Helpful Score: 8
A beautiful, full-circle story that begins looking out into the nighttime London sky on a Saturday morning, and ends looking out into the nighttime London sky on a Sunday. During Perowne's Saturday, a minor incident snowballs into a horrible confrontation. The climax scene is probably the most awkward scene I've ever read (subject matter, not writing). It made me very uncomfortable.
I think McEwan delved a bit into existentialism when writing this - one choice can lead to disasterous, or wonderful, results. Highly recommended for those who enjoy more literary fiction.
I think McEwan delved a bit into existentialism when writing this - one choice can lead to disasterous, or wonderful, results. Highly recommended for those who enjoy more literary fiction.
Helpful Score: 7
The story of one eventful day in a man's life. Well written with many interesting descriptions and characters. The book starts out a little slow, but ends strong.
Helpful Score: 4
This novel follows an ordinary man through a Saturday whose high promise gradually turns nightmarish. Henry Perowne - a neurosurgeon, urbane, privileged, deeply in love with his wife & grown children - plans to play a game of squash, visit his elderly mother & cook dinner for the family. But a minor traffic accident leads to an unsettling confrontation.
Helpful Score: 4
The author follows a neurosurgeon through one ordinary Saturday, which gradually turns nightmarish.
It starts out slow but takes a hold of the reader as the events start to unfold.
Ian McEwan is an excellent writer in my opinion.
It starts out slow but takes a hold of the reader as the events start to unfold.
Ian McEwan is an excellent writer in my opinion.
Helpful Score: 3
Quite a book... this is not a page turner but what a great study into Harry's mind. An account of an extraordinary day in the lives of some highly intelligent people in ne family. I think McEwan has done an excellent job of examining what makes a mind formulate political conclusions. There is no wonder this book has received so many awards and was selected as One of the Best Books of the Year, by many. An excellent read.
Helpful Score: 2
I didn't hate this book, but I didn't much care for it either. It all seemed very far fetched and unbelievable and the terrorism tie-in didn't quite work in my opinion. I know this book is very popular. Perhaps I missed something.
Helpful Score: 2
Although I am not myself a retired surgeon, this review from a user of Amazon.com encompasses how I felt about the book: "With [his main character,] Perwone[, the author] depicts an accurate portrayl of an upper class surgeon in contempory England. As a retired surgeon, I find his ability to capture the cognitive process of a neurosurgeon amazing for a layman. He brings chills to mind as past decisions are remembered. Slow to develop, but stunning in abruptness of the climax and resolution. A superb novel with balanced political perspectives. Will linger in your mind for some time."
Helpful Score: 1
Not my favorite book. It moved too slowly and with far too much detail and introspection for my taste.
Helpful Score: 1
I have unwittingly read a higher proportion of Ian McEwan's work than expected for a writer that I don't count as one of my favorites. Saturday, a novel about an unusual day in the life of a London neurosurgeon, was easy to digest. There's a sense of the uneasiness of the post-9/11 world as Henry Perowne starts his day; it boils over as a minor automobile accident starts a more personal chain of events. McEwan brings poetry to his descriptions of neurosurgery, consciousness, and the mind, which reverberates through the protagonist's family and professional lives as well as the events of the day. Henry is a character that one can like, which helps this neatly structured novel move along. I enjoyed this pick from the list of 1001 books you must read before you die.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a book in which the main character (a neurosurgeon) spends alot of time thinking and pondering throughout this one day. He seems to overthink some things and it moves a bit slow. It is a book about decisions and their consequences. I liked this family of characters and it is a good read overall. It is on the 1,001 list, but not one I would put on my 1,001.
Helpful Score: 1
Contrived and highly overrated. I'm not sure why McEwan is so obsessed with upper class British families, but it hardly a subject I can relate to, or one that wasn't already covered extensively by the past, oh, two hundred years of British literature. Set against the background of an ambiguous terrorist attack, a genetically inferior thug invades the home of a brilliant brain surgeon. When the thug is subsequently shot in the head the narrator selflessly saves his life. The message here: The social elite will always remain unscathed by the perpetual violence in the world. I cried crocodile tears.
Helpful Score: 1
This was my first book by this author and I must say I was not impressed. I continued to read with the hopes that it would get better and never did. I felt the details of the one day in his life became tedious, I longed for something to happen for my interest to peak, however, no was my answer with ever turn of the page. You may ask why did I continue? Trusted friends told me I would become involved with the Doctor of the story if I just gave it a chance. I no longer trust these friends when it comes to a suggestion of a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
All 289 pages of this novel is set in a one day time frame...Saturday. This shows you how just one single incident can change everything. What started out to be a routine day of planned errands and events changes in the blink of an eye. Another great Ian McEwan novel.
