Sophia C. reviewed on 9/30/2012 + 289 more book reviews

On first glance, Enduring Love is something to aspire towards, right? In this pre-Atonement novel, Ian McEwan shows why this is not always the case. Joe Rose is a relatively successful science writer whose entire life changes when a failed attempt to intervene in a ballooning accident results in a casualty. One of the other rescuers develops an obsession with Joe, which ultimately disturbs all aspects of his life, especially his relationship with wife Clarissa. Part literary novel and part psychological thriller, having a science writer as a first-person narrator allows McEwan to fashion elegant science-infused turns of phrase as the nature of fear, guilt, and misunderstanding is explored through increasingly unlikely plot twists. Joe is actually a relatively likeable McEwan protagonist; my concern about his condition kept me engaged when the action dips about two-thirds of the way through. This was a good read off the list of 1001 books you must read before you die.

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