Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Lessons by Ian McEwan

5 reviews

sdmlm20's review against another edition

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Rape

peckreadsbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

pipnewman's review

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I enjoyed this read, and stuck with it which is saying something as I don't often read books this long. Told from the perspective of Roland, who grows up in the aftermath of the Second World War, the book is very rooted in the historical context. It was interesting to feel that each character was deeply influenced by the historical and political contexts- arms races, the fall of the Berlin Wall, political movements in Britain, all the way through to the covid lockdowns. However it did feel very male centric- all the male characters were significantly more developed than the female characters and it felt like the genre of 'grandad telling his life story at the dinner table'. Also massive massive content warning for sexual assault / harassment / pedophilia - it jumps in right at chapter 1, threads through the whole novel and is very confronting if you are not expecting it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Car accident, Death, Cancer, Grief, Abandonment, and Terminal illness

Minor: Domestic abuse, Dementia, and Fatphobia

miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The start is a struggle tbh but it does improve a lot, about growing up and getting old and just life more generally

‘He wasn’t waiting for her. But if she ever turned up he wanted his options open. Which was another was of saying, he was waiting.’

‘A form of narcissism, or closely related paranoia.’

‘It was his right to want nothing.’

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

baratheonbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment and Child abuse