Write a review...I have read many of Ian McEwan’s novels, and one of their most attractive features is being tied to specific times and places, and connected to specific events in recent history (e.g. “Saturday”). This is no exception, the time and place being, in part, 1988 and the fall of the Berlin Wall. But that is only the fulcrum around which the carefully-interwoven narrative revolves, stretching right back to the darkest days of the Second World War. An aspect of which is too horrendous to repeat here, if true, but the phrase eponymous “Black Dogs” has many meanings, and really is an ingenious title for this book.



Mr. McEwan is a master at describing that almost indescribable relationship between human beings, especially between husband and wife, or parents and children (in-laws, here) in a manner which, if not autobiographical, certainly gets under the skin of the story-teller in a way that really makes one believe that the experiences are autobiographical.



This is a story which, like so many of his others, will leave the reader not only moved, but also wanting more – to discover the places and events (or themes) written about. I can’t wait to read my next McEwan novel!