On his ‘tendency to show off his reading in the field of science’, his fellow UEA alumnus Kazuo Ishiguro could be a good contrast for you to cover in the future – I remember hearing Ishiguro say that he does no research, just writes, and then checks at the end if he got anything wrong that has to be changed. McEwan is a master storyteller, as you say Nick, but for me Ishiguro is better at making each of his books feel like a unique world with its own atmosphere and feeling tone.
I really like teaching ‘Never Let Me Go’, so I’ll probably say that… ‘The Remains of the Day’ would be an obvious answer but a sound one… I liked ‘The Buried Giant’ enough to write about it on my site… How about you?
Awesome. I loved ‘1Q84’, admittedly as an audiobook. Murakami paid Ishiguro what I think is an accurate compliment when he said of his novels that ‘each forms a small yet wonderfully distinct universe in itself’.
I’ve only read Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go and while I’m not sure either would make it onto any ‘top N’ list I might conceivably make, each subjected me to a unique feeling that was both pleasant and painful, which I suppose might be called ‘bittersweet’, but that word feels entirely inappropriate, and in even mentioning it I fear I’ve misled you. Like how if I described Goya’s quinta del sordo as ‘creatively decorated’, it would be difficult to argue I’m wrong, but I’ve certainly painted quite a distorted picture on the walls of your mind, so to speak.
And I truly mean ‘unique’. Neither novel’s feeling was quite like anything I can remember experiencing, and both were simultaneously intense but also muted, as if I were denied the right to feel what I felt entitled to feel. Like a tragedy without catharsis, the audience left lost between, lingering, until one by one they get up, look around, and quietly leave.
Ishiguro is another one where I need to explore more of his works, I've only read The Remains of the Day, but I loved it. Coincidentally, back in the late 90s I lived for a while in a top floor flat in Tynemouth and our downstairs neighbour was an academic who specialised in Ishiguro's work.
I've only read McEwan's earlier stuff, The Company of Strangers was on the syllabus of my bachelor degree many years ago, and it made a strong impression on me, a brilliant novel/novella. I should really catch up with some of his later works, we have a couple knocking around the house somewhere.
Totally agree regarding Child in Time being the superior novel over Enduring Love. I think Enduring Love has one of the greatest opening chapters in the whole history of the novel, but becomes increasingly meagre after that (with the exception of the arguments the narrator has with his girlfriend, which I think are very astute and well drawn).
On his ‘tendency to show off his reading in the field of science’, his fellow UEA alumnus Kazuo Ishiguro could be a good contrast for you to cover in the future – I remember hearing Ishiguro say that he does no research, just writes, and then checks at the end if he got anything wrong that has to be changed. McEwan is a master storyteller, as you say Nick, but for me Ishiguro is better at making each of his books feel like a unique world with its own atmosphere and feeling tone.
Which is your favourite Ishiguro?
I really like teaching ‘Never Let Me Go’, so I’ll probably say that… ‘The Remains of the Day’ would be an obvious answer but a sound one… I liked ‘The Buried Giant’ enough to write about it on my site… How about you?
Don't have one. Currently giving Murakami another go.
Awesome. I loved ‘1Q84’, admittedly as an audiobook. Murakami paid Ishiguro what I think is an accurate compliment when he said of his novels that ‘each forms a small yet wonderfully distinct universe in itself’.
I’ve only read Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go and while I’m not sure either would make it onto any ‘top N’ list I might conceivably make, each subjected me to a unique feeling that was both pleasant and painful, which I suppose might be called ‘bittersweet’, but that word feels entirely inappropriate, and in even mentioning it I fear I’ve misled you. Like how if I described Goya’s quinta del sordo as ‘creatively decorated’, it would be difficult to argue I’m wrong, but I’ve certainly painted quite a distorted picture on the walls of your mind, so to speak.
And I truly mean ‘unique’. Neither novel’s feeling was quite like anything I can remember experiencing, and both were simultaneously intense but also muted, as if I were denied the right to feel what I felt entitled to feel. Like a tragedy without catharsis, the audience left lost between, lingering, until one by one they get up, look around, and quietly leave.
Thanks for your reply. I think your second paragraph is very insightful on the experience of reading Ishiguro.
Ishiguro is another one where I need to explore more of his works, I've only read The Remains of the Day, but I loved it. Coincidentally, back in the late 90s I lived for a while in a top floor flat in Tynemouth and our downstairs neighbour was an academic who specialised in Ishiguro's work.
Love the first two although they break my heart. Haven't heard of the third. Think I maybe need to read more Ishiguro. Thanks for reminding me.
I've only read McEwan's earlier stuff, The Company of Strangers was on the syllabus of my bachelor degree many years ago, and it made a strong impression on me, a brilliant novel/novella. I should really catch up with some of his later works, we have a couple knocking around the house somewhere.
Just checked Ian McEwen novels. I've read a couple (Atonement and Enduring Love) but goodness, had no idea he was so prolific!
Thanks for this, Nick.
Totally agree regarding Child in Time being the superior novel over Enduring Love. I think Enduring Love has one of the greatest opening chapters in the whole history of the novel, but becomes increasingly meagre after that (with the exception of the arguments the narrator has with his girlfriend, which I think are very astute and well drawn).
Agreed about the arguments. The chapter where he switches to his attempt to capture her perspective is particularly strong.