally unprepared for what happens in The Innocent. The back of the novel makes vague mention of “a terrible evening,” and McEwan doesn’t skimp on the “terrible” part. So if you’re looking for a nice, star-crossed romance with some complications to love and a poignant end, look elsewhere. Find out why I was so surprised at Pop Culture Penalty Box. [no spoilers, I promise.]
“But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.”
Fiona Maye has had a long and successful career as a High Court judge. She works in the Family Division, deciding what is best for children in messy divorce cases and matters of religion. Professionally, Fiona is “almost ironic, almost warm,” and she is respected for striking a balance between compassion and distance, understanding and objectivity. But after years of parents “dazed to find themselves in vicious combat with the one they once loved” and children used as “bargaining chips,” Fiona has become ever so […]