This month I’d like to highlight the work of English author Ian McEwan (born 1948). Some of you may be familiar with the movie adaptation of his novel Atonement. In addition to recommending Atonement based purely on having seen the movie, I hardily endorse two other McEwan novels I’ve recently completed: Saturday, and On Chesil Beach. Saturday (2006, 304 pages) tracks one day in the life of a London neurosurgeon that is complicated by a traffic accident and the visit of his father-in-law and daughter. On Chesil Beach (2008, 224 pages) portrays the courtship and wedding night of a socially awkward young English couple in 1962.
All three titles are available from OhioLINK: OhioLINK’s Library Catalog http://olc1.ohiolink.edu/search/
What the reviewers said:
“Saturday magnifies a pivotal moment in history and a day in a man’s life as secure foundations crack and uncertainty rushes in.” Bookmarks.
“McEwan is as provocative, transporting, and brilliant as ever as he considers both our vulnerability and our strength, particularly our ability to create sanctuary in a violent world.” Booklist review of Saturday.
“McEwan’s flawless omniscient narration has a curious (and not unpleasantly condescending) fable-like quality, as if an older self were simultaneously disavowing and affirming a younger.” Booklist review of On Chesil Beach.
“Almost from the novel’s first sentence, the reader’s heart aches for these two young people. They are so earnest, so clumsy, so naive, so desperately in love.” Washington Post review of On Chesil Beach.
