Saturday

By: Ian McEwan

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Ian McEwan's novels have inspired sweeping critical acclaim and won such prestigious awards as the Booker Prize for Amsterdam and the National Book Critics Circle Award for his modern masterpiece, Atonement. With Saturday, McEwan has crafted perhaps his most unique achievement to date.

Neurosurgeon Henry Perowne enjoys life immensely and considers himself fortunate to love the woman he's married to. As he makes his way through an immense London crowd of Iraq protestors, he has a minor automobile accident. His trained eye immediately senses something neurologically wrong with Baxter, the other driver. So when the confrontational Baxter visits the Perowne home later that evening and events take a tragic turn, it is Henry who must employ his skills to save Baxter.

McEwan has been hailed as "one of the most gifted literary storytellers alive" by The New Republic, and Saturday is further proof of that claim.

Listen to an interview with Ian McEwan on Charlie Rose.

©2005 Ian McEwan (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Dazzling." (The New York Times)
"A wise and poignant portrait of the way we live now." (Publishers Weekly)
"McEwan is as provocative, transporting, and brilliant as ever as he considers both our vulnerability and our strength, particularly our ability to create sanctuary in a violent world." (Booklist)

The Plus Catalog pleasantly surprises again

I've long been a fan of Ian McEwan, but admit I wasn't even aware of this novel until scanning the Plus Catalog for a "free" download. Released between Atonement and On Chesil Beach (two personal favorites), Saturday is a timely novel superficially about a day in the life of a London neurosurgeon. While the novel had renowned critics, I would encourage any fan of McEwan to invest a few hours to this beautiful narration.

I’m sorry but…

Any reader can tell that McEwan is a very gifted writer - but that doesn’t mean you can just write about nothing and get away with it!

First of all yes there’s a plot, and yes some great research on brain surgery, and an exploration of feelings about the Iraq War. And some good explorations of what it means to be human, etc.

But the other 9 hours of the book seemed to be filler, as if the author is paid by the word. And yes I did finish it.

I can imagine the discussion with his publisher:

“Ian, we need a new book.”
“I don’t have anything to write about.”
“Who cares, people will love it, just write about a rich man in London living life or something. Anything!”
“Sure”

A tortuous listen

I kept hoping something will lift the story, not a chance! Boring, extremely repetitious unnecessary details about the surgical procedures, grey, bland characters, took a Herculean effort to finish this boring book. Can’t recommend this to anyone.

wasted time and money.

Quite possibly the worst book I have ever bought. I hope I never make such a bad mistake again.

What a snoozer

I thought it was me. But after reading all these reviews I realize my taste in books is still intact. I'm giving this book a low rating based on about an hour and a half of listening to its incredible nothingness. Thanks to all for saving me some valuable time.

Excruciating!

Oh my goodness - I found this book excruciating to listen to. I managed to endure about 4 hours of part one, and then simply could not continue.
I really enjoyed the beginning, thinking that here was a author who was really skilled at colorful descriptive writing. Soon, however, it became apparent, that this book has the feel of an assignment given to an english major. The assignment would have been, "write a novel with minimal plot, but maximal descriptive elements. Every step, breath, character, bird, car, twig, even a fight, are detailed in minute detail, using laborious, excessive language.
This author is obviously trying to impress readers with his mastery of the English Language, which is unquestionably good, but makes for a terrible novel.

Saturday

Ponderous

Simply interminable

"Seinfeld" was called the sitcom about nothing. This is a novel about nothing. Sherlock Holmes could not find a plot in this awful hodgepodge.

I finished this novel while hoping that there was something redemptive on the way. It was not to be. If you enjoy watching paint dry, then this is a book for you.

longest Saturday of my life

This book bored me to tears, but I listened to the very end, hoping for something interesting to happen. It didn't. I failed to identify with any of the characters, and had no interest at all in their fates.

If you can't sleep, listen to this book

It's fascinating that the reviews for this book are either raves or rants. I agree with the first reviewer: If I could give this zero stars I would. 1.5 of the 10.5 hours were of some interest to me, which leaves 9 hours for such stimulating events as, what would probably amount to 10 pages, on a squash match, or a very in depth description of Henry's mother's dimentia. How this book lands on any respected list of books of the year is more intriguing than any part of the book. Listen to "The History of Love" or "The Secret Life of Bees" not this overhyped book.