Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
A novel and a collection of short stories by English writer McEwan offer chilling portraits of sexual obsession. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
"A shocking book, morbid, full of repellant imagery—and irresistibly readable.... The effect achieved by McEwan's quiet, precise and sensuous touch is that of magic realism—a transfiguration of the ordinary that has far stronger retinal and visceral impact than the flabby surrealism of so many experimental novels." —New York Review of Books
“Possesses the suspense and chilling impact of Lord of the Flies.” —Washington Post Book World
“Darkly impressive.” —The Times
“A superb achievement: his prose has instant, lucid beauty and his narrative voice has a perfect poise and certainty. His account of deprivation and survival is marvellously sure, and the imaginative alignment of his story is exactly right.” —Tom Paulin
“Marvellously creates the atmosphere of youngsters given that instant adulthood they all crave, where the ordinary takes on a mysterious glow and the extraordinary seems rather commonplace. It is difficult to fault the writing or the construction of this eerie fable.” —Sunday Times
"His writing is exact, tender, funny, voluptuous, disturbing." —The Times
"The Maestro." —New Statesman
"McEwan has—a style and a vision of life of his own...No one interested in the state and mood of contemporary Britain can afford not to read him." —John Fowles
"A sparkling and adventurous writer." —Dennis Potter
DEC 03/JAN 04 - AudioFile
The question is a familiar one: Are humans inherently good or bad? When left to his own devices, can a child form his own idea of morality? If so, what choices will he make? McEwan’s novel can only be described as chillingly sinister as its drama unfolds. The young narrator, Jack, becomes the man of the house after his parents pass away, and, as a result, he and his sisters are free to do as they please. Steven Crossley smoothly offers an almost detached, nonchalant reading of this uncomfortably squirm-inducing novel; his offhand rendering of Jack’s voice is simply perfect. Exposed to the horror of some of Jack’s choices, the listener feels like a witness to a crime--one from which it is difficult to turn away. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