Helpful Score: 1
Detailed account of family life and drama told through one day's activities and connection with a wider circle including near plane crash, road rage, home invasion, and surgery.
Helpful Score: 1
I read to page 61 of this book and just stopped reading. Sorry but it could not hold my interest. It was too detailed and went on and on about nothing in particular. I felt no suspense, no page-turner building ..nothing. I would not recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this book to be well written. It was at times beautiful, especially as the author describes the relationship between the character and his family. I've never read anything so beautifully written as what I read about his relationship with his mother, for example.
Helpful Score: 1
I can't get through it. I have forced myself to read through 1/2 of it, and it's killing me. Sorry. I'm all for the introverted novel, where the action is in your hero's mind and all, but this one is just killer - I cannot relate to this character in any way at all.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was a selection by my book group and it had mixed reviews. The more I thought about the book and we discussed the more I liked it. While the events cover a single day, it had reflections on the war on Iraq, the nature of family ties, the interconnectedness of seemingly unconnected people. I think it is a worthwhile read if you take it for what it is - the view of a day with impact beyond its initial appearance.
I found it hard to get into this book, but once I did it proved to be a good read.
I loved this - heavy, contemplative, well written - I have known some who found it dull - but I don't agree.
Perhaps I misunderstood the premise behind this novel. It took until page 237 to actually have any action or excitement. All it talked about - ad nauseum - was one man's day off. Minute by minute by minute...his activities, his family, his entertainment, etc. Dull, dull, DULL!!! Cannot recommend this to anyone. D.
When reading the first 50 pages or so, one is impressed by the author's mastery of English and his technical knowledge of neurosurgery. However, continued reading becomes tedious because the plot is very slow to develop. Then, when action finally takes place, it is not particularly believable.
Overall, I would rate "Atonement" and "The Comfort of Strangers" as better novels by this author.
Overall, I would rate "Atonement" and "The Comfort of Strangers" as better novels by this author.
Not as good as I thought it would be, but it must have just been me. EVERYONE I talk to loved it!
The book is beautifully written but sadly this does not over come its shortcomings. The ending is rather predictable, as I had it figured out about halfway through. I bought this after reading Atonement, and its a far cry from that book. It was on people's must read list,and won awards, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
A very though provoking book. I found it to be a bit slow in spots but overall very engrossing -- especially the last 100 pages or so.
I read to page 61 of this book and just stopped reading. Sorry but it could not hold my interest. It was too detailed and went on and on about nothing in particular. I felt no suspense, no page-turner building ..nothing. I would not recommend this book.
Minute by minute account of one day in the life of a neurosurgeon. I hated the first half of the first chapter. It gets much better after that. I especially enjoyed the play-by-play in the operating room. It's very technical, but put in terms even a layman can understand. It was sometimes easy to tell what might happen next, but there are still a few curveballs. I will definitely read more of this author's work!
I did not enjoy this book, did not look forward to reading it, and it's a relief that it's finished. The thought that kept going through my mind the whole time I was reading it was the continued realization that I just did not care what happened to these characters -- past, present or future.
I was so bored with it that even the ending (which I was assured would be rewarding) was an anti-climax because it couldn't be any where near exciting enough to make up for the hours I'd spent in total boredom in Henry's random thoughts.
I was so bored with it that even the ending (which I was assured would be rewarding) was an anti-climax because it couldn't be any where near exciting enough to make up for the hours I'd spent in total boredom in Henry's random thoughts.
A really good book involving subtleties and psychology. Just on the border of being a thriller, but with more literary appeal.
very interesting story of one day in the life of a neurosurgeon and his family. very well written. liked it much, much better than his other book (atonement).
This book will leave you on the side of your seat as the story unfolds.
I loved Atonement and couldn't wait to read this book which has great reviews from other sources (LA Times Book review, The Nation, etc.) But, I had to force myself to read most of it. It felt more like readinga writing exercise.........
Very good.
Not very interesting, boring in fact. You really don't care about the characters of what happens.
A slow start, but well worth the time spent.
McEwan is one of my favorite writers, and I really enjoyed the book.
Very thought-provoking and current!
Well written, excellent story. Highly reccommend!
Ian McEwan is a great writer. He can capture a place very well. This book got rave reviews. I feel Atonement is his better work.
Wonderful writing although only covering one day in the whole book makes the pace a bit slow at times
I read it, but thought it was mediocre.
All the events happen within one day-Saturday.
COULDN'T GET INTO THIS ONE,SO I'M GONNA SHARE IT WITH YALL.
