Annoyingly good. (Enduring Love - Ian McEwan)

Member Name: NaughtiestNeil

Product:	Enduring Love - Ian McEwan
Date:	15/01/01 (133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Provocative, unpredicatable, original.

Disadvantages: Exaggerated.

The basic plot is one very scientifically minded man with his very opposite arts and literature minded wife have their life’s upturned by a series of traumatic events. The husband (Joe) begins an unknowing mental affair with his unwanted stalker, and the hypocrisy, plots, and morals unwind in true McEwan fashion. (I hate doing the plot bit!)
I have mixed feelings about this book. In some ways I consider it the best as I can see a clear idea behind it, and having attended a lecture on the novel given by Ian McEwan himself, therefore, I know what he is aiming for.
It shows good links between the relationships of people, and that one belief shouldn't be dominant in life, but the balance between things as extreme as science and religion must be found. Rationality is a key theme here too.
I feel that McEwan may have stepped over the believable mark here in order to drive home his points, however in real life the unbelievable does happen. The obstinacy of characters frustrates me, but the points raised make you think and debate your own thoughts yourself.
Many have argued that the book has a dissatisfying ending, but I don't believe this is true. I think her this is a perfect opportunity to your literary knowledge. After all, it is our reactions to books, and thoughts that are all provoked by literary theory, this is what comes in to play at the end of the book. I have very strong feelings about the ending, and opinions as to what happens, and purely to me, I seem to feel how can people of missed this! But another thing is, what is left deliberately unsaid at the end of the book is of little significance and has not effect on the rest of the book anyway.

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