Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Lessons by Ian McEwan

17 reviews

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Rape, Cancer, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Pedophilia, Death, and Emotional abuse

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and War

bernard_black's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Loveable characters? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, War, and Cancer

pipnewman's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.0

I enjoyed this read, and stuck with it which is saying something as I don't often read books this long. Told from the perspective of Roland, who grows up in the aftermath of the Second World War, the book is very rooted in the historical context. It was interesting to feel that each character was deeply influenced by the historical and political contexts- arms races, the fall of the Berlin Wall, political movements in Britain, all the way through to the covid lockdowns. However it did feel very male centric- all the male characters were significantly more developed than the female characters and it felt like the genre of 'grandad telling his life story at the dinner table'. Also massive massive content warning for sexual assault / harassment / pedophilia - it jumps in right at chapter 1, threads through the whole novel and is very confronting if you are not expecting it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Car accident, Death, Cancer, Grief, Abandonment, and Terminal illness

Minor: Domestic abuse, Dementia, and Fatphobia

raelin's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I am glad I finished this, because I liked it more than I thought I did halfway through. I needed the reflections of the old man on the young man to balance out the thoughts of the young man, and I had to keep reading to get to that part. 

There was a lot in this to digest and it is ripe for discussion in a book club.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Car accident, Confinement, Death of parent, Dementia, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness

Minor: Infidelity and Domestic abuse

rubyjubbbaddiel's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Everything about this book shouts Ian McEwan. It’s beautiful and elaborately written and of course involves some sort of disturbing sexual exploit. This book left me with existential panic but by the end became an enjoyable read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

The start is a struggle tbh but it does improve a lot, about growing up and getting old and just life more generally

‘He wasn’t waiting for her. But if she ever turned up he wanted his options open. Which was another was of saying, he was waiting.’

‘A form of narcissism, or closely related paranoia.’

‘It was his right to want nothing.’

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

rosereadsalot's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, War, Death of parent, Dementia, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Pandemic/Epidemic

jennikreads's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Cancer

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Transphobia

lynnenad's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed this book but I would not recommend it to many other people. It tells the story of one man’s life from 11 years old to beyond 70 years. Critical readers say that nothing happens in this man’s life but his life is very similar to the lives of pretty much everyone I know, including me. There are some personally dramatic moments that create ripples that last for decades, and for generations. The events of the larger human world also impact the man’s life, creating their own consequences, as they do for most of us. The lessons learned and the reflections are  well written and thought out. The several pages dealing with loss and grief are extremely well written. A fine book. I may well read it more than once. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Pedophilia

Minor: Dementia