Connie G's review of The Child in Time (original) (raw)

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Connie G's Reviews > The Child in Time

The Child in Time
by

"The Child in Time" is an unusual book with themes of childhood and time. It starts with a terrifying event for any parent--a child is kidnapped in a grocery store. The book explores the effect of this tragedy on the father Stephen, his relationship with his wife, and their different styles of grieving the loss of their daughter.

The author, Ian McEwan, plays with time using magical realism where Stephen's present time morphs into an episode in his parents' past. We see how time can speed up or slow down in our minds depending on whether we are relaxed or in a state of panic (such as a traffic accident). Mentions of time are sprinkled throughout the book.

Some incidents revolve around the idea that there is a future adult in a growing child, and a bit of the child remains in an adult. One adult character is trying to experience the childhood he always wished he had. Stephen is a member of a government commission on childcare and literacy where the members hear various theories about childhood. Some experts want a child to be a mini-adult, but others want to prolong childhood.

The book also has some amusing political satire as well as some scary thoughts about the possibility of a nuclear war. Since I'm not British I'm sure I missed some of the references to the Thatcher years.

"The Child in Time" is slow and introspective. While it's not a book that everyone will enjoy, it will make the reader think. I gave the book four stars because McEwan writes well, and his ideas are creative and different.

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Reading Progress

November 13, 2018 – Shelved as:england

May 17, 2019 –Started Reading

May 18, 2019 –Finished Reading

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