Amsterdam

I’m not exactly sure I found this Booker prize worthy, but it wasn’t bad. To be fair though, I do find McEwan a bit hit and miss.

The novel begins at the funeral of Molly Lane, introducing us to the two main characters – ex-lovers of hers and now friends – Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday. The funeral starts Clive, an erratic composer, thinking about his own mortality…. Molly had been very ill and was greatly altered in her last days. Thus, Clive asks Vernon if he is ever in that situation, would Vernon just help him die? Vernon, a methodical newspaper man finally answers – only if you do the same for me.

In these scenes, McEwan builds up a seemingly beautiful and unshakeable friendship. But as the novella progresses, this is slowly broken down… and McEwan presents us with an ending that the blurb describes as a “delicious shock”. I didn’t think it was that shocking… I had expected it by then. But it is still an interesting story about two self-involved characters, and how quickly rancour can occur to poison a friendship… you’ll get it when you read it!

An extraordinary Saturday for Ian McEwan…

This will be my second and so far most enjoyable experience of Ian McEwan.

Henry Perrone is a Neurosurgeon. He lives in London in 2003 – in the height of the frenzied fears of terror attacks. In fact, on the Saturday in question, Perrone witnesses a frightening mishap with a plane very early in the morning. On the same day, a major rally is occurring to protest against British involvement in Iraq. While the news throughout the day continues to report the near-plane crash, Perrone discovers that true fear is really closer to home.

A minor car accident brings him into contact with Baxter, whose emotionally instability is soon diagnosed by Perrone as the result of a rare neurological disorder. With special knowledge of Baxter’s condition, Perrone is soon able to distract him and escape the sticky situation. However, Baxter is not finished with him and later makes his way to the Perrone household, where a variety of family dramas are already playing themselves out.

Just when you think the novel is finished, new levels of morality are explored when Perrone chooses to operate on an injured Baxter. Will he choose revenge or forgiveness and understanding? And will those around him accept his choice?

My exposure to this book was an interesting one – I listened to it on an audio book while recovering from eye surgery (and for as long as it took me to finish it). While I did enjoy the novel, I have mixed feelings about the format. On the positive side, it was a refreshing change, allowing me to “read” two books at once. It was also handy on long walks and drives. But it is easy to miss things if you doze off (not while driving obviously!) or if your thoughts wander. You also do not have the luxury to go back over things if you would like to check them – can you imagine trying to find just one line on a whole CD? But I will try it again from time to time – particularly with easier, more accessible texts.

So, my McEwan odyssey continues. Saturday is a lovely mixture of the sublime and the mundane – it is certainly not a trite in the way I felt Enduring Love was. Perrone’s family are a fascinating set of characters, and Perrone spends the day reflecting on life in general – and confronting or remembering the many milestones of his experience.

I am keen to keep reading McEwan’s superb prose – Atonement looks good. But I will have to get in soon, before the film comes out!

Speaking of films, the newspaper today reported that Fred Schepsi has signed for a film version of Kate Grenville's wonderful The Secret River. Check out my blog entry on the novel.

Ian McEwan Emergency

"He did not know, or would not have cared to know, that as she ran away from him, certain in her distress that she was about to lose him, she had never loved him more, or more hopelessly, and that the sound of his voice would have been a deliverance..."

Could someone please help me when it comes to Ian McEwan?

I think he is a beautiful writer. I have read two of his books - Enduring Love and the latest, On Chesil Beach. But no matter how beautiful a writer he is (see the quote above from the end of On Chesil Beach), I simply do not get anything out of his plots. I find them, well, somehow lacking the ability to enthrall me.

Enduring Love is kind of pedestrian, buying into the worn out obsessional stalker storyline. Admittedly the stalker himself is unusual (a gay, ultra- religious nutter), but the ending lacks originiality. I loved the opening scenes with the balloon disaster though, and how all the characters responded to it. But, a book has to go into unchartered territory. I want it to take me somewhere I cannot easily go in real life... (Langwitch - are you wondering here why I didn't like Neuromancer? Definitely not territory I could go into in real life). It was just, a little, predictable and almost Hollywood. No wonder they made a film of it. I haven't seen it yet, but intend to.

The latest release, On Chesil Beach contains no surprises either. I guess I wanted the book to take me in an unexpected direction. It didn't - but it's a nice read.

So, the question is, should I persevere with a writer whose craft I admire so much, even if his end products fail to inspire?

And if so, where should I go next?

We have three possible options - here are weblinks (just to Wikipedia - it makes life so easy sometimes). I would love for anyone to comment on which one I should read.

Amsterdam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_%28novel%29

Atonement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_%28novel%29

Saturday
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_%28novel%29

I think I am leaning towards Saturday at the moment.