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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
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Ian McEwan is a great stylist - at least in my opinion. His books always toy elegantly with language, with the sounds of words, with their delicate meaning.
Saturday follows this general rule, following Henry Perowne through a single day in his life, as his thoughts flit about between the Iraq war, his work as a surgeon, his family dynamic and all the mental and emotional baggage these topics come with. By exploring a single (admittedly very eventful) day, the author reveals how much we can learn about a man and his life by peeking into his thoughts over a short, 24-hour period.
Of course, the downside of McEwan's intelligent writing here is that it all feels artificial. He constructs clever sets for his characters to act out their play upon, but you never fall into the flow of the novel; you are always aware of the artifice. In every thought, speech and action, one sees quite clearly the string of the pupper master, manipulating his marionettes.
Well duh, you might say, every author leads his characters by the nose to a certain degree. And maybe you're right, but for me, McEwan sacrifices realism and pathos to stylistic concerns, leaving Saturday feeling a little hollow.
Saturday follows this general rule, following Henry Perowne through a single day in his life, as his thoughts flit about between the Iraq war, his work as a surgeon, his family dynamic and all the mental and emotional baggage these topics come with. By exploring a single (admittedly very eventful) day, the author reveals how much we can learn about a man and his life by peeking into his thoughts over a short, 24-hour period.
Of course, the downside of McEwan's intelligent writing here is that it all feels artificial. He constructs clever sets for his characters to act out their play upon, but you never fall into the flow of the novel; you are always aware of the artifice. In every thought, speech and action, one sees quite clearly the string of the pupper master, manipulating his marionettes.
Well duh, you might say, every author leads his characters by the nose to a certain degree. And maybe you're right, but for me, McEwan sacrifices realism and pathos to stylistic concerns, leaving Saturday feeling a little hollow.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
1/5
I don’t think that this author’s style and plots are my cup of tea. This is the second novel of his that I’ve read, and I’m more and more convinced that his books really aren’t for me. I really didn’t like the protagonist (he feels a bit flat and doesn’t develop much) or the plot of this one - it takes forever to get to the climax (which is way too abrupt and ends way too abrupt) and then takes forever to finish. I could do without 20-something pages describing a squash game or 50 pages of flashbacks about patients and surgeries that do not appear to be relevant within the rest of the novel. I did like the historical aspects (the setting and the event happening), but that was about it.
I don’t think that this author’s style and plots are my cup of tea. This is the second novel of his that I’ve read, and I’m more and more convinced that his books really aren’t for me. I really didn’t like the protagonist (he feels a bit flat and doesn’t develop much) or the plot of this one - it takes forever to get to the climax (which is way too abrupt and ends way too abrupt) and then takes forever to finish. I could do without 20-something pages describing a squash game or 50 pages of flashbacks about patients and surgeries that do not appear to be relevant within the rest of the novel. I did like the historical aspects (the setting and the event happening), but that was about it.
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Lauantai oli nerokkaasti kirjoitettu kirja. Jo heti alkumetreiltä ilmassa väreili tunne siitä, että tämä ei nyt tule päättymään hyvin. Erinäisten tapahtumien jälkeen asiat palasivat aina uomiinsa, mutta seuraavien tapahtumien yllä häilyi kuitenkin aina, jos ei musta, niin ainakin harmaa varjo. Vielä lopussakin, kun kaikki oli jo hyvin, rinnassani kyti pieni ahdistus siitä, että jotain kamalaa vielä kuitenkin käy.
“When anything can happen, everything matters.”
My goodness can McEwan take you on an incredible journey... this is one of those journeys. Buckle in though... it's going to be a bumpy ride! Fast-paced and fascinating, this story pulled me in from the beginning and about midway though the day, I remember thinking... boy, if ever the thought of it being a "good day to just stay in bed" this was it! What I really loved was how things eventually are all interconnected. Brilliant writing and McEwan never disappoints! I very much recommend this story!
My goodness can McEwan take you on an incredible journey... this is one of those journeys. Buckle in though... it's going to be a bumpy ride! Fast-paced and fascinating, this story pulled me in from the beginning and about midway though the day, I remember thinking... boy, if ever the thought of it being a "good day to just stay in bed" this was it! What I really loved was how things eventually are all interconnected. Brilliant writing and McEwan never disappoints! I very much recommend this story!
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual harassment
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated