A review by rasha_reads
Lessons by Ian McEwan

emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

A beautifully composed book where the author uses words as an artist uses paints. But the subject matter is so vast and yet so insignificant and goes back and forth in time so much that it is not an easy read. I had to read it in increments of about 50 pages at a time if not, I think I would have fallen into a deep depression.

I found it unusual in that there are no overtly good or bad guys in this book despite there being a main protagonist - though there is this definite theme of the ramifications of his affair with his piano teacher (who could be seen as bad) that reverberates throughout his life. Equally interesting was all of Roland’s emotional trauma is inflicted by the three main women in his life (mother, abuser/teacher, wife) even though much of his emotional confusion probably originated from his father…

This book is also unusual in that world events are used as a form of dividers in the book which coincide with chapters of Roland’s life [WWII — The Suez Canal Crisis — Cuban Missile Crisis — Chernobyl — Sarajevo — Blair & New Labour Government — 9/11 — Enron — covid — Washington riots…].

After having finished reading “Lessons” the main questions I was left with were: What is the point of life? What lessons do we learn from living?

I would not recommend this for everyone since it is slow going and character driven and I’m not sure I liked any of the characters much but it does make you think.
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