circularcubes 's review for:

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

2.0

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I was rather disappointed by the characters in this novel. Something about it just didn't click for me. I prefer characters that are, if not likable or identifiable, at the very least compelling, and Serene Frome (or any other characters, really, save for Shirley Shilling, who we hardly get to see) was none of the above. Her circumstances, as well as her job as an M15 agent, were lackluster, and I couldn't stand any of it. I found it boring, and just about everybody associated with M15 rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps it's my distaste for the paranoia and claustrophobia that the Cold War era in general gives me, but this story was just not for me. I will admit, though, that the ending did make me re-evaluate the story bit. I considered giving this three stars instead of two, but I disliked the rest of the novel so much that I couldn't do it. I wouldn't recommend this story to anyone. Personally, the whole thing left me with a vague sense of alienation and dissatisfaction.