Ian McEwan is one of my favorite authors and Lessons does not disappoint. Roland Baines' wife has left him with their infant son, Lawrence. After a few days he contacts the police and he of course is questioned- the husband is always the number one suspect. Flashbacks to Roland's childhood-his family and the life changing time in boarding school and his piano lessons. A wonderful plot and characters!

Though usually a big Ian McEwan fan, in all honesty I found this a bit of a slog. I liked the concept - seeing the last 70 or so years through the eyes of one man - but at times the main character’s proximity to monumental world events stretched credulity a little and it felt like it needed a good edit, the same plot points could have been hit in about a third less novel. It’s well written but I by no means flew through it. Ian McEwan has certainly earned the right to write this novel at this stage of his career but not as enjoyable as the earlier work for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The writing in this book was captivating right from the start; the plot, less so. The structure of the early parts of the book was confusing. I didn’t get hooked until the key lesson was revealed and then I was all in.

Roland was a kid at boarding school with a physically abusive piano teacher. He’s now a man whose wife has disappeared , leaving him with an infant to care for. Then the book segues to earlier history with little relation to Roland. I found it confusing. Ultimately the story focuses on Roland and he went from child prodigy to rudderless man, abandoned parent and devoted father.

The complex relationships and ties to historical events are classic McEwan. I won’t say this is his greatest novel ever (that honor goes to Enduring Live) but it’s well worth reading.

epic and intimate story of one man's life across generations and historical upheavals: from the Suez Crisis to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fall of the Berlin Wall to the current pandemic, Roland Baines sometimes rides with the tide of history, but more often struggles against it.

When the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has closed, eleven-year-old Roland Baines's life is turned upside down. Two thousand miles from his mother's protective love, stranded at Ian McEwan is one of my all time favorite authors! I was excited to read this ARC especially when I learned there were autobiographical parts depicting his own childhood and life.

Like McEwan, Roland Baines, our protagonist, grows up in North Africa. Through a series of flashbacks we learn of his dysfunctional family relationships as well as an experience with a female predator in boarding school;.
In the present, his wife Alissa disappears and Roland is left to care for his young baby Lawrence. The deadly radiation of Chernobyl haunts him as it slowly moves across Europe.

McEwan takes us through the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fall of the Wall and our current pandemic is a dreamy, seamless manner. The book as a whole is an exercise in reflection - on how global events have impacted personal choices. We get to know Roland intimately via Lessons and are better for it. If you are a fan of Ian McEwan, a lover of sprawling thoughtful, well written reflections or are just looking for another fabulous piece of literature encompassing the 20th century, then Lessons is for you!
#Knopf #Doubleday #Lessons #IanMcEwan #NetGalley

A great big saga of a boy/man it starts with a naughty piano teacher flash to the boy now a man and his wife has left him with their son. It’s a sad haunting tale

Lessons is an epic of the British white male Baby Boomer experience, from a postwar military base-hopping childhood to solitary COVID-19 lockdowns in old age. The protagonist Roland Baines — for whom author Ian McEwan admits he “raided bits of (his) own life” for the first time — is a bit of a loser in middle age as the novel opens (his wife has just left him and their infant son; Roland can’t commit to a career beyond a bit of lounge piano playing here, some tennis lessons or freelance journalism there), but as he considers his life and we get to revisit his childhood (and watch him age), it becomes clear that some early trauma “rewired” him for life, setting Roland drifting helplessly against the great tides of historical events. This is a very British novel — from the fall of the Berlin Wall to Brexit, Roland and his friends discuss world events through the lens of their party politics — but Roland himself is a very relatable and sympathetic character: the good-hearted, rational everyman who witnesses and comments on the big and small events of his generation. From the big look at history to the details of Roland’s own journey through it, this is a masterful and valuable novel; perhaps the lasting word on this particular type of (the British white male of a certain class) Boomer experience.

