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![Saturday by Ian McEwan 4th (fourth) Edition [Paperback(2006)] by Ian McEwan](https://assets.thestorygraph.com/assets/placeholder-cover-a3ae92250eb3301e32dc3eabf8d50576c2f047dda89f6ee7cfa9a859cb1fd746.jpg)
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I’m kind of torn on this book. I always enjoy the author’s eye for detail and descriptive ability. However, I didn’t necessarily enjoy being in the main character’s head for so long. The story is languid, but it does pick up towards the end.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The single day in the life of one man may never have been so boring.
Ian McEwan has recently garnered more fame due to a popular (and drippy) movie based on one of his novels. This unfortunate Hollywood connection should not put you off to his writing, however. Sure, some of his books are duds, but this one is rather entertaining. And a bit horrific.
Loved this. McEwan is so good at describing moments of lived experience. Lots of typical McEwanisms here- slightly cold, intellectual rich white male protagonist etc etc. But utterly gripping, beautifully done.
This book started out with a lot of promise. I loved the dreamy first section when the protagonist is awake in his bedroom in the early morning, anticipating the day. But the rest of it became very formulaic, especially if you have read anything by Ian McEwan before.
DNF, pretentious and overwritten. plus, in hindsight, his feelings about the war are pretty awful.
Very descriptive book and not one to read if you are tired. But, I did enjoy Henry's thought process. A couple of parts of the story where I really liked his narrative:
"If, as Daisy said, the genius was in the detail, then he was unmoved. The details were apt and convincing enough, but surely not so very difficult to marshal if you were halfway observant and had the patience to write them down." I find this ironic given that McEwan has created a character that doesn't get the details and McEwan's work is riddled in details.
"There are these rare moments when musicians together touch something sweeter than they've ever found before in rehearsals or performance, beyond the merely collaborative or technically proficient, when their expression becomes a easy and graceful as friendship or love. This is when they give us a glimpse of what we might be, of our best selves, and of an impossible world in which you give everything you have to others, but lose nothing of yourself." This is just beautiful....how engulfed Henry becomes in listening to his son's band play.
"If, as Daisy said, the genius was in the detail, then he was unmoved. The details were apt and convincing enough, but surely not so very difficult to marshal if you were halfway observant and had the patience to write them down." I find this ironic given that McEwan has created a character that doesn't get the details and McEwan's work is riddled in details.
"There are these rare moments when musicians together touch something sweeter than they've ever found before in rehearsals or performance, beyond the merely collaborative or technically proficient, when their expression becomes a easy and graceful as friendship or love. This is when they give us a glimpse of what we might be, of our best selves, and of an impossible world in which you give everything you have to others, but lose nothing of yourself." This is just beautiful....how engulfed Henry becomes in listening to his son's band play.