Perfect for audio

I don’t think I would have enjoyed reading this book as the superb description of moments, feelings and memories would have lacked the insight and reality that the reader brought alive. It was beautifully written and I am so glad that you had it available on audible.

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Well written and read

Not the easiest narrative to follow at timed but is rich in it's language and worth staying with as the story unfolds. Interesting themes of identity, coping with loss and childhood are explored and some of the descriptive observations are magnificently worded. Ian McEwen is always a delight to read, interesting, challenging and every book different - not formulaic.

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Interesting story

It took me a while to get into this book but once I was I was hooked. Unusual story line with many insightful narrative on the issue of 'Time' which i personally find has sparked my own philosophical interest in the notion of time. Highly recommended.

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3 people found this helpful

Intense, moving and mcewan at his best.

Fascinating poignant and moving book. At times it's drifting narrative is dull but the final chapter makes it worth every word. It's one of the most moving final chapters i can recall.

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1 person found this helpful

Like poetry on a dull day

While searching for this book, I accidentally brought "Children of Time", which as it turned out I enjoyed much more. this was a rather timid affair. While the characters are interesting, they don't actually do very much. but such is life... Nicely read though.

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Confusing

This is a very strange read. I did listen to the end to see if things would clear up. But the author seems to have read about modern theories of the nature of time and just had to share that knowledge with the reader. It comes across as an quasi-intellectual book, with views on politics and education that are at opposites with each other. The ‘breakdown’ of the protagonist’s mentor is absolutely ludicrous. Is this some attempt to portray Thatcherism? When does ‘the present’ take place? Out of time? As I said—confusing.

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Thank god it’s over

Only for the fact that I refuse to give up on books is why I didn’t give up on this. Holy god. It was hard work. Maybe I misunderstood the theme.

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a chore to listen to

This book wasn't what I expected. The story goes off at tangents and I found my mind wandering to my own thoughts instead of listening. It didn't keep my attention at all then finally gave up

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1 person found this helpful

Very disappointing

Nathaniel Parker's voice was very boring. It was extremely difficult to listen to this book. I didn't even get 25% through it!

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2 people found this helpful

Disappointing

I've enjoyed many of the author's books so was all the more disappointed by this novel. I found the story disjointed going off on tangents that didn't hang together. I never felt engaged by the narrative with its half-baked forays into science and philosophical musings about time. It begins with the horror of losing a daughter a theme that is left hanging for most of the book as the author's thoughts rambled about. The book isn't helped by the dreary, monotone of the narrator who seemed to be eager to get the job over.

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3 people found this helpful