DNF after 100 pages of this joyless slog through - well, what was the point of it anyway?

DNF after 100 pages of this joyless slog through - well, what was the point of it anyway?

Two words: Ian McEwan. IMHO, a master of the English language [why I requested this book].

An epic, sprawling tale beginning with the end of WWII, when then 11-year-old Roland Baines has his life turned upside down. Relocated from Tripoli [his father was in the military] to an English boarding school--at 14 years-old, he meets a piano teacher, Miriam Cornell--who turns his life upside down.

The story covers nearly 70 years and reveals Roland's deep scars. He marries Alissa; she abandons him and their very young son, Lawrence. The consequences are at the core of the novel [but so much more].

This novel covers much territory and has a vast scope. To wit: the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fall of the Berlin Wall, Chernobyl, climate change, the pandemic and even January 6th! [Seems like many current novels have added the pandemic to the storyline.] But basically, it's Roland's story: his wounds, his various travails, his parents and his own parenting, his extended family, interests, jobs [pianist, poet, greeting card writer, etc.], wives, his listlessness and aimlessness.

Many side stories dug deep--particularly Alissa [more so in her later life], but also her parents' stories/histories and the White Rose movement in Germany. And his mother's story! [no spoiler from me].

Often I would have preferred not so many zigs and zags [more so at the beginning] and towards the end, I thought it more linnear. Very little humor to lighten the heaviness.

The language: [a few instances]

"hated her progressively"
"whose cheeks hug in swags"
"scribble of knuckle hair"
"He was plausible within the digital age, like a man in cunning disguise, but he remained a citizen of the analogue world."

Sometimes I just had to stop and contemplate the deeper meaning behind the words.

I figure McEwan is about the same age as Roland--what does this mean?

So... I enjoyed/admired, but was not enthralled. A worthy, slow-paced read.

Piano lessons--as depicted on the cover? Likely, life lessons. What did Roland learn--or not?

Recommend with caveats: slow and dense.

3.75, rounding up.

This epic that McEwan has crafted is beautiful and vulnerable. We follow Roland from age 14 while he’s at boarding school navigating his first sexual relationship (with a much older woman) through the end of his life. He never achieves professional success, but comes to terms with the choices he’s made, and realizes that such success was perhaps never the point at all.

McEwan’s writing is so engrossing that I often thought about the characters and looked forward to reading about them throughout the entirety of the book. Some scenes probably could have been eliminated to make a more concise plot without sacrificing the book’s overarching story, but that’s my only complaint. Roland shows us that our perspectives vary over time as we grow older, and our choices are influenced both by our relationships with others and to the world at large. His story is tragic, but not hopeless.
Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

A solid return to form by McEwan. Fascinating character and great story. Some of the older giants of literature are still producing good novels and it is wonderful to see.

As a huge Ian McEwan fan, I was pleased to receive an eARC of his latest novel, Lessons. While I can’t say this was one of my favorites, McEwan’s writing is so beautiful it still was a joy to read. McEwan’s non-linear approach to narrative is one of the many reasons I always enjoy his work. The story follows Roland from post-WWII childhood to pandemic old-age; from his abuse and manipulation by his piano teacher through his series of failed relationships to the birth of his son to his wife disappearing to finally finding peace and acceptance. The journey unfolds during some of history’s monumental moments, and yet is an intimate exploration of how those moments affect us in deeply personal ways. Like all McEwan novels, Lessons leans toward epic, with many characters weaving in and out of Roland’s life. His journey through his life is punctuated with attempts at escape, but ultimately always reflecting on how one’s personal reactions to events affects all around us. Are our personal feelings of rejection, remorse, anger, sadness, elation ever truly our OWN? How do we navigate our own private emotions without those emotions effecting those around us? While I really enjoyed the novel, I would not rank this as my favorite amongst his work. If you are new to Ian McEwan, I would not start here.. Thank you to @NetGalley for the eARC.

