Enduring LoveIan McEwan
It’s funny how even the happiest times can be suddenly and forever ruined by the simplest of things. A poorly-planned remark when joking with a pal. A turned ankle while running the stairs. A glance down when driving. The most innocuous of acts can have life-long consequences.
The characters in Ian McEwan’s novels know this fact of life very well, as many of his characters suffer devastating effects from the most mundane of actions. Enduring Love is no different; Joe sits down to a lovely picnic with his wife moments away from a catastrophe that, unbeknownst to him, will change him forever.
He does not know that the hot-air balloon that has just entered his sight will be the impetus for his fleeting glimpse into madness and the near dissolution of his marriage. He does not know that this seemingly innocent picnic will end life as he currently knows it.
The novel begins as Joe and his wife enjoy a nice afternoon picnic. A hot-air balloon crosses the field, bringing death to this pastoral. Joe, for his part, cannot be blamed for running to help; several other bystanders also follow their Good Samaritan instincts and race to the scene. Each struggles to save an innocent boy trapped by his hapless grandfather’s inability to correctly pilot the balloon. Tragedy is not averted, and all are forever changed.
In the wake of the accident, Joe is plagued by his memory of that day and must grapple with his own actions. Did he do enough? Should he have done more? Ironically enough, Joe is changed less by his involvement in the accident than by his involvement with another responder to the scene, Jed Parry. Joe makes the fateful mistake of exchanging a glance with this man, a glance that Jed twists and turns to serve his growing obsession.
Jed is obsessed with Joe, believing Joe is sending him secret messages via curtains and glances. Jed stalks Joe, hoping to find another “message.” Worse still, Clarissa doubts Jed even exists – she certainly never sees him, never hears his messages. Has Joe truly deleted Jed's messages out of a sickening dread of the man? Or is he going insane? Is there any way for him to recover his old life?
In a nutshell: I was riveted by my third excursion into the world of McEwan, and although it didn’t reach the heights of Atonement, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars
The characters in Ian McEwan’s novels know this fact of life very well, as many of his characters suffer devastating effects from the most mundane of actions. Enduring Love is no different; Joe sits down to a lovely picnic with his wife moments away from a catastrophe that, unbeknownst to him, will change him forever.
He does not know that the hot-air balloon that has just entered his sight will be the impetus for his fleeting glimpse into madness and the near dissolution of his marriage. He does not know that this seemingly innocent picnic will end life as he currently knows it.
The novel begins as Joe and his wife enjoy a nice afternoon picnic. A hot-air balloon crosses the field, bringing death to this pastoral. Joe, for his part, cannot be blamed for running to help; several other bystanders also follow their Good Samaritan instincts and race to the scene. Each struggles to save an innocent boy trapped by his hapless grandfather’s inability to correctly pilot the balloon. Tragedy is not averted, and all are forever changed.
In the wake of the accident, Joe is plagued by his memory of that day and must grapple with his own actions. Did he do enough? Should he have done more? Ironically enough, Joe is changed less by his involvement in the accident than by his involvement with another responder to the scene, Jed Parry. Joe makes the fateful mistake of exchanging a glance with this man, a glance that Jed twists and turns to serve his growing obsession.Jed is obsessed with Joe, believing Joe is sending him secret messages via curtains and glances. Jed stalks Joe, hoping to find another “message.” Worse still, Clarissa doubts Jed even exists – she certainly never sees him, never hears his messages. Has Joe truly deleted Jed's messages out of a sickening dread of the man? Or is he going insane? Is there any way for him to recover his old life?
In a nutshell: I was riveted by my third excursion into the world of McEwan, and although it didn’t reach the heights of Atonement, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars
5 comments:
Graphl....
I've been looking forward to your review of this book for over a week - and what do I get? A plot summary...
I understand tho, thanks for getting this place rolling again.
Yeah, I had actually read this book several months ago, and I've been struggling for awhile with the review.
I wanted to discuss it in a more meaningful way, but also didn't want to give away too much. Ultimately I just settled for posting the damn thing as opposed to nit-picking further...
I need to read more McEwan, so this one is going on my list. You're right about the little things. It's interesting to read books that examine how those simple, little things can impact a life.
Enduring Love is amazing - and certainly has the best first chapter of any novel I've read! I must admit to preferring it to Atonement, which hinted at the long-drawn out cliches and boredom which has since swallowed up poor McEwan. But the ending of Atonement is worth the long trawl through those very irritating characters - much like Wagner, I suppose.
:))
A
xxx
Glad you read this one for me- will add it to the long list and thanks for saving me from LARRY.
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