Questions About Lessons

by Ian McEwan (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (4)

Why do people persist in judging a book based on their personal reading preferences?? To give a book one star because "I don't like character-driven novels" misses the point of a review: reviews should be based on external criteria, not personal preference. Does a person reject 50% of all novels simply because they are character-driven?? In fact, many classics are character-based...that is their strength!!

Roger If you rate books on Goodreads because you want to help people who are considering whether or no to read a book decide, you are absolutely correct, bu…moreIf you rate books on Goodreads because you want to help people who are considering whether or no to read a book decide, you are absolutely correct, but others may use Goodreads to register their own preferences and thereby helping the site give them recommendations based on their personal taste. I may see the brilliance in a masterpiece, admire the genius of the author and still find the story extremely boring. If I give that book five stars, I'm helping those who are on the lookout for masterpieces written by geniuses, but it will also mean that the recommendations I get after that do not suit my taste at all. If you want to know something about the qualities of a book, you are probably better off googling the title + "review", hoping to find something written by someone qualified to say something about that. On Goodreads, paperback writers who spew out ten books a year may get more five star reviews than Ibsen, or McEwan if you like. That doesn't mean they are better authors, but that people like that stuff and hope to discover new authors to their personal liking.(less)

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What is Roland's sister Susan's last secret that she mentions? Is it ever revealed? What other Susan was Rosalind referring to, not her daughter?

Dianne So many secrets of this family are revealed and some are kept. I think this is just one of the secrets the author is keeping from us because this is r…moreSo many secrets of this family are revealed and some are kept. I think this is just one of the secrets the author is keeping from us because this is really how families are. They don't tell all. It might have been abuse but it might not.(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Jo I'm sure I read in the doorstep confrontation that the children had told him…moreI'm sure I read in the doorstep confrontation that the children had told him(less)

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I was expecting for the revelation that Miriam Cornell had other young victims. Most abusers do. Any hints about this that I missed?

Tony Lawrence I thought so as well - as the policeman alluded to others. Maybe McEwan is being true to Roland's character to focus on his own life, his experiences …moreI thought so as well - as the policeman alluded to others. Maybe McEwan is being true to Roland's character to focus on his own life, his experiences and lessons. As a first-person narrative (mostly) Roland is flawed, but he is consistently self-absorbed and seldom empathetic. I liked his honesty!(less)

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