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ravyncrow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
jmcook's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
The narrator of Black Dogs, Jeremy lost his parents at 8 years old, latches onto his friends' parents, then his wife's. The story takes place during the Berlin Wall, November 1989. Jeremy is fascinated by his Wife's parents and their unusual relationship: they love one another, but are unable to live together. Their extreme ideologies make it difficult to live together. This is another McEwan that I really liked
alexandramallia's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
popefacekillah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
tinaargh's review against another edition
4.0
If you like Ian McEwan’s style, you’re obviously also going to like this one. Definitely an interesting read that intertwined personal history with national history and is likely to get you thinking.
toniclark's review against another edition
5.0
McEwan's prose, as ever, is breathtakingly precise and elegant and the content thought-provoking. The book satisfied me in a deep, intellectual way. I feel as if I've lingered over a long, good meal with a fine wine. (Zadie Smith called it "that brilliant, flinty little novel bursting with big ideas.") I loved the interweaving of the stories: Jeremy's past and present; Bernard and June's. Most of the novel is slow-moving, contemplative, but there are several riveting scenes as well. I particularly liked the contrast of Bernard's and June's philosophical positions, both what Jeremy recalls and reports and what he imagines them saying to him.
The narrator, Jeremy, says of June: "I felt stifled by her expressions of faith, and bothered by the unstated assumption of all believers that they are good because they believe what they believe, that face is a virtue, and, by extension, unbelief is unworthy or, at best, pitiable. . . . It will not do to argue that rational thought and spiritual insight are separate domains and that opposition between them is falsely conceived. Bernard and June often talked to me about ideas that could never sit side-by-side. Bernard, for example, was certain that there was no direction, no patterning in human affairs were fêtes other than that which was imposed by human minds. June could not accept this; life had a purpose and it was in our interests to open ourselves to it. Nor will it do to suggest that both these views are correct. To believe everything, to make no choices, amounts to much the same thing, to my mind, as believing in nothing at all." p. 15
It feels like a much longer book than it is because of the content: rationalism vs. spiritualism — as well as how we can or should conduct ourselves in the face of — dare I say it? — existential dread, in light of all we can never know. And oh, so many story lines and details (which seem minor at first) feed into this, enriching experience of the novel on an almost subconscious level. It's a book I know I should read again.
"This is what I know. Human nature, the human heart, the spirit, the soul, consciousness itself – call it what you like – in the end, it's all we've got to work with. It has to develop and expand, or the some of our misery will never diminish. My own small discovery has been that this change is possible, it is within our power. Without a revolution of the inner life, however slow, all our big designs are worthless. The work we have to do is with ourselves if we are ever going to be at peace with each other. I'm not saying it'll happen. There's a good chance it won't. I'm saying it's our only chance. If it does, and it could take generations, the good that flows from it will shape our societies in an unprogrammed, unforeseen way, under the control of no single group of people or set of ideas." - Jeremy, the narrator, quoting June, p. 215
The narrator, Jeremy, says of June: "I felt stifled by her expressions of faith, and bothered by the unstated assumption of all believers that they are good because they believe what they believe, that face is a virtue, and, by extension, unbelief is unworthy or, at best, pitiable. . . . It will not do to argue that rational thought and spiritual insight are separate domains and that opposition between them is falsely conceived. Bernard and June often talked to me about ideas that could never sit side-by-side. Bernard, for example, was certain that there was no direction, no patterning in human affairs were fêtes other than that which was imposed by human minds. June could not accept this; life had a purpose and it was in our interests to open ourselves to it. Nor will it do to suggest that both these views are correct. To believe everything, to make no choices, amounts to much the same thing, to my mind, as believing in nothing at all." p. 15
It feels like a much longer book than it is because of the content: rationalism vs. spiritualism — as well as how we can or should conduct ourselves in the face of — dare I say it? — existential dread, in light of all we can never know. And oh, so many story lines and details (which seem minor at first) feed into this, enriching experience of the novel on an almost subconscious level. It's a book I know I should read again.
"This is what I know. Human nature, the human heart, the spirit, the soul, consciousness itself – call it what you like – in the end, it's all we've got to work with. It has to develop and expand, or the some of our misery will never diminish. My own small discovery has been that this change is possible, it is within our power. Without a revolution of the inner life, however slow, all our big designs are worthless. The work we have to do is with ourselves if we are ever going to be at peace with each other. I'm not saying it'll happen. There's a good chance it won't. I'm saying it's our only chance. If it does, and it could take generations, the good that flows from it will shape our societies in an unprogrammed, unforeseen way, under the control of no single group of people or set of ideas." - Jeremy, the narrator, quoting June, p. 215
readmetwotimes's review against another edition
3.0
http://nonsempreiosonodelmiostessoparere.blogspot.it/2016/01/cani-neri-di-ian-mcewan.html