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The Children Act

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The Children Act

By: Ian McEwan
Narrated by: Lindsay Duncan
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About this listen

Fiona Maye is a leading High Court judge, presiding over cases in the family court. She is renowned for her fierce intelligence, exactitude and sensitivity. But her professional success belies private sorrow and domestic strife. There is the lingering regret of her childlessness, and now her marriage of 30 years is in crisis.

At the same time, she is called on to try an urgent case: for religious reasons, a beautiful 17-year-old boy, Adam, is refusing the medical treatment that could save his life, and his devout parents share his wishes. Time is running out. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith?

In the course of reaching a decision Fiona visits Adam in hospital - an encounter which stirs long-buried feelings in her and powerful new emotions in the boy. Her judgment has momentous consequences for them both.

©2014 Ian McEwan (P)2014 Random House Audiobooks Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political
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The story twines around the two main characters. One full of life, the other trying to hold it back.

wonderful writing

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Reason and order could not prevent a broken heart, from the passion of a moment and the vulnerability of a beautiful young man.

Reason and order meets passion.

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Fans of McEwan will not be disappointed by this novel. It is solidly written in his familiar methodical style which eschews rhetorical flourishes. It is peopled by his cast of highly educated and articulate characters which by now we have become accustomed to. I wish sometimes in his books he would show more and tell less. His dialogue is often full of artifice of a certain English middle class type. His is always careful to tell us the type of rug they stand on, the cheeses they consume, the music they play in the background of their lives, the geographical direction their bedroom windows face.
And it is clever - to the point that you constantly feel he is giving the nod to his readers who are smart enough to keep up with him and his characters - from the evocation of Bleak House in its first paragraph to uncountable throwaway mentions of Berlioz, Mahler and Keith Jarrett.
Lindsay Duncan is the perfect narrator of these scenes, her voice the perfect embodiment of the milieu in which this story is set.
I have to confess that I felt the ending was contrived and Fiona’s emotional turmoil unconvincing.
Still, McEwan is a fine novelist and whilst I do not think The Children Act as good as Atonement or On Chesil Beach, it is well worth reading.



Clever, articulate but emotionally unconvincing

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Would you listen to The Children Act again? Why?

Yes and I began to listen again as soon as I had completed the book. It has stayed with me emotionally.

What did you like best about this story?

The balance between the personal conflict within the marriage and the faith versus reason conflict played out with the transfusion question. The characterisations took the listener right into the turmoil each was experiencing. The tone was mainly subdued and calm and the imagery was brilliant. Fiona surveying the room "wishing all this stuff at the bottom of the sea". Jack "...wheezy with outrage".

Have you listened to any of Lindsay Duncan’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Unfortunately no. The performance was beautifully done.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Fiona and Adam in the hospital and the impromptu song and Adam's delight in discovering the words. The finale brought me to tears.

Any additional comments?

This book achieves so much at so many complex levels. Personal relationships and the fragility as well as the strength of them. The portrayal of the balancing act needed between a professional and a personal life. The responsibility we all have towards those in our lives.

Small and perfectly formed.

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Utterly addictive. McEwan is so perceptive & aware of subtle human characteristics that he forms rich, varied, believable characters & paints unforgettable moments.

Fantastic

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The impact of one judgement on a judge, and the young man it relates, to at a difficult time in her marriage... Moving, emotional and thought provoking.

Moving story

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Amazing book, as always from McEwan but the lady reading the novel made an 18yr old boy sound like he was 5 and it really ruined the emotional intelligence of the character. Very disappointed!!

Amazing book, poorly read

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I was initially excited about this book only to find it slow, dull and frustrating. Why frustrating? Felt like shaking the main character to wake her up from her mundane life she clearly chose!
Very disappointing and almost obvious with the ending.

Frustrating

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