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anastasia1373's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
a_gillie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this book immensely, apart from the rather abrupt and shallow ending.
I’ve seen a lot of negative reviews which I don’t understand the severity of. The writing is, of course, wonderful, with McEwan rarely disappointing on that front. The characterisation is good, though some of their decisions border on stupidity. That, however, plays into the weird fever dream that is this book. The fact that the city the couple are holidaying in is never mentioned really adds to the mystery and otherworldly feel of the story.
I’ve seen a lot of negative reviews which I don’t understand the severity of. The writing is, of course, wonderful, with McEwan rarely disappointing on that front. The characterisation is good, though some of their decisions border on stupidity. That, however, plays into the weird fever dream that is this book. The fact that the city the couple are holidaying in is never mentioned really adds to the mystery and otherworldly feel of the story.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
The biggest limitation of this book for me is the enviable prose that I have loved so much in the author's later works. I could tell it had to be one of his earliest works - there is something unrefined about writing here.
There seems to be a mistaken belief that the unhealthy D/s type relationship between a couple (Robert and Caroline) is the place to look at to find the theme of the book. The fact is it is one of two couples in the book - Colin and Maria and their relationship where they are inseparable equals provide something to juxtaposition the other couple's relationship with. Robert and Caroline's discomfort when they decide to mend things by going vanilla is similar to what Colin and Maria feel in each other's absence at. It seems wrong to claim that McEwan is passing commentary only on one of two relationships or that he is claiming that men being dominant or women being submissive is the conventional way of the heterosexual relationships when you could say the same of Colin and Maria's siamese twins kind of relationship.
Colin and Maria seem to be looking for risky adventures as if to be finally able to feel something. There is something to be liked about how they act as tourists in a stranger country. The odd attraction they feel toward the other couple seems to be a key theme rather than the resultant violence.
Still, book doesn't do that thing with its prose that would sell it (to me) . It reads like an English translation of a dark German novella.
There seems to be a mistaken belief that the unhealthy D/s type relationship between a couple (Robert and Caroline) is the place to look at to find the theme of the book. The fact is it is one of two couples in the book - Colin and Maria and their relationship where they are inseparable equals provide something to juxtaposition the other couple's relationship with. Robert and Caroline's discomfort when they decide to mend things by going vanilla is similar to what Colin and Maria feel in each other's absence at. It seems wrong to claim that McEwan is passing commentary only on one of two relationships or that he is claiming that men being dominant or women being submissive is the conventional way of the heterosexual relationships when you could say the same of Colin and Maria's siamese twins kind of relationship.
Colin and Maria seem to be looking for risky adventures as if to be finally able to feel something. There is something to be liked about how they act as tourists in a stranger country. The odd attraction they feel toward the other couple seems to be a key theme rather than the resultant violence.
Still, book doesn't do that thing with its prose that would sell it (to me) . It reads like an English translation of a dark German novella.
alessio_iannarilli's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.5
booksshe's review against another edition
5.0
un crescendo di tensione, di ansia
un’atmosfera angosciante che ti accompagna per tutta la lettura
una vacanza all’inferno
STUPENDO
un’atmosfera angosciante che ti accompagna per tutta la lettura
una vacanza all’inferno
STUPENDO
mandamoorocks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kevroxby's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Slow burning, intense book with a really good twist at the end. Very well written and atmospheric.
connortravels's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lou_christie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dphillips's review against another edition
2.0
Very disappointed where this book went. So so dark. Really didn't feel it needed to be. So many other directions it could of took. Only reason i gave it 2 stars is because it's so beautifully written