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Suz's Reviews > The Children Act
The Children Act
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Not having read this author before, I’m very glad to have picked this one off of my 300 plus owned books. It will be easy to miss many great books this way won’t it?!
Fiona holds an immensely important job being a highly regarded High Court Judge presiding over families. She’s at a crossroads, or rather her husband is, and we see a fine story unfold as a marriage is being questioned and a brilliant woman teeters on the edge. At the same time Fiona has to decide how to apply a life and death judgement involving a seventeen year old Jehovah’s Witness boy, Adam. He is a beautiful character and he lit up this story. The finale gave me hope for Fiona and her patient and loving husband, but I was oh so sad for Adam.
Literary fiction is not my genre of choice, but it was an effective story. Perhaps too much legal technicality that to me was not required, but the writing was good and it was a quick read. My thanks go again to ‘The Whisperer’, who has provided me with another quality book.
Fiona holds an immensely important job being a highly regarded High Court Judge presiding over families. She’s at a crossroads, or rather her husband is, and we see a fine story unfold as a marriage is being questioned and a brilliant woman teeters on the edge. At the same time Fiona has to decide how to apply a life and death judgement involving a seventeen year old Jehovah’s Witness boy, Adam. He is a beautiful character and he lit up this story. The finale gave me hope for Fiona and her patient and loving husband, but I was oh so sad for Adam.
Literary fiction is not my genre of choice, but it was an effective story. Perhaps too much legal technicality that to me was not required, but the writing was good and it was a quick read. My thanks go again to ‘The Whisperer’, who has provided me with another quality book.
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Reading Progress
July 17, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 17, 2014
– Shelved
March 22, 2015
– Shelved as:
wish-list
November 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 27, 2015
–
Started Reading
December 28, 2015
–
4.63%
"Cody just got interviewed at the cricket! Mum's reading her book ;)) Bloody cold and we're sitting on the 'beach' :(("
page
10
December 28, 2015
– Shelved as:
literary-fiction
December 29, 2015
–
Finished Reading
March 5, 2016
– Shelved as:
gift-from-goodreads-friend
April 8, 2016
– Shelved as:
gave-away
Comments Showing 1-40 of 40 (40 new)
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by
Dale
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Dec 29, 2015 04:41PM
Good review Suzanne. Already on my TBR.
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Thanks Dale, I did enjoy it and I think you will too.
Great review, Suzanne. I liked the book a lot too. Made me want to read his earlier work. I've heard Atonement is good; on my challenge list for next year. Your review let me experience some nice euphoric recall--thanks!
Debbie wrote: "Great review, Suzanne. I liked the book a lot too. Made me want to read his earlier work. I've heard Atonement is good; on my challenge list for next year. Your review let me experience some nice e..."Ah ha, you're welcome Debbie! I have had Atonement on my Mount Tbr for ages, but with me that often doesn't mean much. Over 1200 books live there. Silly! I hope 2016 is a great one for you!
Jen wrote: "Great review Suzanne!"Thanks Jen, love when they aren't big books and I can read more while I'm in holiday mode!
Good to see you liked it. I have a couple of his books on my shelf. I'm yet to read him. Atonement is out, as I've seen the movie, and somehow have no interest in reading the book. He's a most charming interviewee as well. So hopefully, I'll get to read at least one of his novels in 2016.
I had to check if Atonement was even on my list, but it's 'wish list' which to me is not actually tbr! I don't think I'm that keen on it as I also saw the movie. I've also got On Chesil Beach on my list that I know nothing about! Do you enjoy Literary Fiction Bianca?
Suzanne wrote: "I had to check if Atonement was even on my list, but it's 'wish list' which to me is not actually tbr! I don't think I'm that keen on it as I also saw the movie. I've also got [book:On Chesil Beach..."Literary fiction is my preferred genre. Until two years ago, most of my reading (90-95%) was made up of literary fiction, be it contemporary or the classics. The other types were either travel books - almost exclusively by Bill Bryson whom I adore or some memoirs.
I remember your profile now! I haven't read Bill Bryson yet. I think you could probably point me in the right direction with this genre. Happy new year Bianca :))
Suzanne wrote: "I remember your profile now! I haven't read Bill Bryson yet. I think you could probably point me in the right direction with this genre. Happy new year Bianca :))"No other author has ever made me laugh with tears and gave me stomach cramps from laughing, so I'll forever be grateful. I've got 11 of his books on my shelves. "Neither here nor there" is probably the one that made me laugh the most. But every book I've read has been awesome, including Down Under. I love snide and sarcasm and he's the master!
