A review by hannaht25
Lessons by Ian McEwan

4.5

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.