I know why I enjoy Ian McEwans novels so much. I just finished The Children Act, a gem of tightly observed incidents in the life of a British family court judge. McEwan works like a brilliant stage actor in that the plot is never as intriguing as the character. He brings his imagination (and his serious research; he doesnt stint on that) to capture each and every subtle emotional shift that his characters go through. He isnt content merely to tell us what happens, but draws us into the characters psyche so we know exactly how he or she feels. He excavates each deed to uncover mixed or multiple motivations, and weighs intentions and consequences. He does all this with grace and ease. In The Children Act he deals with great moral issues and problems of faith, justice--and music of all things. He does this without straining, allowing his tale to unfold without hectoring or overloading the reader. This is precisely what the very best actors can do. They dont just show us what the playwright makes happen (adding their mites of charm or menace); they pull us behind the surface and guide us to experience their thoughts and feelings. We call this transparency. We know the actors and novelists who can do this, and we hope, whenever they invite us in, to be rewarded with such accurate and fine observations.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:04:28 +0000