tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post1083874859473318358..comments2024-03-27T05:13:25.241-05:00Comments on The New Dork Review of Books: Solar: McEwan's Cynical ScientistGreg Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-43607351894058916702010-07-23T02:04:38.920-05:002010-07-23T02:04:38.920-05:00I had mixed feelings about Solar. Grateful for mor...I had mixed feelings about Solar. Grateful for more McEwan but not convinced of his skills with the funny. I wrote it all up here: http://guiltyfeat.com/2010/07/23/me-an-mcewan/<br /><br />Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-66241069900459410722010-07-22T13:52:34.557-05:002010-07-22T13:52:34.557-05:00I enjoyed reading your review very much. I too tho...I enjoyed reading your review very much. I too thought it was well written and I enjoyed the physics but really didn't like the story much. <br />Vinegar Hill was my first Ansay experience and I definitely want to read more. Thank you for visiting Fresh Ink Books and for your comments on my review. Glad you found some books we have in common.Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265301061583417768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-33206613633880643292010-05-31T21:27:23.195-05:002010-05-31T21:27:23.195-05:00Yes, great review - I loved "Solar" myse...Yes, great review - I loved "Solar" myself. Found it an engrossing, slyly comic read. I admit I'm a McEwan fan, but actually wasn't sure I'd like the novel after having read some disappointing reviews of it. Was very glad to be proven wrong because McEwan is one of the finest writers around. (Michael Chabon is another.)Lynnenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-51657651583387175892010-05-18T21:30:05.280-05:002010-05-18T21:30:05.280-05:00Great review! but I am with you..don't think i...Great review! but I am with you..don't think i would enjoy it..might get to irritated!!Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17649052334736493507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-36765198532863771182010-05-11T10:34:28.926-05:002010-05-11T10:34:28.926-05:00I've only read Atonement and Saturday by McEwa...I've only read Atonement and Saturday by McEwan but this book does sound interesting. Probably will wait for the paperback,since my TBR pile overflows with literary goodness at the moment:)lady thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16287907577241697874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-4048616598593939412010-05-11T10:29:48.297-05:002010-05-11T10:29:48.297-05:00@Jo-Jo - I don't need likable characters to li...@Jo-Jo - I don't need likable characters to like a book, either - and you're right, McEwan is definitely a master of his craft, which is on full display here. <br /><br />@bibliophiliac - You're thinking of "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men." That was more an experiment in form rather than trying to convince you to like a group of stories with bad characters. Sure, I think you can definitely like a novel with bad characters - because, as in Solar, the pleasure in the book is rooting against them.<br /><br />@Brizmus - Uh oh, I think we've found where our tastes (and possibly politics) diverge. I LOVED Atonement, but thought State of Fear was one of the silliest, most unintentionally funny books I'd ever read. But we can still be friends, right? ;)<br /><br />@mummazappa - Yeah, McEwan is a lot funnier than I thought he'd be. I'd always had this image of him as the dry British novelist, but as Solar is largely satire, apparently he can crank up the laughs whenever he wants to!Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-40845258885814307582010-05-11T01:42:59.230-05:002010-05-11T01:42:59.230-05:00i have this book on my list after it was reviewed ...i have this book on my list after it was reviewed on the ABC's First Tuesday Book Club, but I have to say it's pretty far down the list. I loved Atonement and think a humorous turn to his writing would be interesting, it's just that there are a lot of other things i want to read more at the moment. Still, your review made it sound really interesting so maybe I should push it up the list a little.Danielle Zappavignahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10493099952285137131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-52026823165911672012010-05-10T18:24:54.226-05:002010-05-10T18:24:54.226-05:00After reading Atonement and being bored to tears d...After reading Atonement and being bored to tears despite actually enjoying McEwan's writing style, I've been afraid to try anything else by him. I also really have trouble with books when I HATE the protagonist. At the same time, I LOVED State of Fear, and in general I like books that make me think about climate change. <br />And so, I might actually read this book. Even though after your review I'm sort-of thinking I probably won't like it.brizmushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163313230550265190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-50000054702739902482010-05-10T18:06:34.465-05:002010-05-10T18:06:34.465-05:00I'd like to see a post about deplorable, despi...I'd like to see a post about deplorable, despicable characters in fiction. Doesn't David Foster Wallace have a book like that (can't think of the title, but something about interviews). Can you really enjoy a book with a horrible main character?bibliophiliachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495943887513443615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-27607849383715852532010-05-10T15:11:31.030-05:002010-05-10T15:11:31.030-05:00Thanks for the review...I don't necessarily ne...Thanks for the review...I don't necessarily need likeable characters for a book, but just good writing, and McEwan has never let me down where that is concerned. I may have to check this one out.Jo-Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529212026658169288noreply@blogger.com