Debbie’s review of The Children Act > Likes and Comments

I read Atonement not that long ago and loved it :)

Atonement is excellent. I liked Saturday too.

I loved this one too Debbie. Great review.

Excellent review, Debbie.

I'm curious: have you ever taken red pencil to a book you were not editing? That would be so interesting to look at.

Great review. Atonement and Enduring Love are two of my favourite books. McEwan is amazing.

He is fantastic. I think you'll love Atonement.

From McEwan virgin to McEwan slut. I love it!

Great review Debbie.....book slut....love it!!! :-)

Wonderful review Debbie. Black Dogs is my favorite McEwan. Then Atonement and Saturday.

But really, I just love McEwan.

How bizarre! GR didn't send me notices that people were commenting until just now. So to all of you, thanks for liking my review and sending nice comments! I have all the McEwan books on my To-Read list now--thanks for the recommendations.

I need more time to read!!!! But that's what all book sluts say :)

Really well reviewed, Debbie. I would have liked a little more character and a little less legal stuff. I agree with your first paragraph too! So many well known authors I still have to get to!

Thanks, Suzanne! The legal stuff bugged me too. I have Atonement on my challenge list this year. I've heard it's good.

I much preferred Atonement to this one.

He's one of my favorite authors. That's because so many of the comments you made about this book are true of all of his books.

Debbie, you could crack me up by reading a bottle of Sriracha sauce. Wonderful review, as always. More than making me laugh, you compel me to abandon the 19th century literature I've assigned myself and to read Ian McEwan instead. This is like dodging out on a five-mile run to ride a bicycle; it's still excellent exercise. Your reviews are doctor approved.

Elaine wrote: "I much preferred Atonement to this one."

Oh, good! That means I'm even in for a bigger treat than I thought! :)

Beth wrote: "He's one of my favorite authors. That's because so many of the comments you made about this book are true of all of his books."

Glad to hear that his other books are good too. Can't wait to read Atonement.

Joe wrote: "Debbie, you could crack me up by reading a bottle of Sriracha sauce. Wonderful review, as always. More than making me laugh, you compel me to abandon the 19th century literature I've assigned mysel..."

Thanks, Joe. A bike ride sounds way easier than a run. Just don't forget your helmet--though I'm guessing you won't crash :) You always have such cool analogies! And you get points for reading 19th century lit. I usually hang out in (get stuck in) the present.

Debbie, this is such a wonderful review! Love your sense of humor. That "quiet little incident" wow'd me too. That's what I love about his writing.

❀Julie wrote: "Debbie, this is such a wonderful review! Love your sense of humor. That "quiet little incident" wow'd me too. That's what I love about his writing."

Thanks so much, Julie! I just can't wait to read Atonement. Yeah, that quiet little incident was so so intense and made the story just shine!

I just can't wait to read Atonement.

I'll be interested in your thoughts on Atonement. I added it before I started writing reviews and unfortunately my memory is lost on most of it. I will say I went on to read several more of his books after that. Something about his writing really grabs me!

There's no shame in being a book slut, nor in trying a new author for the first time. Great review.

The author impressed just as much. lolol. I'm going to read another book just to confirm if I have become a book slut as well. HAHAHAHA. You made my day, Debbie! I suspect I have been a book slut for many years already, without meeting this talented author. It might become worse now :-))

Cecily wrote: "There's no shame in being a book slut, nor in trying a new author for the first time. Great review."

Thanks, Cecily--4 months late!! I hate it when GR doesn't notify me that I got a comment. Argh! Yes, I'm a happy book slut!

Margitte wrote: "The author impressed just as much. lolol. I'm going to read another book just to confirm if I have become a book slut as well. HAHAHAHA. You made my day, Debbie! I suspect I have been a book slut f..."

Thanks, Margitte! You made my day that I made your day, lol. I am definitely a proud book slut and I just love company! And yes, it does get worse, I must warn you!!

Terrific review. I loved it, my only grumble was the too many court cases, I could have done without some of them, although I get why he did.

Bianca wrote: "Terrific review. I loved it, my only grumble was the too many court cases, I could have done without some of them, although I get why he did."

Thanks! And ditto, of course. Great minds think alike, lol.

