Reviews

Lessons by Ian McEwan

lexlibris's review

4.0

atonement was bearable because it was a love story at the end of the day. this just thoroughly destroyed me. and for free.

Lost points for covid mention tho it could’ve ended a few decades earlier or waited a few more years to actually get perspective on the pandemic & brexit

 

simonlitton's review against another edition

5.0

It's somehow hard to put a finger on exactly why I loved this so much: it covers so much ground, so much history, and so many feelings. In some ways it expresses a feeling of helplessness in the face of the sweep of history and early, formative events over which we often have no control. Baines is in many ways a victim, but often of his own flaws and bad choices. I'd even hesitate to call him a sympathetic character, but I did find his story absorbing, and in the end moving.

jillybebe's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting read. Made me reflect on the psychology of sexual abuse.

schmee_again's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

petyapav's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

schmethel's review against another edition

DNF 20%

rebeccaverschueren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

vivus_007's review against another edition

1.0

Ich hatte mich so auf das Buch gefreut und es unbedingt auf deutsch lesen wollen. Leider empfand ich das Buch als super öde. Ein Ereignis folgte aufs nächste und zwischendrin wird berichtet, was de Protagonist isst.
Gut, dass ich das Buch im Urlaub am Pool gelesen habe. Zuhause im Alltag hätte ich mich wahrscheinlich monatelang durchgequält.

toomash's review against another edition

4.0

3.5/5

This book started off on a very promising note. The back-and-forth between the main intrigue and the history-laden flashbacks was entertaining.

Then, it got even better. Ian MacEwan's meditative style of writing uncovers some profound emotional truths; from how our childhood trauma shapes the people we become, to the bitter and sorrowful lessons of adulthood.

Unfortunately, the last 80 pages of the novel fell flat. Meditations turned to rants, sentimental ruminations gave way to mundane and boring commentaries on modern living and hard-earned narrative tension culminated in a disappointing denouement.

'Lessons' is a deeply meditative novel that regrettably falls 80 pages short of being a sublime masterpiece.

steve_32's review against another edition

5.0

Lessons is a great novel that takes us through history with the life of one man, Roland. Roland is sent away to a boarding school by his military father. At the time of the Cuban Missile crisis when Roland is 14 he finds himself at a piano lesson with Mrs Cornell, who is 25, and whose interest in Roland is a bit more than teaching him to play the piano. Mrs Cornell is controlling and grooming Roland and the affair culminates with her wanting to take Roland, who is now 16, to Scotland so they can get married which results in Roland realising he must get away from her. Roland drifts through life affected by this earlier relationship.
This is a long novel with historical events forming the backdrop to Roland’s life. Many of these events have an impact on his life such as the end of the Cold War and the crossing of the Berlin Wall. Through all the events Roland muddles through as most of us do.
A wonderful read.