Reviews

The Children Act by Ian McEwan

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waynediane's review against another edition

5.0

Great story- mid life crisises and complicate stories of children, parents and caregivers. Who has the right to determine medical or like care. This is written with reference to the British legal system, but with the same ethical and moral choices made concerning medical treatment in America (And of course religion and the bible withholding care, because G-D is going to take care of you.

wanderingmole's review against another edition

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4.0

A consuming book about the limits of the law and the human experience, about children and adults (who are not unlike children) acting - acting for their colleagues, acting for their families, acting in the roles they find themselves, and occasionally, acting out.

ferouz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

angelamichelle's review against another edition

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4.0

I agree with those who comment that Ian mcewen is somehow too detached and doesn't ever seem to really love his characters. In this one, I loved his clarity of language. So exact and perfectly right. Also, I loved (even if he didn't) his main character.

[aging judges husband declares he's going to have an affair. She must judge a case of a Jehovah's Witness boy who needs a transfusion]

nyom7's review against another edition

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4.0

Like the majority of McEwan’s novels there is a focus on a small number of central characters with the bit players being given adequate description to make them 3D rather than replaceable 2D stand-ins. Likewise, there is a central flowing theme that is often articulated via some relatively inconsequential aspect of the plot. In this case it is the nature of inter-personal relationships as told through poetry and music. I am still a good 20+ years behind the main character in life but the writing created a life rather than a snapshot. There was a sense of the what came before to create the now.
It’s a short wee book (relatively speaking) and easy to read. Yet whilst I did very much enjoy it, unlike some of his other works like Saturday and of course Atonement, which I read prior to seeing the film thankfully, it did not grab me and hold me. Hence 4 and not 5 stars.