Fiona Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 I did look for a thread, but I am blind half the time so I may have missed it. I've read Atonement (by far one of my favourite books) Saturday. Which was the first one of his I read and I like his style. I enjoyed the book but I agree with most of the criticism I've read about it. Enduring Love. It's very well written and I enjoyed it but I didn't think it was everything people made it out to be. Despite the fact I so far only seem to be liking one book of his with any passion - he is becoming one of my favourite authors. I love the way he writes. So, anyone else reading/read McEwan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 I really enjoyed Saturday its the first book I have ever read which I loved the words rather than the story. Not read any more. Suggestiosn of where to go next appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted May 24, 2007 Author Share Posted May 24, 2007 Atonement! Definately, it's one of my favourite books of all times. You won't regret it. It has more of a storyline then Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Brilliant will look out for it Although after you've been here for a bit more books that sound great is a bit of a double edged sword B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 I started reading Atonement and started to enjoy it but was making slow progress with it. It was a library book and I ended up giving it back before I finished it. I might try it again. I would like to read Amsterdam. I'd definitely like to read something of his one day. I picked up chisel beach in tesco but I don't think I really fancy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 We studied a chapter from Enduring Love in English a few years ago, and it is a book I would like to read simply to see what happens in the story. Has many people read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 Yeah I've read it and it's pretty good, but I don't quite get the critical acclaim it got - I've read better but as always, Ian McEwan makes for an interesting and thoughtful read. Was it chapter one you studied? What was supposed to be so great about it? I mean it was GOOD but... I'm not that amazed by it really. I don't actually like the look of Chisel Beach, I might wait till I find it somewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Yeah I've read it and it's pretty good, but I don't quite get the critical acclaim it got - I've read better but as always, Ian McEwan makes for an interesting and thoughtful read. Was it chapter one you studied? What was supposed to be so great about it? I mean it was GOOD but... I'm not that amazed by it really. I'm not sure which chapter it was, but it had the balloon scene.... when the group of men try to cling on to the balloon and the one man falls and is killed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted May 26, 2007 Author Share Posted May 26, 2007 Yeah, that was the first chapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I read my first McEwan book earlier this year. Atonement was very, very well written. I am not a fan of coming of age stories. My own coming of age was tough enough; why live through someone else's. I actually had a hard time getting through the first hundred pages because my afore mentioned bias, however appreciated much of the language. It was not until midway through the book that I become quite enthralled, and when I finished, I was so moved that I had to talk it out (to my mother's dismay). Did anyone notice McEwan's use of water as symbolism for truth throughout the story? At dinner the heat makes everyone want water, but they drink warm sweet wine instead (want truth but lie about who they have been with instead). On his journey back Robbie finds water (truth) but it is always bitter or dirty of sour. Briony, after attending her cousin's wedding and before taking the imagined trip to see her sister is thirsty, but has to put extra sugar in her tea in order to make it drinkable. I found it very interesting. The movie ending was changed, and it unset me very much. In the movie the grown Briony states that she did not change the ending and bring Cecelia and Robbie back to life to justify/appease herself, but in the book, that is what I felt that she did in a way. She was still "adding sugar" to the strong, bitter cup of truth in telling her story, rather than repenting of the lie. She continued to lie to her death. Very good book. Which McEwam book should be next on my list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Nice observations Amanda! I tend to miss out on those sorts of things when I read a book. Part of me doesn't want to analyse the book too much - I like to just enjoy the story for the story. But I know I sometimes miss out on things that might otherwise give me a better understanding/appreciation for the book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts...very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernow_reader Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I seem to have become a fan of Ian McEwan's novels. So far I've read On Chesil Beach which I really loved. Amsterdam Child In Time Enduring Love The Cement Garden Atonement Saturday Black Dogs I have The Comfort of Strangers TBR and am thinking of buying another called In Between the Sheets which looks like a good read. I like his style and prose though Saturday, whilst clever in its concept was not one of my favourite of his reads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe*With*Brains Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I love Enduring love. We had to study it for English Literature in college and whilst all my class mates hated it I adored it! He has a website I think...I came across it when I was researching him if i remember rightly. How did you find the chapters nearer to the end though? I thought the part where he obtained the gun went on slightly...but maybe that's because i was impatient to find out what would happen in the end =p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I tried one of his books this week, Enduring Love, and found it dull. His style of writing is such that I found the story dragged and didn't get very far into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopyloo100 Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I have The Comfort of Strangers TBR and am thinking of buying another called In Between the Sheets which looks like a good read. I read these many years ago (over 20 years) along with "The Imitation Game" (3 plays) I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. More recently I read "Black Dogs" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursenblack Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I just finished Ian McEwan's Atonement a few days ago and really enjoyed it, but found the beginning painfully slow. At one point I thought about putting it down. I'm interested in reading more of his novels, but I don't want to be bored by a lot of dull details. Are all of his novels like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tambo Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I haven't read any Ian McEwan yet, but I really should. My brother is heavily into him, I think I'll mooch a copy of Atonement and go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe*With*Brains Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 yeah, the scene with the balloon was the beginning chapter/s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smint Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 I've only read Saturday which I enjoyed with an interesting moral twist at the end I see On Chesil Beach has had some mixed reviews, but will probably get round to reading that and Atonement I've seen the film Enduring Love - is it close to the book? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoannaM Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I love Enduring love. We had to study it for English Literature in college and whilst all my class mates hated it I adored it! He has a website I think...I came across it when I was researching him if i remember rightly. How did you find the chapters nearer to the end though? I thought the part where he obtained the gun went on slightly...but maybe that's because i was impatient to find out what would happen in the end =p I really enjoyed Enduring Love - thought the start was one of the best I'd ever read - although as the book went on it went off the boil as bit for me, a bit farcical maybe. Which is not to say it isn't a good book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy91 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Iv nearly finished atonement.Found it really hard to get into and found some parts difficult to read some things just dragging on too much but I read the section detailing Robbies war experience and Brionys nursing in one sitting couldnt put it down.Its realy just taking too long to reach a climax. Think I'l definitely read more of his though.First book I have finished in a while and actually enjoyed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kay_loves_purple Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The only book of McEwan's I have read is Atonement. I have to say that I have rarely read an ending to bother me that much (making me even hate the whole book for a (short) while). Now, while I consider the fact that it made me feel that strong about the book a very good thing, I don't know whether to dare and try another one of his books because I have found Atonement a bit to dry and dragging at the beginning, it didn't captivate me easily at all, so I'm afraid the next book would be dry too (at least up until one moment which I am not sure I'll have the patience to reach). Nevertheless Enduring Love sounds great, I might try it sometime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anisia Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I read Amsterdam and really enjoyed it. I have Saturday on by reading list now, hopefully I'll get to it sometime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo-Bridge Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I really enjoyed Atonement (although iI didnt like the ending either and I dont think Briony "atoned" at all!) but cant really remember Enduring Love although its on my shelf so I must have read it! Have had Cement Garden on my tbr list for ages. has any one read this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne123 Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 I brought Atonment after watching the film (which I thought was quite good) to read in 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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