The Children act

Locations
Call Number: Fiction / McEwan, Ian, Adult Book / Fiction / General / McEwan, Ian
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Pittsfield Branch, Traverwood Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction / McEwan, Ian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction / McEwan, Ian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / McEwan, Ian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / McEwan, Ian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / McEwan, Ian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / McEwan, Ian	4-week checkout	On Shelf

"Fiona Maye is a High Court judge in London presiding over cases in family court. She is fiercely intelligent, well respected, and deeply immersed in the nuances of her particular field of law. Often the outcome of a case seems simple from the outside, the course of action to ensure a child's welfare obvious. But the law requires more rigor than mere pragmatism, and Fiona is expert in considering the sensitivities of culture and religion when handing down her verdicts. But Fiona's professional success belies domestic strife. Her husband, Jack, asks her to consider an open marriage and, after an argument, moves out of their house. His departure leaves her adrift, wondering whether it was not love she had lost so much as a modern form of respectability; whether it was not contempt and ostracism she really fears. She decides to throw herself into her work, especially a complex case involving a seventeen-year-old boy whose parents will not permit a lifesaving blood transfusion because it conflicts with their beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses. But Jack doesn't leave her thoughts, and the pressure to resolve the case--as well as her crumbling marriage--tests Fiona in ways that will keep readers thoroughly enthralled until the last stunning page"-- Provided by publisher.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

********* submitted by johnbiancke on October 21, 2014, 5:06pm One of the finest short novels that I have ever read. The two plots are interesting - you think that the stories are predictable. Not so fast my friends ! The ending is brilliant

McEwan in top form submitted by nbauer on June 24, 2015, 10:27am Compact, precise, and written in McEwan's inimitable style—i.e., practically aerodynamic in its paring away of anything but the details that make the story move forward. This one starts with one of the most compelling openings I've read in a while; having had one of those blindsiding, what the hell was that? types of fights with a partner, I may have gasped in recognition.

McEwan is so good at understanding how to pinpoint the vulnerabilities in characters that could easily be rendered less rich. He also has a spectacular eye for the right kind of detail. I loved this sentence:
Now, at last, the uncirculated air tasted of hospital, of cooked food long removed, antiseptic and, fainter, something sweet. Neither fruit nor flowers.

Oblique, but never coy. He's truly a great writer. I also think he's particularly good with female characters, which is why I liked this one quite a lot more than Saturday.

Engaging Read submitted by carolinepbg on June 26, 2016, 6:07pm If you are a McEwan fan (of which I am) then this will not disappoint. Engaging read, gorgeous prose, enthralling story lines.