I had some difficulty getting into this book. The problem I had with it was that I found it really difficult to relate at all to the main character. I couldn’t find it in myself to really care about him or his family (who I find a bit pretentious) all the way up to the end of the book. That being said I think this book had some fresh thoughts on some discussed-to-death social commentary.

I had the same reaction to this as I did to V for Vendetta. It’s a bunch of political propaganda dressed up as entertainment. However, that said, it wasn’t so didactic that it turned me off. It also has insighful things to say on a topic we’ve all heard discussed to death (i.e., terrorism and the Iraq war).
There were a few things that were a bit far fetched too. (For example, how did Baxter find Henry’s house?) Entertaining, glad I read it, but I probably won’t run out and get his next book right off the presses.

although the recitation of the Arnold poem was cheese on toast! Shame! I read the final pages with increasing irritation yes yes yeszzzzzzzzzzzzz

Ugh, I’m just not sure I can finish this. It is SO SLOW… More than one entire page just to describe a punch to the stomach. I’m in the mood to zip through a book, and I’m crawling here…

My father is forever passing on Ian McEwan books to me and insisting I read them. I confess that I’ve only read a couple but they’re just not my thing. Maybe I’ll read this eventually.

It could be worse, it’s not as though he gives me self help books or anything like that.