I have loved some of his books, Atonement being my favorite. But I must say, I HATED The Cement Garden. It was his first novel. If it had been my first Ian McEwan novel, I would've stopped there! Happy reading:)

Kristi wrote: "I have loved some of his books, Atonement being my favorite. But I must say, I HATED The Cement Garden. It was his first novel. If it had been my first Ian McEwan novel, I would've stopped there! H..."

Glad I didn't start with Cement Garden then! I went crazy over his latest, Nutshell. One of my two favorites of this year! Did you read it?

Debbie wrote: "Kristi wrote: "I have loved some of his books, Atonement being my favorite. But I must say, I HATED The Cement Garden. It was his first novel. If it had been my first Ian McEwan novel, I would've s..."

I haven't read Nutshell yet. But I did like two of his other recent books, The Children Act and Sweet Tooth.

Kristi wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Kristi wrote: "I have loved some of his books, Atonement being my favorite. But I must say, I HATED The Cement Garden. It was his first novel. If it had been my first Ian McEwan nove..."

Sweet Tooth is on my list; maybe I cam move it up. I do need to read everything this genius has written.

Haha... I love it. I've read quite a few of McEwan's novels, but not this one, and they can be hit and miss. Atonement has been my favorite. I actually liked his early works too: First Love, Last Rites; The Cement Garden. They're much darker and very taboo, but nothing a "McEwan slut" cannot handle. :)

Hey Debbie, I'm your fellow McEwan slut :) I'm on 8 out of 15. Great review. I am with you on the point that Adam's story was way more compelling.

Wen wrote: "Hey Debbie, I'm your fellow McEwan slut :) I'm on 8 out of 15. Great review. I am with you on the point that Adam's story was way more compelling."

Thanks, Wen! Always thrilled to meet other McEwan sluts! I am totally impressed that you’ve read 8 of his books already. Despite my best intentions, I’ve only read 2, Nutshell being the other. OMG did I love Nutshell! It made my all-time favorites list. Did you read that one?

Ok, I'll try it. ☺

Coreena wrote: "Ok, I'll try it. ☺"

You won’t regret it!

Fabulous review, Debbie! I have a few of his novels on my eReader - I can tell that it is definitely time to add a few to my current reading list!

HE is one of my favourite writers. My favourite is Saturday, which should be read on a Saturday or any other day where you can start and read to the end. It's not large but you will not be able to put it down.

Thanks for the update on the movie. I love Emma Thompson!

He is one of my favourite writers too. Have you read Amsterdam? I just read it recently. I find he never disappoints the reader.

Fantastic review, Debbie, and fantastic news, too! I guess I should read this before I see the movie...

Jaline wrote: "Fabulous review, Debbie! I have a few of his novels on my eReader - I can tell that it is definitely time to add a few to my current reading list!"


Thanks, Jaline! Yeah, I’m going to read Saturday, Amsterdam, or Chesil Beach soon. It’s time!

Gisela wrote: "HE is one of my favourite writers. My favourite is Saturday, which should be read on a Saturday or any other day where you can start and read to the end. It's not large but you will not be able to ..."

Well, I’m going to be reading one of them very soon! Thanks for the recommendation!

JanB wrote: "Thanks for the update on the movie. I love Emma Thompson!"

Me too! I recently saw her with her natural white hair. She looks amazing no matter what she does. But more important, what a fabulous actor!

Linda wrote: "He is one of my favourite writers too. Have you read Amsterdam? I just read it recently. I find he never disappoints the reader."

Just moved that one up! I’ll be reading either this or Saturday or Chesil Beach very soon! Thanks for the recommendation!

Cheri wrote: "Fantastic review, Debbie, and fantastic news, too! I guess I should read this before I see the movie..."

Thanks, Cheri! Yeah, I always like to read the book first. It’s a quick read, so you should be able to squeeze it in without disrupting your queue much. I’m really looking forward to the movie!

I love your review, Debbie - on my TBR list now - thanks! :-)

Gary wrote: "I love your review, Debbie - on my TBR list now - thanks! :-)"

Thanks, Gary! Hope you like it!

Tried this on audio and it put me to sleep, but do love McEwan so may give the print version a try based on your four stars. And thanks for the head's up on the movie!

Victoria wrote: "Tried this on audio and it put me to sleep, but do love McEwan so may give the print version a try based on your four stars. And thanks for the head's up on the movie!"

Oh, not good if the audio version put you to sleep! Maybe just try the movie (which isn’t yet playing in my town, sigh).