Oh yes, i read cement garden when i was about 17 or 18 years old and it stood with me for many years. The impact of the evil and sexy scenes on my teenage mind were enormous. To be honest i was ashamed how the book affected me and i always refused to talk about it because i feared what it would say about me, Today, my friend, you reminded me of it and i will buy and rearead it soon. I have to. Thank you!
Hello @KainUndAbelBooks, I'm happy to hear from you! I read The Cement Garden in 2000, in Budapest, and now, again in 2024 in Canada. Knowing the story, and remembering those dirty scenes, it still packs a punch, but not as much as the first time I read it. I understand quite well what you are talking about, relating to this book. It's something quite difficult to talk about. I wanted to give it a try with my review. And didn't feel badly about recommending, due to the popularity and high-regard Ian McEwan enjoys today. I should say that I think it is a good book. Technically, the brevity and conciseness, how quickly it progresses from scene to scene. It really takes a lot of skill to write a very good, very short novel. As for the subject matter, I'm not sure. I think literature should challenge us. We are adults and we should have the maturity to consider difficult themes. Waving big red signs saying Warning! Warning! is demeaning to an adult. I would say that society has become so infantile and coddled as to want these warnings, is awful. Perhaps I am making too big a deal of it. 50 Shades of Grey was very popular not so long ago, and I understand that was dirty as hell. Let me know what you think when you read it. I am keen to get your opinions!
I've just realised how little of the book I remember. Totally share your tastes. Exactly the same trajectory of dissapointment with his later books. I've got Enduring Love lined up for a reread and hope I enjoy it as much as I did the first time. I haven't read him since Saturday, which was horrible. Private Eye did a hilarious review of it at the time.
Thanks for writing Scott! I always forget to mention that I am ultimately forgiving of writers who peaked early and got a lot of accolades before really producing something big and weighty. Once any author has won the Booker and sold the film rights to their novels, I find that the sudden elevation in wealth ruins the talent in nearly all authors.
Absolute dark novel. Read it in hardback when it first came out. Never heard of Ian McEwan before that. Unforgettable, however it put me off McEwan for many years thinking that was the vein he always wrote in. All of McEwan’s efforts are on the short side. I’ve always wondered how this book came to be published. I’d skip this one-and read your Budapest stories. All the best to you, Grant.
Hello Sal, thanks for writing! This review was really a difficult one. I think the book has a lot of literary merit, but the subject matter is so taboo, it was quite hard for me to make up my mind whether to review it or not. Send me your mailing address to 'grantlovesbooks@gmail.com' and I will mail you a copy of my magazine. You've been following my channel for a long time, I won't mind sending you one. I'm sending out several packages this week, so it would be a good time to mail you one as well. Hope you are well!
I always try to be careful with how much I tell about the story, especially big moments. I try to give enough about the story to catch the attention, and then something about the author or some context. I hope no one comes back to me and tells me I spoiled the book for them.
