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damianwayne's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book of I’m being honest. I haven’t lived enough life to recognise whether what McEwan is saying has a profound and real meaning or not.
I don’t know if this being semi-autobiographical makes me like it more or not. It is still too suspended from his own life to make it particularly sentimental (although I was a bit emotional knowing that the dedication was to all his siblings, including his long lost brother), but it most certainly would not be anywhere near as cohesive without his real experiences.
I feel like an awful person for saying that Roland’s experience with and the subsequent decades-long fallout from Miriam was the most interesting part of the book, but it’s true. Roland still cannot fully reckon with just how much damage her grooming of him had through the rest of his life, and seemingly he never does. I really hope Roland’s confusion and inability to separate (what he viewed as) love and her crime is just how unresolved it is and not McEwan saying it requires more nuance. Because it doesn’t. She was an paedophilic adult woman who groomed and sexually exploited her student from the age of 11. There is no leeway there. My concern is that by referring to them as, in a roundabout way, both complicit, McEwan is showing has not learned anything in the 21 years since Atonement was written where he called Lola and Briony just as complicit as Paul. The rapist and victim should never be presented as on equal standing in the matter. That makes me uncomfortable in rating this super highly.
However, I do believe Alessa’s transphobia is meant to be parodying JK Rowling and her insane black mould-driven rants. Thank you for that laugh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
pllylzbth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
kevina's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia
gabi_m16's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
angelabuck's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
When Roland Baines’ wife leaves him with their 7-month-old son, he is forced to reflect on his past life and the decisions he had made, which were influenced by a relationship in his teens with his piano teacher. This is an epic and challenging read, that covers his entire life. There is lots of social and political commentary, which is interesting but it slows the pace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia
sdmlm20's review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
poppyholmes's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
zara89's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
kejan's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I only got more invested in the story two thirds into the book.
There are no good build ups of suspension. The moments in his life that are supposed to be big, are dealt with in a short sentence. The character himself is not per se loveable or enthralling. His storytelling is constantly focused outward and I missed reflection from the character.
Still the writing is stunning which is the reason I kept reading. The final 150 pages are a real treat.
There are no good build ups of suspension. The moments in his life that are supposed to be big, are dealt with in a short sentence. The character himself is not per se loveable or enthralling. His storytelling is constantly focused outward and I missed reflection from the character.
Still the writing is stunning which is the reason I kept reading. The final 150 pages are a real treat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and War
bernard_black's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Loveable characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic