Book #7 of my Reading Challenge was also finished a couple of weekends ago. The book is Enduring Love by Ian McEwan.
I found this book in Stefan's house and borrowed it. I think I picked it up because of the author's name - Ian. Like Ian McEwan. Except he's nothing like Ian McEwan. Sigh.
The plot is interesting - five people's lives come together because of a horrible accident. Except one of the character's becomes fixated on the narrator. For awhile you're not sure if the character is really crazy and stalking him, or if the narrator has lost it. Everything turns out for the best in the end and there's a nice clinical description in the appendex about the psychological disease of the character (Clerambault's syndrome).
However, the book seemed to be deliberately trying to be intellectual and literary. There was also entirely too much foreshadowing for my taste. Entire chapters are given to foreshadowing. I'm glad I read the book because it opened my horizons, but it's not something I'd recommend or keep.
I love Ian McEwan. Enduring Love is not his best. Avoid the Stone Garden too. But The Child in Time is awesome, and Atonement is incredible.
Posted by: Shelby at March 14, 2005 07:06 PMGot a few more suggestions for ya.
I'm not sure if you've read any Douglas Adams, but if you haven't read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, there's also "Last Chance to See," a non-preachy book about animals that are becoming extinct. Any of these books are great.
Posted by: Amanda at March 15, 2005 02:03 PMShelby - I guess I'll give The Child in Time a go if I come across it. Like I said, Enduring Love wasn't bad, it just tried too hard.
Amanda - I have the Hitchhikers Guide. And I started reading it. Just never got past page 20. I keep meaning to give it another go esp. since I've read Terry Pratchett in between and LOVE his stuff. THAT is some laugh out loud funny. :)
Posted by: Anna at March 15, 2005 09:34 PM