Solar

By: Ian McEwan

Narrated by: Roger Allam, Ian McEwan

Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Universally acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest novelists, Ian McEwan is a Booker Prize-winning, best-selling literary master. He displays a fresh facet of his considerable talent in Solar, a satirical novel rife with blistering humor.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Michael Beard is fast approaching 60, a mere shell of the academic titan he once was. While his fifth marriage falls apart, Michael suddenly finds himself with an unexpected opportunity to reinvigorate his career and possibly save humankind from the growing threat of global warming.

This audio includes an exclusive interview with the author.

©2010 Ian McEwan (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A comedy every bit as brilliant as its title might suggest....Blazing with imaginative and intellectual energy, Solar is a stellar performance." ( Sunday Times, London)

“A stunningly accomplished work, possibly [McEwan’s] best yet.” ( Financial Times)

Droll English humor

I was waiting for an action packed Michael Connelly type novel but it was very slow paced. The main protagonist was one of the most despicable humans ever portrayed in literature and it was hard to get used to him as being representative of the dark side of academia. It took me the entire book to finally get the humor of the book and it was one of those books that I really liked in retrospect. Its a worthwhile read but a reader has to go into it with the right attitude: its a comedy with a message on climate change.

Hilarious. Masterfully written and performed.

Hilarious. Masterfully written and performed. Many laugh out loud moments. Never dull. Highly recommend this book.

So funny!

What a ride! Thanks. Hard to find intelligent contemporary work like this; so hilarious, too. Grueling, also!

McEwan Does It Again!

Solar is a hilarious, intellectual romp for our times. It's a satire that aims its shots in many directions: at the narrow worlds of academia and scientific research; at the New Age/hug-a-tree/love-can-save-the-world philosophy; at the idealism of the young and the cynicism of their elders; at the wheeling and dealing behind corporate American enterprise; at the inexplicable nature of love and its counterpart, lust.

Michael Beard, a Nobel prize-winning physicist, has been sitting on his laurels for years, working half-heartedly for a British energy center that sees wind energy as the future, spending more time mocking the "ponytails" (the young post-grad physicists who work under him) than developing new theories or resources. In his spare time, Beard has lumbered his way through five marriages and numerous affairs, and his penchant for alcohol, beef, pancakes, and crisps have added more weight to his physical profile than his professional one.

But then things start to happen--call them accidents or fate or coincidences, or just plain opportunities. And Michael Beard is there to pick up the pieces and use them to his best advantage.

I knew how dark McEwan could be, but I had no idea that he could be quite so funny. Several of the scenes, including the one on the Paddington train alluded to by others, had me actually laughing out loud.

I was delighted to find an interview of McEwan by his editor at the end. In it, he discussed his research process and the fact that he has already been approached by a number of physicists who claim they know upon whom he based the character of Beard (he claims it wawas his own creation, but that it's probably a "good thing" there are so many likely Beards out there rather than just one).

Solar is a smart, funny, and perceptive novel. Don't expect it to be another Atonement or On Chesil Beach; McEwan is attempting something entirely different here, and you will have to

Hilarious profundity

Loved this book. Played it again for my husband on a road trip. Laughing so hard during the "dressing for the cold" scene, we had to pull off the road. Comic masterpiece and profound satire is SOLAR.

Hilarious and dark, dark, dark

The flip side of Solar is the dark character of the 'hero.' I loved this book, far more than previous McEwan offerings. He perfectly captures the nasty points of sexist male academics. The crisp scene on the train made me laugh aloud. Just a wonderful listen, but maybe not one if happy fluffy stories are your kind of thing. Some of the humor may also appeal to my British and academic sides (I'm both). Great narration too.

Literary Feast

Being enveloped in McEwan's witty and exquisite prose, beautifully narrated by Roger Allam, was luxurious. I'm glad I bought the audio version of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Beard: what skill this author has, to draw a very flawed character so forgivingly and make him sympathetic. I loved the "set pieces", too (the ice story, and the packet of crisps). I have not enjoyed a work of literary fiction this much for ages! By the way, I am English: maybe that helps to tune in to the humor and style. Can't wait to see what my American husband thinks of it - he doesn't usually "get" British humor.

"Comic" Novel About an Unappealing Scientist

I find it very difficult to summarize my views about this book. McEwan is a superb writer; the prose in this novel is up to his usual stellar standards. There are some utterly brilliant set piece scenes. Yet, although McEwan apparrently considers this book, which looks at the life and machinations of a brilliant narcissistic scientist years after his most productive period, to be "comic," I found it impossible care a fig about a man who is as self-absorbed and oblivious to the needs and feelings of others (except to the extent they affect him) as his protagonist. I guess I'm glad I "read" it; but I felt the need to take a shower afterwards.

Stick with it; it's worth it!

I noticed that many of the readers who hated this book gave up on it a couple of hours into it. I was ready to do so at a certain point in the book when something horrific is implied to have happened to the main character. I was disgusted and offended, but then came to realize that this was part of McEwan's humor. Very male humor, I might add. I am so happy I stuck with the book. It is smart and at times absolutely hilarious! The main character is not exactly likeable, I agree, but that's not the point! McEwan gets into some current debates about science and that political rhetoric that uses science to support one side or the other. Some very astute observations here, and well told, both by McEwan and by his reader, whose deadpan style is perfect for the genre.

Boring, Unlikable Climate Scientist Character

McEwan won a Booker prize, but his novels are boring. His character gives a great climate speech. Most of the science is solid. But the novel is one you can't wait to put down.