This b9ok is not going to be for everyone. If you can get through the beginning abuse of power and remember the time period, you might like this novel. For me , it was a pass.

Epic. Roland Baines experiences decades of global woes from the Suez Crisis to the Covid-19 pandemic. Creeping authoritarianism, our plummet into global warming, a never ending pandemic, the squandering of life and resources in immoral and unjustified wars . . . all provide the backdrop for Roland's struggle (sometimes humorous, sometimes not) in his day to day life.

Throughout the book I was immersed in the personal stories of the beautifully written characters but, in the last chapters, the author skillfully converges  "every looming disaster in the world" into a brilliant distillation of unlearned lessons hurtling us ever closer to extinction. I had to reach for the tissues countless times, not so much for the sad or poignant scenes, but for the beautiful articulation of my own fearful assessment of our future.  This all sounds dark and depressing but it's irresistible entertainment from start to finish. You will be rooting for Roland straight away. Wouldn't we love to see Benedict Cumberbatch as the lead in a mini-series?

Ian McEwan's latest novel, "Lessons," might be his best book yet. It starts when the eleven years old Roland Baines is sent to a state boarding school in England. The Cuban Missile Crisis looms over the world, but "James Hern, the stern but privately kind housemaster, did not mention in his evening announcements that the world might soon be ending." A much more significant impact on the boy is inflicted by his piano teacher, Miss Miriam Cornell, who becomes fascinated by Roland's youth. As a child, he doesn't see himself as a victim of sexual abuse but feels chosen and different from other boys at school. His piano lessons became his first life lessons.

I thought the novel might very well be titled "Rings" – as in tree's growth rings. After the center ring of Roland's premature sexual initiation, the successive rounds of life grow - they're new while holding to the old ones deep inside. The novel brings the events in a non-linear way, but because of this, its flow is natural and easy to follow:  just like our memory is not linear. This is also a story where the reader can't resist the thought of "what-ifs ." What if Roland was more driven and determined to develop his extraordinary piano gift and become a concert pianist, instead of the hotel piano player, insisting on playing more jazz that the guests wanted to hear? What if he hasn't been distracted by other things in life and continued writing professionally, not just pouring his thoughts into journals and reading passionately? What if he put his tennis skills to better use than becoming a tennis instructor?

And, of course, the main question - what did his life amount to? His first wife, Alissa, decides to leave him suddenly – and leave their baby son, not even one year old – to "find herself" and become a writer. She does become one of the best contemporary German writers. Her books are brilliant - Roland has to admit it - and she probably couldn't have done it if she stayed with Roland and their son, as, in her opinion, the everyday mundane chores would define her as a mother and wife. Just like the piano teacher decided to follow her needs, Alissa did the same. However, in her situation, she is admired, and her books, in fifty languages or so, feed people's imagination, not initiate police interest like in Miriam's case.

The well-known saying, a curse disguised as a  blessing, "may you live in interesting times," proves so true in "Lessons ."Like so many of us, Roland tries in his limited way to control what's happening around him. When the catastrophe of Chernobyl occurs, he wants most of all to help his child and rushes towards the closest pharmacy because "as only the well-informed knew, potassium iodide protected the vulnerable thyroid against radiation" – but of course, he's too late, everything is sold out. His little way of dealing with the unthinkable mirrors the similar efforts of all of us. The personal intertwines with global, and sometimes the results are pretty humorous. When the Berlin wall falls, and he is there, looking for his wife, moving with the crowd, he is mistakenly taken for an East Berliner. The reporter asks him:

 "It's a fantastic day. How do you feel?
"I feel fantastic."
"You've just crossed no-man's land, the notorious Death Strip. Where have you come from?"
"London."

Meandering through Roland's second marriage (which tragically didn't last long), the novel later transitions into Covid lockdowns. Roland is in his seventies. Once more, he tries to do things that seem reasonable, thinking "only a fool would show up in hospital at the emergency department, complaining about his heart. And go down with the plague inhaled from some unmasked moron wandering about the waiting room."  And once again, such a train of thought gives him a sense of control.

