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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thank Braveheart Books, in upstate NY for bringing this book, with its wonderful cover, into my life. I’ve never been, but early Covid days lead me to find this particular book store in which the owner would take photos of the shelves or certain books she thought I might like and then Id Venmo and she’d ship. It was early, sourdough era, Covid. I don’t remember if she said this was her favorite McEwan or one of her favorite books, but I can understand it being either one for someone even if I don’t feel the same. It’s a damn good book.
I keep oscillating between thinking this book is quite clever to thinking it’s too clever for its own good. It doesn’t help that I had a feeling we were headed towards the particular twist that wrapped everything up in a nice package.
This is a book about books and spies, and, while normally that would be a fun combination, it’s actually pretty dull when told from the point of view of this particular main character. Serena is, frankly, unlikable and uninteresting; downright tedious for me, as she falls for one man after another. But, but. That writing. Ian McEwan is a fantastic writer.
I keep oscillating between thinking this book is quite clever to thinking it’s too clever for its own good. It doesn’t help that I had a feeling we were headed towards the particular twist that wrapped everything up in a nice package.
This is a book about books and spies, and, while normally that would be a fun combination, it’s actually pretty dull when told from the point of view of this particular main character. Serena is, frankly, unlikable and uninteresting; downright tedious for me, as she falls for one man after another. But, but. That writing. Ian McEwan is a fantastic writer.
I might have given this three stars but the ending derserved a fourth one.
my first McEwan. Might not be the last.
my first McEwan. Might not be the last.
I've only read two of his books, this and Solar. I chose both from reading reviews and was fully expecting to enjoy them. I have the same criticism, they start well and then he loses his way. Struggled to finish this one and gave up on Solar. Pretty disappointing.
This genre is not really my cup of tea and some of the politics and MI5 aspects of this book left me trailing behind gradually losing interest. I didn't really like the story of the romance either - I found it unconvincing and felt that Serena was portrayed to be more in love with the authors and books than Tom Haley himself.
However, the redeeming factor of this book for me was McEwan's sublime prose which has always been breathtaking for me. He manages to be accessible yet immeasurably masterful with his subtle use of symbolism, accuracy and clever devices.
So, whilst the plot did not lie in my field of interest and I struggled to relate to the characters, reading a McEwan book is always a magnificent feast of words, imagery and evocative moods and scenes.
3.5/5. Great writing which gets tiring quickly, a plot which totally dragged for about the middle third and after all is said and done seems a bit boring, a female main character who I identified with in ways which made me feel self-conscious and guilty (and only one other character I actually liked, another female who I wish we had seen more of), and an ending which was clever but ultimately frustrated me. But overall I enjoyed it.
Spoiler
, just as it would Serena
Incredibly good, full of plots and twists and fine forays into the world of MI5 and the human heart and writing and all the perfidy therein. Beautiful prose. McEwan puts us perfectly in all his places: the beach, the tube station, the small bedsits of 1970s London.
I really enjoyed it at first, even though it wasn't as spy-centric as i may have hoped. I enjoy ian mcewan's prose style. But the very postmodern ending. I saw it coming slightly before it happened, and then as soon as i started the final chapter, i knew. Meh. I'm not the hugest fan of metafictional turns like the one in this book, and that's what dropped my view a star.
I'd like to give this 3.5 stars, but how can I rate it now that I've finished it, when finishing it means I have to completely reconsider it?
I almost gave up about a third of the way through, but I'm glad I didn't--it got more exciting and spy-ish and I could tell something was going down that I wasn't aware of, and now I can't stop thinking about the ending. I should probably read it again, really...but I won't. Not for awhile, at least.
Also, a life lesson: I know NOTHING about the UK during the Cold War, and this book didn't really help. Very oblique, Mr. McEwan!
I almost gave up about a third of the way through, but I'm glad I didn't--it got more exciting and spy-ish and I could tell something was going down that I wasn't aware of, and now I can't stop thinking about the ending. I should probably read it again, really...but I won't. Not for awhile, at least.
Also, a life lesson: I know NOTHING about the UK during the Cold War, and this book didn't really help. Very oblique, Mr. McEwan!
slow-paced
Good writing
Otherwise really boring
What was the point of the story ? (Him actually spying on her wasn’t that big of a reveal…)
Very slow paced
Otherwise really boring
What was the point of the story ? (Him actually spying on her wasn’t that big of a reveal…)
Very slow paced
I haven't read any of this authors other books and after this one I don't think I will be. It felt overly cliché making it a tired and predictable story.