TRIGGER WARNING: sexual violence- and other terrible things
What started out as a fairly mild story of a man who is a:not good at his job and b: not a terribly interesting person lurched suddenly downhill into a dirge of rape fantasy, sexual violence, murder, and dismemberment. “Eeeugh” was putting it lightly.
I’m not one to tell you, dear reader, what to do- but I strongly suggest avoiding this garbage fire. I am normally drawn to post-war drama- especially involving espionage and intrigue- but I was led astray on this adventure. I have also sought out McEwan in the past; I have long listed Atonement as my favorite novel, but now I think I need to re-read it and re-evaluate with fresher eyes and a more mature outlook (I came to love it as a teenager; it has been a at least a decade since I have picked through it again).
There is nothing innocent about The Innocent, despite how often McEwan labels people, places, things, and ideas as such. I have to harp specifically on the main character. Leonard, a 20-something English man-child, is dropped into the hustle and mystery of post-war Berlin. He meets an older woman who is ALMOST CONSTANTLY described to be child-like in both appearance and personality by both Leonard and the author. We learn that this woman, Maria, survived horrors during and after the war, and Leonard gets so turned-on by this that he has to act it out himself.
After learning of her rape(s) at the hands of her ex-husband, he gets all hot and bothered over raping her as well. He fantasizes constantly about being the “conquering victor” and “claiming his spoils”. He proceeds to follow-through with his fantasies, and is absolutely baffled when she is rightfully horrified by him and his actions.
OF COURSE they make up later and get back together- don’t you worry! Then they engage in light manslaughter (don’t worry- she lives) before working together to dismember a body in a grueling chapter-long passage! Oh the details are horrendous.
I can’t focus on the story- I can only focus on the nasty bits and pieces that make this novel wholly unappealing.
Yeah, McEwan is kind of hit and miss and his earlier work always leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Have you read The Cement Garden? I’ve read it twide and I’m still not sure if I think it’s a good book or not because I can’t get past the HOLY SHIT part.
I do still like Atonement though, and Saturday is brilliant, but on the other hand, Amsterdam made me want to gouge out my own eyes.
Oh and Solar. Fuck that book. That was awful.
YES fuck Solar. Cement Garden was….something, too. I’m not crazy about Saturday, but going into a shop to buy Saturday got me my first gig in a bookstore one gazillion years ago!
What the— I haven’t read Atonement, but its been on my TBR for years, please do let me know if it’s worth it.
Atonement is wonderful. At least, I think so. As far as I can tell you either love it unequivocally or you feel totally cheated by it and hate it with the fire of a thousand suns.
Hahaha, wonderful!
I loved it- loved it so very much- but now I’m scared to read it again after being scarred by McEwan, haha
I loved Atonement! But, it’s been over ten years since I’ve read it. I might feel differently now, but don’t want to test it.
we are in the same boat!