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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Ian mcewan disappoints me these days I used to love his stuff
Not relatable really - it’s all a bit pretentious / arty high brow makes it feel less relevant
Narrative around the value of literature - kid abandoned etc seriously who lives in this world
But I did find this an easy read
Not relatable really - it’s all a bit pretentious / arty high brow makes it feel less relevant
Narrative around the value of literature - kid abandoned etc seriously who lives in this world
But I did find this an easy read
I love this. Close second favourite to Atonement currently. The beggining was too slow, but once I was about a 1/3 through I really understood what story we were telling. McEwan connects the huge social and political moments of the 20th and 21st century to the minutia of daily life, spinning the effects of the events that ripple down through generations of people, who in turn make their own decisions that affect people's lives in an endless string of consequences. The book reflects history through the life of one very commonplace individual, and in that we see the miracle of a boring life, and the expansive grace of human kindness. For the first time, I loved how McEwan handled the female characters, and the complexities of their choices. What a gorgeous journey.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
i just love to sink my teeth into a fattt book with a few characters at the centre and this absolutely delivered. a highlight for sure, the lead was lovable and interesting, and it was amazing to look at a whole life and all its discontents in just one book
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Bit on the long side.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading Hearts Invisible Furies was such a wonderful experience, I just had to read Lessons.
It was nothing that I expected at all. The sexual abuse and repeated sexual encounters that were described throughout the book in great detail were not pleasant to experience.
There was great character development and plot development. Parts of the book were very overly descriptive and excessive.
This is the story of Roland and his life from the time he is 14 and in private school until he is an elderly man. He experiences many international conflicts and wars and many changes of life and society. This is a story of complex relationships that keep coming back to you at various stages of life.
It was nothing that I expected at all. The sexual abuse and repeated sexual encounters that were described throughout the book in great detail were not pleasant to experience.
There was great character development and plot development. Parts of the book were very overly descriptive and excessive.
This is the story of Roland and his life from the time he is 14 and in private school until he is an elderly man. He experiences many international conflicts and wars and many changes of life and society. This is a story of complex relationships that keep coming back to you at various stages of life.
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this book, it’s made me want to go out and buy a load of Ian McEwan books. The only reason it doesn’t get five stars is because it was difficult to follow in some places because I didn’t have all the information on politics throughout the years. And personally I hate long chapters. But I loved Roland story, it really captivated me and felt really sorry for him.
I really wanted to like this novel more than I did. It felt too disjointed. I never knew where it was going— why is the abuser such a big part of the story if we have a brief 5-word conversation between characters as a resolution? Why does the struggle with the absent wife simply disappear? I found these to be the central drivers of the plot but by halfway they didn’t play any role whatsoever. Disappointing.