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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Did not finish. Not interested in reading extensive descriptions of sexual abuse.
Let me start by saying I love Ian McEwan. I've always enjoyed his writing style, and the stories he creates. Sadly, Lessons was not for me. I tried to read it but couldn't get into the writing. I decided to try it in audio once it was out. While the first chapter had me engaged, I almost immediately lost interest close to the end. I kept pushing through, but ultimately DNF'd around the 20% mark. I couldn't connect to Roland, and while it was incredibly descriptive, I found myself bored.
I'm sure I'll be in the minority here because I've already seen some pretty great reviews of it, and maybe I'll go back to it someday. But right now, it's not for me.
Thank you to Knopf Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC and for providing me with the opportunity to provide my honest opinion.
I'm sure I'll be in the minority here because I've already seen some pretty great reviews of it, and maybe I'll go back to it someday. But right now, it's not for me.
Thank you to Knopf Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC and for providing me with the opportunity to provide my honest opinion.
Ian McEwan is older than me, but not by much, and he still has plenty to teach and plenty to learn. Lessons reminded me of Philip Roth's Everyman, which I've been meaning to read again for a couple of years now. I find that as I slip over that hill of middle age, that these sorts of books and lessons by the elder generation are on my mind, swirling.
A very thought provoking novel that I would definitely recommend.
A chronicle of the protagonist’s (Roland Baines) life lessons and snippets of historical events including from the Cuban Missile crisis; the Margaret Thatcher era; the fall of the Berlin Wall; the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown right through to the current day pandemic and political affairs. Historical references are always present in the author’s narrative as a backdrop to his personal and emotional journey through life with a focus on relationships at school, with women, family and friends.
Fame, fortune and success appear to elude Roland unless you stop to consider ‘How do you define success?’ Roland's ex-wife Alissa abandons Roland and their infant son Lawrence to pursue and find success as a writer, but at what cost? Roland appears to miss opportunities and always put his son and family first. He’s not a hero, but he does build a strong network of love, similar values and companionship with his son, grandchildren, second wife, step children, step grandchildren and his siblings.
Love is life, life is love!
A chronicle of the protagonist’s (Roland Baines) life lessons and snippets of historical events including from the Cuban Missile crisis; the Margaret Thatcher era; the fall of the Berlin Wall; the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown right through to the current day pandemic and political affairs. Historical references are always present in the author’s narrative as a backdrop to his personal and emotional journey through life with a focus on relationships at school, with women, family and friends.
Fame, fortune and success appear to elude Roland unless you stop to consider ‘How do you define success?’ Roland's ex-wife Alissa abandons Roland and their infant son Lawrence to pursue and find success as a writer, but at what cost? Roland appears to miss opportunities and always put his son and family first. He’s not a hero, but he does build a strong network of love, similar values and companionship with his son, grandchildren, second wife, step children, step grandchildren and his siblings.
Love is life, life is love!
I think it is a minor book of his, wanting to cover too many things at the same time, and you get a bit dizzy from all the huge travel he gets you in. Besides, his writing seemed a bit less precise, more vague than in other of his works. It becomes boring, which is sad.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Magnificent. An extraordinarily ordinary life, covering the sweep of years from the post-WW2 period up through COVID, lived through the eyes of a boy and man experiencing many of the big events of that period, both big and small. The fulcum of his story, the one experience that changes everything for him, is a precocious sexual relationship with his older piano teacher (statutory rape, if we're being exact, though the novel never uses that word). That relationship leaves young Roland adrift, and reverberates throughout his life and adlt relationships. I found the first two chapters quite bleak and dreary, but was thoroughly engaged through most of the rest of the book (though I think it was a bit overlong). I found the last section quite stunning. Recommended.
Re-read:
Even in this second reading, I feel that Roland's story drowns in "The Story," but maybe this time, considering that I had already read it, I could choose to reread the parts that interested me (Roland - Miriam - Alissa - Daphne - Lawrence) and skip all the historical periods I now remembered.
Anche in questa seconda lettura, ritengo che la storia di Roland affoghi ne "La storia", ma magari stavolta, considerato che lo avevo giá letto, potevo scegliere di rileggermi i pezzi che mi interessavano (Roland - Miriam - Alissa - Daphne - Lawrence) e saltare tutti i periodi storici che ormai ricordavo.
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I have read several of McEwan's books, and in my opinion he is on a downward parabola. It's also to be said that I haven't read his early books, basically the ones in the last 10 years, and for me they have been getting worse. This last one then is written in such a long-winded and boring way that more than once I despaired of being able to finish it. Clearly I am not a literary scholar let alone a literary critic, but since I received the ARC for this book I can take it upon myself to say that I will not miss it and that maybe it may even be time for me to take a break from this author.
Ho letto parecchi libri di McEwan e secondo me é in una parabola discendente. C'é anche da dire che non ho letto i suoi libri iniziali, fondamentalmente quelli degli ultimi 10 anni e per me sono andati peggiorando. Quest'ultimo poi é scritto in modo talmente prolisso e noioso che piú di una volta ho disperato di riuscire a finirlo. Chiaramente io non sono una letterata e tantomeno un critica letteraria, ma siccome ho ricevuto l'ARC di questo libro posso prendermi la responsabilitá di dire che non mi mancherá e che magari sará anche arrivato il momento che io mi prenda una pausa da questo autore.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Even in this second reading, I feel that Roland's story drowns in "The Story," but maybe this time, considering that I had already read it, I could choose to reread the parts that interested me (Roland - Miriam - Alissa - Daphne - Lawrence) and skip all the historical periods I now remembered.
Anche in questa seconda lettura, ritengo che la storia di Roland affoghi ne "La storia", ma magari stavolta, considerato che lo avevo giá letto, potevo scegliere di rileggermi i pezzi che mi interessavano (Roland - Miriam - Alissa - Daphne - Lawrence) e saltare tutti i periodi storici che ormai ricordavo.
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I have read several of McEwan's books, and in my opinion he is on a downward parabola. It's also to be said that I haven't read his early books, basically the ones in the last 10 years, and for me they have been getting worse. This last one then is written in such a long-winded and boring way that more than once I despaired of being able to finish it. Clearly I am not a literary scholar let alone a literary critic, but since I received the ARC for this book I can take it upon myself to say that I will not miss it and that maybe it may even be time for me to take a break from this author.
Ho letto parecchi libri di McEwan e secondo me é in una parabola discendente. C'é anche da dire che non ho letto i suoi libri iniziali, fondamentalmente quelli degli ultimi 10 anni e per me sono andati peggiorando. Quest'ultimo poi é scritto in modo talmente prolisso e noioso che piú di una volta ho disperato di riuscire a finirlo. Chiaramente io non sono una letterata e tantomeno un critica letteraria, ma siccome ho ricevuto l'ARC di questo libro posso prendermi la responsabilitá di dire che non mi mancherá e che magari sará anche arrivato il momento che io mi prenda una pausa da questo autore.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mixed feelings about this book. In the end I finally began to like the character.
Some parts are beautiful. Some are boring no-plan-male-babyboomerish.
Some parts are beautiful. Some are boring no-plan-male-babyboomerish.