Ian McEwan

I loved 'Atonement' and 'Enduring Love'. I thought 'On Chesil Beach' and 'Amsterdam' were quite boring and pretentious, however. Yeah, I think he's hugely talented, I think he just shouldn't indulge himself (or probably, his publisher) so much.

I found Atonement instantly forgettable.

Atonement devastated me (because of the ending. YOU BASTARD MCEWAN! *cough*) but not especially because of the prose (which was very good, don't get me wrong, but paired with another story would have bored me). But it devastated me because of the story. *sniff*

On Chesil Beach did ...nothing for me. It had a lot of potential, but then the last portion of the book just, basically, told me a life story rather than showing me the repercussions. Meh

I read Atonement. The writing was good from what I remember, but the book didn't blow me away, and I haven't read any of his other books, so that says something.

Not the kind of books I usually like, but very good writing.

I loved Atonement and Amsterdam. Not so fond of Enduring Love. That's as far as I've gottten in his books, but for the most part, I really enjoy his writing and will continue reading him soon.

Ian McEwan was born in the town I live in, by the way.

I've read The Innocent, Atonement and On Chesil Beach. I didn't get on with A Child in Time, which became a rare example of a novel that I didn't finish once I started it. Maybe I should give it another go sometime.

The Innocent works quite well as a thriller, and contains in the middle one of the most (intentionally) horrifying scenes I've ever read - if you've read the novel you will know which one I mean. (And it's one the film version skipped over almost entirely.)

Atonement I liked a lot. On Chesil Beach infuriated me because it abandoned the more interesting of the two lead characters after the story's climax (as it were), leaving us with the one who seemed almost unaffected by the story's events. I won't say more than that without spoilers, and it's been a few years since I read it.

McEwan seems to have squared some kind of circle - he's a literary novelist who sells in six figures, and who has often translated to film quite well. (He's also written screenplays.) Possibly because, as MrFlibble says above, is that he does usually tell a good story.

I read Solar and put it down after a few chapters. It was supposed to be a satire, but I didn't see the humor in it.

I really liked Atonement, and thought On Chesil Beach was ok. (Somewhat dull, but fabulous prose made up for it.)
Recently read Sweet Tooth, which I only really liked towards the end, and I have thought about that book several times after. Might read it again, actually.
Tried Enduring Love once, put never completed it. The film was also so boring I fast-forwarded a bit...

I just recently read his new one, SWEET TOOTH. It was good but relatively slow going for a while...and then the ending completely took me by surprised. I absolutely loved the ending. I'd recommend the book. I borrowed it from the library though. No need to buy a copy in my opinion.

I've only ever read Amsterdam and I loved it. Will definitely read more McEwan.