tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775356.post3525582653966363875..comments2024-03-14T13:06:38.883+00:00Comments on cultural snow: The half-arsed metafiction of Ian McEwanTim Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14681067872556519250noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775356.post-28713377412648338222012-09-05T00:57:06.984+01:002012-09-05T00:57:06.984+01:00I hope Coe's latest is just a blip, Annie. I r...I hope Coe's latest is just a blip, Annie. I rather think that McEwan and Auster are in some sort of terminal decline, though. I've got a notion that IM can't do endings properly. He either begins with fabulous set pieces (the disappearance in A Child In Time, the balloon in Enduring Love) and then fizzles out; or he chugs along quite pleasantly and then does something silly (Atonement; Chesil Beach; Sweet Tooth).<br /><br />Bloody hell, though... you've really kicked off with the Atonement thing...Tim Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14681067872556519250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775356.post-524823853418933662012-09-04T23:50:46.194+01:002012-09-04T23:50:46.194+01:00Hey Tim! I've enjoyed nods to the wall since l...Hey Tim! I've enjoyed nods to the wall since laughing at Oliver Hardy's despairing looks to camera. Of course, this is best when lightly used. The examples you describe sound a bit more... sledgehammery? Thankfully I've a slow reading groove, and am quite content with Steinbeck and Hemingway. Indigo Indigo Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957870121933442627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775356.post-78160942639714328532012-09-02T13:41:08.573+01:002012-09-02T13:41:08.573+01:00Oh, thank you all. I loathed Atonement and though...Oh, thank you all. I loathed Atonement and thought I was the only one.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775356.post-26713381452229110082012-09-02T12:13:15.443+01:002012-09-02T12:13:15.443+01:00Atonement. I sat up half the night to finish it t...Atonement. I sat up half the night to finish it then threw it across the room in rage. Not been able to go near anything by McEwan since.chatterboxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09918680040623774808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775356.post-27738878682177466432012-09-02T12:07:27.328+01:002012-09-02T12:07:27.328+01:00Atonement is the only book I've thrown on the ...Atonement is the only book I've thrown on the floor and jumped on in rage.GreatSheElephanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06589100964804729527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775356.post-37260797507684926342012-09-02T11:42:06.545+01:002012-09-02T11:42:06.545+01:00Yes. I remember finding the ending of Atonement ve...Yes. I remember finding the ending of Atonement very half-arsed and disappointing, and a bit passé. (And Jonathan Coe's book, my lord, what a comedown from What A Carve Up.) That's a shame, I do like Ian McEwan, do you not recommend it then? <br /><br />(A bit off topic, I found Paul Auster's last novel half-arsed too - and interestingly, he says he has lost interest in writing. You can tell. Maybe writers don't feel they can retire like other professionals do.)Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15941917503687179585noreply@blogger.com