Ian McEwan has created a really unlikeable character in Michael Beard. Normally I find if I can't empathise with the main character I struggle to finish the book. McEwan is such a brilliant writer that I couldn't stop reading the novel. It is a satire about a totally self-absorbed scientist who has done almost no decent work since he won the Nobel Prize for Physics and it made me laugh out loud several time as well as hoping he would finally what he deserved. Did not like this book and have not really liked any of his books except Atonement. I listened to it and probably would have quit, but it was the only audiobook I had on this trip. The main character was pathetic, but because he had won the Nobel Prize, he was sought after and successful, even though he did very little. There is an interview with the author on the audio, but McEwan was never asked the question I would have asked. Did he realize how demeaning this book to women? The guy was short (no offense to short guys, but I prefer a tall man, fat, a drunkard, chronic liar and womanizer, but had been married 5 times and when the book ends there are two more desperate to marry him. Now what woman in their right mind would marry someone who has been divorced five times and had had multiple affairs while he was married.There were some parts of the book that were very funny and times I laughed out loud.And while the author said it was his contribution to raising awareness about climate change, I would consider it ineffective for that.
Do You like book Solar (2010)?
Different. Took long to read yet I had to know what happens to main character
—loislane
