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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
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
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Bookclub read [UoG]: this novel covers much of the life of Roland Baines, a nobody or anybody whose existence is so very ordinary it is almost spectacular.
Twisting back and forth through time, it starts rather unpleasantly, I thought - nearly enough to put me off. I stuck with Roland though and even warmed slightly to the rather useless man he becomes. He went to some interesting places, I particularly liked the time in East Germany, and collected a varied cast of co-stars around him.
For a book called Lessons, though, I don't feel Roland actually learnt much at all. I'm not sure I did either.
Twisting back and forth through time, it starts rather unpleasantly, I thought - nearly enough to put me off. I stuck with Roland though and even warmed slightly to the rather useless man he becomes. He went to some interesting places, I particularly liked the time in East Germany, and collected a varied cast of co-stars around him.
For a book called Lessons, though, I don't feel Roland actually learnt much at all. I'm not sure I did either.
dark
emotional
reflective
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual assault
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
I wanted to love this newest work by Ian McEwan, but didn't. The story follows a man going back through his life against the backdrop of some of modern history's biggest moments following his divorce. It was long. Maybe it tried to put in too much. But something didn't strike a cord with me. If you enjoy overarching, memoir esque stories then you will love this.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.
I'm not disappointed, I just couldn't get to it! This is Ian McEwan and I was so excited, then when was listening to this audiobook (great performed by Simon McBurney) it was a little difficult to follow.
A man's lifetime, from his youth til old age with his grandchild. Roland Baines's relationships were the biggest reason that I gave this book 3-star.
This is a long book through history, more than half a century, I have always been fond of lifetime stories, so this is a good point, it is like we are on a journey to someone's family, parenting and relationship, well yes that was a fall for me, first this was a sexual relationship with piano teacher, uncomfortable as Roland was 14 years old, then his wife to abandoned Roland and their 7-month child with. I understand this is life and nothing is perfect, so this is a great book, just wasn't for me.
Many thanks to RB Media via NetGalley for ARC, I have given my honest review.
A man's lifetime, from his youth til old age with his grandchild. Roland Baines's relationships were the biggest reason that I gave this book 3-star.
This is a long book through history, more than half a century, I have always been fond of lifetime stories, so this is a good point, it is like we are on a journey to someone's family, parenting and relationship, well yes that was a fall for me, first this was a sexual relationship with piano teacher, uncomfortable as Roland was 14 years old, then his wife to abandoned Roland and their 7-month child with. I understand this is life and nothing is perfect, so this is a great book, just wasn't for me.
Many thanks to RB Media via NetGalley for ARC, I have given my honest review.