Ian McEwan’s latest novel …

[+ SirBillybob]

Just finished What We Can Know. It’s in two parts, the first set in 2119 looking back on UK current times, followed by present day, so I thought I would take a section break but I couldn’t put it down. Very entertaining, with a few twists you don’t see coming. 

Edited October 5, 2025 by SirBillybob

[+ Lucky]

I couldn't finish it as I was totally bored.

[+ SirBillybob]

1 hour ago, Lucky said:

I couldn't finish it as I was totally bored.

This very instant I can relate.

[Rod Hagen]

Glad you liked it.  I'm conflicted.  I loved everything before Atonement. Atonement was a major achievement, and I only "liked" the section before the war.

Saturday is well written, but the artifice of a book representing a day feels wrong to me, and done to death by other great writers.  And he is a great writer.

Chesil Beach SUCKED.  If he's written other books since then, I'm unfamiliar.

I will read What We Can Know, but I'm not expecting to be blown away like he used to do for me.

[+ SirBillybob]

25 minutes ago, Rod Hagen said:

Glad you liked it.  I'm conflicted.  I loved everything before Atonement. Atonement was a major achievement, and I only "liked" the section before the war.

Saturday is well written, but the artifice of a book representing a day feels wrong to me, and done to death by other great writers.  And he is a great writer.

Chesil Beach SUCKED.  If he's written other books since then, I'm unfamiliar.

I will read What We Can Know, but I'm not expecting to be blown away like he used to do for me.

This one is set in a period span a bit longer than a day. LOL

The tension builds slowly and intensifies in the second part.

It’s his 8th, I believe, since On Chesil Beach.

Edited October 5, 2025 by SirBillybob