Solar by Ian McEwan
Today we turn to British critics to give us a glimpse of Ian McEwan’s latest novel, Solar. Solar hits shelves in the U.S. next Tuesday, and the reviews so far are mixed–some critics praise the book’s humorous take on climate change, while others find the protagonist, Michael Beard, one-dimensional and tiresome. Beard is a physicist past his prime–an overweight, stodgy philanderer–who becomes dedicated to the fight against global warming while simultaneously consuming everything in sight. As the book progresses, Beard becomes a symbol of modern overindulgence, constantly taking without considering the consequences. Beard is meant to be a comic character, but several critics found his point of view too grating to last for 300+ pages. While Solar may not be McEwan’s best book, the comedy and crisp language make it an entertaining read.
“Solar is both funny and serious, light and dark, morally engaged and ironically detached” – William Sutcliffe, Financial Times
“What is absent from Solar, ultimately, are other minds, the sense that people other than Beard are present, equally alive, with something to contribute.” – Jason Cowley, The Observer
“Scarcely a page fails to dazzle with some wittily caught perception about contemporary life. Blazing with imaginative and intellectual energy, Solar is a stellar performance.” – Peter Kemp, The Times
“There are no breath-taking, cinematic moments (such as the openings of Saturday or Enduring Love) and Beard’s bland fulminations, despite a certain defiant joie de vivre, soon begin to grate.” – James Urquhart, The Independent
*************
Want to know more about us? Check out “What is Books & Authors and Why Should You Care?
