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mo0nagedydr3am's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
prairiedog's review against another edition
3.0
Not McEwan's best, but a good early work and wonderfully dark. Interesting to compare it with Atonement and Saturday and see how much he's developed as writer/thinker.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
Children lack self-control and will give into their worst instincts when given free reign - that is the theme of the story. The Cement Garden is the modern Garden of Eden where almost everything goes. It is also too easy to add Freudician explanations of the story. The only downside, for me, was that it was a little too short for me and lacked the vibrancy it probably should have,
goblinhearted's review against another edition
3.0
What a strange little book with an interesting sociological premise: how would kids in the 1970s spend their days after their last-living parent dies (and where would they hide the body?) I wasn't sure what to expect. I liked it well enough but it also didn't particularly stick with me, nor would I go out of my way to recommend it. All of that to say, it was an okay read!
stephh's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Incest
franklyfrank's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sarahjover's review against another edition
4.0
4,5. Het is op een manier geschreven wat fijn leest. De familiebanden zijn interssant om te lezen. Sommige delen zijn ook wel een beetje shockerend. Ik ben benieuwd naar meer boeken van Ian McEwan
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger Warning: Incest
I've read a few McEwan books in the past, my favorite of which is his most popular: Atonement. So cliche of me, I know.
The Cement Garden is a novella originally published in the 1970's. It features a lower class family living in a run down house in a run down neighborhood in England. Their neighborhood is edged by newer high rise residences. The father dies and soon thereafter the mother gets sick. The story is told from the perspective of the 14 year old son. He and his siblings, Julie, Sue, and Tom, start taking care of themselves and after their mother dies they decide not to tell anyone. Without adult supervision they do whatever they want, including completely inappropriate behavior.
It's not too much of a spoiler since it occurs in the first handful of pages of Chapter 1, but the oldest 3 siblings have some incestuous behavior. Our protagonist tells everything in such an offhanded way, whether talking about his masturbation habit or beating up a kid who bullies his little brother. It's disturbing that he doesn't seem to express any true regret or strong shame for some of the stuff he and his siblings do. I think this helps set the tone of the story as a portrayal of how awful childhood can be for some.
I've read a few McEwan books in the past, my favorite of which is his most popular: Atonement. So cliche of me, I know.
The Cement Garden is a novella originally published in the 1970's. It features a lower class family living in a run down house in a run down neighborhood in England. Their neighborhood is edged by newer high rise residences. The father dies and soon thereafter the mother gets sick. The story is told from the perspective of the 14 year old son. He and his siblings, Julie, Sue, and Tom, start taking care of themselves and after their mother dies they decide not to tell anyone. Without adult supervision they do whatever they want, including completely inappropriate behavior.
It's not too much of a spoiler since it occurs in the first handful of pages of Chapter 1, but the oldest 3 siblings have some incestuous behavior. Our protagonist tells everything in such an offhanded way, whether talking about his masturbation habit or beating up a kid who bullies his little brother. It's disturbing that he doesn't seem to express any true regret or strong shame for some of the stuff he and his siblings do. I think this helps set the tone of the story as a portrayal of how awful childhood can be for some.
flelix's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75