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shazzalovesnovels's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very thought provoking. I've often thought about these themes before in my spare time, but it was interesting to see them down on paper wreaking havoc in characters lives.
Quotes
"God gave life and only God could take it away."
"Wealth mostly failed to bring extended happiness."
Quotes
"God gave life and only God could take it away."
"Wealth mostly failed to bring extended happiness."
gregz_newdorkreviewofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Let's talk about a return to form for one of my heretofore favorite writers, Ian McEwan, whose last two novels, Solar and Sweet Tooth, I've not been a fan of at all. However, his new novel The Children Act is a short, entertaining piece of totally typical McEwanness. It's told his signature droll, dryly humorous, ultra-logical prose — which is a bit of an acquired taste, frankly, but works really well for this story.
It's about a London judge named Fiona who has arrived at a small measure of fame for deciding really tough family law cases, like the case of twins who had to separated for one to survive, but whose religious parents wouldn't abide that solution, because only God can decide between life and death. So they'd rather let both die. We learn about this case early in the novel — which foreshadows the two main components of the rest of the story.
First, Fiona's husband of many years decides he wants an open marriage — he accuses Fiona of losing her passion, and he wants to reclaim that (read as: sex!) with another (younger) woman. She still loves him, and at first, struggles with whether she should agree to his indecent proposal. (Should she kill a main tenet of a marriage - faithfulness - to save the big picture?) Secondly, a case comes before her court of a 17-year-old kid named Adam being treated for leukemia. He and his parents are Jehovah's Witnesses, and one of the pillars of their faith is that blood is sacred, and therefore a transfusion of someone else's blood — which is required for him to live — is profane.
With the stress of her now-irreparably broken marriage weighing on her, what will she decide? Are Adam's beliefs his own, and even if so, isn't requiring the treatment (since he's a minor) in his best interest? What's cool about this story is that judgment is handed down halfway through the novel, and the rest is about how the decision changes all the characters involved. I really enjoyed this, and I think if you've liked McEwan's more lauded novels, like Atonement and Saturday, you'll really dig this one too.
It's about a London judge named Fiona who has arrived at a small measure of fame for deciding really tough family law cases, like the case of twins who had to separated for one to survive, but whose religious parents wouldn't abide that solution, because only God can decide between life and death. So they'd rather let both die. We learn about this case early in the novel — which foreshadows the two main components of the rest of the story.
First, Fiona's husband of many years decides he wants an open marriage — he accuses Fiona of losing her passion, and he wants to reclaim that (read as: sex!) with another (younger) woman. She still loves him, and at first, struggles with whether she should agree to his indecent proposal. (Should she kill a main tenet of a marriage - faithfulness - to save the big picture?) Secondly, a case comes before her court of a 17-year-old kid named Adam being treated for leukemia. He and his parents are Jehovah's Witnesses, and one of the pillars of their faith is that blood is sacred, and therefore a transfusion of someone else's blood — which is required for him to live — is profane.
With the stress of her now-irreparably broken marriage weighing on her, what will she decide? Are Adam's beliefs his own, and even if so, isn't requiring the treatment (since he's a minor) in his best interest? What's cool about this story is that judgment is handed down halfway through the novel, and the rest is about how the decision changes all the characters involved. I really enjoyed this, and I think if you've liked McEwan's more lauded novels, like Atonement and Saturday, you'll really dig this one too.
musacchiola's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
chamyl's review against another edition
3.0
Ci sono personaggi di libri con cui davvero non hai nulla in comune. E non c'è niente da fare. Per quanto ti possano interessare, la storia non trova appigli su di te.
Forse è questo che è successo con La Ballata di Adam Henry. Un romanzo emotivamente intenso, ma un po' sommesso, sottotono.
La storia segue la vita interiore di una giudice, Fiona, nel momento in cui il marito la lascia per una più giovane. Come la stessa Fiona commenta: niente di più squallido e privo di originalità.
Tanto più che, fin dall'inizio, sa benissimo che arrivati alla loro età è poco probabile che la loro storia finisca così. Dopo tanti anni insieme, avendo progettato insieme la vecchiaia, Fiona sembra fin dall'inizio arresa. L'inevitabile, riprendersi il marito fedigrago, deve comunque accadere. L'umiliazione sarà subita senza possibilità di contrattaccare in modo significativo. E' comunque meno peggio far rientrare in casa il traditore che passare il resto della vita da sola. Senza figli, con pochi amici, un lavoro schiacciante (fino alla pensione, e poi il vuoto?).
Però, a distrarla dal baratro, arriva Adam. Un testimone di Geova diciassettenne sensibile e intelligente. A Fiona viene affidato il compito di decidere se imporgli o meno le cure mediche. Per capire bene la situazione decide di andarlo ad incontrare in ospedale.
E' su quel ragazzo così ingenuo e determinato, un po' perduto e un po' testardo, che si concentrano i suoi pensieri. Meglio pensare al ragazzo che rischia la morte che al marito idiota.
Dicevo, una storia che anche se ben scritta e portata avanti, semplicemente, non trova appigli.
(Note to self: week 21 of the 2015 reading challenge: a book your mom or dad loves.)
Forse è questo che è successo con La Ballata di Adam Henry. Un romanzo emotivamente intenso, ma un po' sommesso, sottotono.
La storia segue la vita interiore di una giudice, Fiona, nel momento in cui il marito la lascia per una più giovane. Come la stessa Fiona commenta: niente di più squallido e privo di originalità.
Tanto più che, fin dall'inizio, sa benissimo che arrivati alla loro età è poco probabile che la loro storia finisca così. Dopo tanti anni insieme, avendo progettato insieme la vecchiaia, Fiona sembra fin dall'inizio arresa. L'inevitabile, riprendersi il marito fedigrago, deve comunque accadere. L'umiliazione sarà subita senza possibilità di contrattaccare in modo significativo. E' comunque meno peggio far rientrare in casa il traditore che passare il resto della vita da sola. Senza figli, con pochi amici, un lavoro schiacciante (fino alla pensione, e poi il vuoto?).
Però, a distrarla dal baratro, arriva Adam. Un testimone di Geova diciassettenne sensibile e intelligente. A Fiona viene affidato il compito di decidere se imporgli o meno le cure mediche. Per capire bene la situazione decide di andarlo ad incontrare in ospedale.
E' su quel ragazzo così ingenuo e determinato, un po' perduto e un po' testardo, che si concentrano i suoi pensieri. Meglio pensare al ragazzo che rischia la morte che al marito idiota.
Dicevo, una storia che anche se ben scritta e portata avanti, semplicemente, non trova appigli.
(Note to self: week 21 of the 2015 reading challenge: a book your mom or dad loves.)
joemc5054's review against another edition
3.0
a slow burner and one i took my time reading. The Children Act doesn’t really get going until half way through the book, but by doing this, McEwan is able to craft a story that is intricately put together piece by piece. A different storyline from other books, it proposes ideas that may not seem as prevalent whilst reading but upon afterthoughts make you realise how thought out of a book it is.
thesammylife's review against another edition
4.0
This had the potential to be so, so good... Instead it was great in parts but let down by the lacklustre ending.
thelinusthecat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0