Lewis Weinstein's review of The Child in Time (original) (raw)

• Home

• My Books

• Browse ▾

  • Recommendations
  • Choice Awards
  • Genres
  • Giveaways
  • New Releases
  • Lists
  • Explore
  • News & Interviews
  • Art
  • Biography
  • Business
  • Children's
  • Christian
  • Classics
  • Comics
  • Cookbooks
  • Ebooks
  • Fantasy
  • Fiction
  • Graphic Novels
  • Historical Fiction
  • History
  • Horror
  • Memoir
  • Music
  • Mystery
  • Nonfiction
  • Poetry
  • Psychology
  • Romance
  • Science
  • Science Fiction
  • Self Help
  • Sports
  • Thriller
  • Travel
  • Young Adult
  • More Genres

• Sign In

• Join

• Profile

• Friends

• Groups

• Discussions

• Comments

• Reading Challenge

• Kindle Notes & Highlights

• Quotes

• Favorite genres

• Friends’ recommendations

• Account settings

• Help

• Sign out

• Home

• My Books

• Browse ▾

  • Recommendations
  • Choice Awards
  • Genres
  • Giveaways
  • New Releases
  • Lists
  • Explore
  • News & Interviews
  • Art
  • Biography
  • Business
  • Children's
  • Christian
  • Classics
  • Comics
  • Cookbooks
  • Ebooks
  • Fantasy
  • Fiction
  • Graphic Novels
  • Historical Fiction
  • History
  • Horror
  • Memoir
  • Music
  • Mystery
  • Nonfiction
  • Poetry
  • Psychology
  • Romance
  • Science
  • Science Fiction
  • Self Help
  • Sports
  • Thriller
  • Travel
  • Young Adult
  • More Genres

Discover new books on Goodreads

Meet your next favorite book

Lewis Weinstein's Reviews > The Child in Time

Error rating book. Refresh and try again.

The Child in Time
by

It's not correct to say I finished this book; I just stopped reading. With one exception (The Innocent) I have put down every McEwan book I tried to read. I find his initial premises fascinating, but after 50 pages or so, I start to get bogged down in what I would call "over-writing," by which I mean writing for the author and not the reader. The story becomes relatively meaningless, and even the characters are subservient to the writer's phrase. I'm probably in a minority, but that's my take.

Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read_The Child in Time_.

Sign In »

Reading Progress

September 17, 2009 – Shelved

September 17, 2009 –Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)

I'd say that The Innocent was pretty great, but I'd be scared to re-read it now I'm suffering from McEwan over-exposure. I'd totally agree with the over-writing as well, although I'd struggle to put my finger on what precisely is wrong with it... it seems to me that if he didn't so neglect his characters and storylines his books would feel eminently well-written.

His text is brilliant but only for him. Nothing for the reader. Pure onanism.

J. Roberto wrote: "His text is brilliant but only for him. Nothing for the reader. Pure onanism."

I couldn't agree more

message 4: by Kathy (new)

I don't think I even lasted 50 pages with whichever one of his books I tried. All I can say is that it turned me off from ever trying him again.

I agree. His purpose is not to communicate; it seems it is to frustrate. I find him overbearing.

Michele wrote: "I agree. His purpose is not to communicate; it seems it is to frustrate. I find him overbearing."

overbearing is a good word

I agree with Michele, too. I sometimes find his themes really daring, but then they do not lead anywhere, they just trail off lost in the maze of various directions and it IS frustrating.

back to top

Add a reference:

Search for a book to add a reference

add: link cover

Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.