saturday - ian mcewan
I'm afraid Saturday was a bit of a disappoinment after the most excellent fireworks of Atonement. McEwan is of course still a splendid writer, but on several occasions the research got in the way for me when there were too many explainy bits filled with Correct Terms.
Henry's love for his son's music, for instance, was touching, but why ever did he have to know all the exactly right technical words for what the boy was doing? I could understand that when Henry was thinking about his own job (well, not quite, I'm actually of the opinion that we don't think in technical terms especially when working in our own field, but that's an untested theory), but not when ruminating on his child's hobby/passion.
But perhaps I have it all wrong. It's been a while since I read the book, and I'm leaning more and more towards the idea that Henry (as a character) needs the anchors of appearing and being knowledgeable, that it's his way of showing love or making connections with people. I think I'll have to give the book another chance in a re-read, and read it slowly this time.
24-01-2006