Happy New Year to you, too.
you're welcome, Suzanne, great review, now I just have to get around to reading it....
Nice review, Suzanne! I was hoping to get to this book in 2015 but no such luck - next year it is! (Fingers crossed, lol!) I have read Atonement - after seeing the movie a few years prior - and loved it. Then watched the movie again! Somehow the experience was not ruined for me as it often is when seeing the movie first, but perhaps because enough time had passed in between. I distinctly remember a couple of sobbing gulps - very unusual for me - when reading!
Your shelves sound a lot like mine. I plan to read some of them this year. We'll see if I can really do it.McEwan is an interesting writer. His fans adore him and his naysayers say "No way".
Nice review. Hope you enjoy any others you read by McEwan.
Marianne wrote: "you're welcome, Suzanne, great review, now I just have to get around to reading it...."Plenty of books Marianne, one day...
Candi wrote: "Nice review, Suzanne! I was hoping to get to this book in 2015 but no such luck - next year it is! (Fingers crossed, lol!) I have read Atonement - after seeing the movie a few years pri..."Thanks Candi, I'm ok with watching the movie first if enough time has passed, I think! I remember crying in the movie so I may cry too..
Carol wrote: "Your shelves sound a lot like mine. I plan to read some of them this year. We'll see if I can really do it.McEwan is an interesting writer. His fans adore him and his naysayers say "No way".
Ni..."
Thanks Carol. It's fun trying to get to them all though, isn't it?!
Stephanie wrote: "Excellent review, Suzanne!!! I love your comment about finding a gem in a stack of 300!"Discussions have turned a bit nasty around here over the last couple of days - namely my non reading husband. I don't care what he thinks! I like collecting and deciding on my books! Thanks Stephanie :)
Bianca wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I remember your profile now! I haven't read Bill Bryson yet. I think you could probably point me in the right direction with this genre. Happy new year Bianca :))"No other author ..."
Thanks Bianca, I will look out for Mr Bryson on my travels! Sounds like a character!
Great review, Suzanne!! Another to add to my tbr :)
Great review, Suzanne...wow, 300 books, I would be in heaven! Just added it...my tbr is growing by the hour!!
Suzanne wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Excellent review, Suzanne!!! I love your comment about finding a gem in a stack of 300!"Discussions have turned a bit nasty around here over the last couple of days - namely my ..."
Ha, tell him to go pound sand :)
Man I was cranky, Debbie!!!!
Great review Suzanne! So glad you liked this one too. I love his writing.
Thanks Julie! I bought Atonement while I was on holidays.
Suzanne wrote: "Thanks Julie! I bought Atonement while I was on holidays."Hope you like it!
An "effective story"? Yes, that's a novel way to put it. I agree with you, that the legal technicality did feel a little cold at times, despite McEwan showing the emotional fallout.
Hi Cecily, I'm not great with fully understanding literary reads.. I'm very comfy trading 'easy' books given my family dynamics etc.. I'd learn a lot from reading more reviews of my well read friends, like you :) Also, I know there's lots of authors out there I should be reading. Could I pls have some more hands and more daylight hours!!
Don't feel pressured by what you "should be reading". Who says you should? Read what you enjoy, and perhaps widen your sphere of enjoyment, as with this, by getting ideas from GR friends.
That's what's so good about GR. I'm reading things I'd never dreamed of. So good!
Great review, Suzanne. Glad you enjoyed it :) xoxo
I finished reading this book and came back to read everyone's thoughts on it.First of all, who is The Whisperer? I'm beyond curious
Secondly, I love your thoughts on this book and appreciate your review of the book. So well written. It is a long time ago for -reading this book in 2014- but your review is still so relevant and thought-provoking. Loved it, Suzanne.
Margitte wrote: "I finished reading this book and came back to read everyone's thoughts on it.First of all, who is The Whisperer? I'm beyond curious
Secondly, I love your thoughts on this book and appreciate your..."
Thanks Margitte. The Whisperer is the name we came up with one of our reading friends from the Aussie Readers group here on GR. She's a great book finder and we meet a few times a year. She's given me a lot of books over the last couple of years! I'm glad you liked this book too. I haven't read any more from this author as yet.
Excellent review Suzanne! Looks like a great book!
I just finished it, and loved it.
Mary wrote: "Excellent review Suzanne! Looks like a great book!"Thanks Mary, I did like this one.
Bianca wrote: "I just finished it, and loved it."I'm so glad, B! I know it's your genre of choice.
