I definitely have a love-hate type relationship with Ian McEwan. This collection of short stories veers closer to the hate end of the see-saw. The content isn't the most savoury, dealing with a variety of unpleasant acts and people (think rape, incest, paedophilia, child murder and abuse, neglectful parents, often in the same story). However, his writing is lovely, sparse and clearly defined as usual. He also manages to grasp the underlying humanity (and often mundanity) of the troubled people within. Not an easy achievement.

I think my favourite story was 'Last Day of Summer' which conjures up a great cast of characters, immense sadness and sense of loss met with a glimpse of normality and joy. The atmosphere is electric but be reminded he has always been the master of wrenching the most heartbreaking and disturbing events out of the small moments of our lives. Not an easy book to like or read perhaps but interesting.