We follow Roland Baines on his life journey, so beautifully told by the author. I feel that this novel's protagonist can be seen in all of us – his joys, his worries, and the way he's trying to navigate difficult times. There is just one shot at living one's life, and lessons might not be learned. We live it in a way that might not be the best, but who's there to judge what the best is?

I had to abandon this book, not because of the author or the story. The writing style was really uncomfortable for me and I found myself dreading to continue. Thanks, anyway.

DNFed at 10%
This was the first book by Ian McEwan that I tried to read. I've watched the adaptation of Atonement and have heard lots of praise for the author so I was genuinely excited to read this book.
But unfortunately, I've mixed feelings about the writing style. It is good but it is not making me connect to the story or the characters at all. I'm not at all curious to know what happens next or about Roland's life so it is best to DNF.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC.

Lessons is the first book by Ian McEwen that i have read. I was eager to delve into the story of the much lauded author. While I found his writing itself to be much in his command, I did not connect to the characters, I tried to push on feeling the next bit may be where it gets it's hooks into me, however this was not the case. The chapters wander between time and character leaving untethered bits strewn about.

I have no doubt that there will be those who love this book, I was left feeling indifferent. This resulted in my not completing the book, which is a rarity for me. This is hard for me to write, but I did promise to provide my honest review. I do thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Lessons by Ian McEwan is a coming-of-age novel that actually starts with Roland Baines’ Grandparents and parents, and moves thru
his years at a questionable boarding school, the abuse by a teacher that scars him for life, causing him to pass up opportunities, and build regrets. Intermittently the author tells of events from the headlines immediately post WW2, through the current pandemic. As Roland’s wife has just abandoned him and their baby boy, Roland must find a safe place away from the effects of Chernobyl while searching for his wife, One of my favorite parts was Roland’s obsession with the Berlin Wall and it’s victims and the lifelong friendships that result. If I have one complaint about this book, it might be that it is too long. I enjoyed the throwback to the historical events as all were in my lifetime. But there were times, especially in the beginning, that seemed to drag. Then again, you can never have too much of a good thing, and Ian McEwan’s writing is certainly a good thing!
#Lessons. #NetGalley

The most interesting thing about this is the time span that our protagonist lives through and how much he experiences from being a 14 year old during Bay of Pigs to a young parent during Chernoybl to an elder when the COVID pandemic hits. Otherwise, its an incredibly slow moving and meandering character study of someone very ordinary and boring. It jumps around a lot and especially in the beginning really made me feel off-balanced rather than sinking into caring about the M.C. While I love a slow, character driven story and have enjoyed others from McEwan, I can't say that I'd recommend this to any but the staunchest fans.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is an expansive story covering the lives of many people over a timespan covering a multitude of decades. There is no denying the exquisite prose of McEwan and his ability to weave characters and situations into a solid book.
The reader meets the main character, Poet Roland Baines, as he's waking from a dream like state. Memories of his dominatrix-like piano teacher when he was 11 years old gets the story off the ground. We will go back to those days but first he is reminded his wife has abandoned him and their baby son. Oh, and then there is a news report of a nuclear accident and the cloud is moving in their direction.
As he prepares for the inevitable poisonous gas he reminisces about his parents, his childhood, his wife and in a Forrest Gumpish sort of way, the many historical markers that left an impression on his life.
Although I count McEwan as one of my favorite authors I'm beginning to believe that for me, his shorter novels work best and, to this day, many have left a lasting impression. The wordiness of Lessons taught me a thing or two and that may be the point of Lessons. Life itself is a lesson.
I'd give it 3 1/2 stars but NetGalley doesn't allow 1/2's so I'd say this novel falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.
Thanks NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this upcoming novel. It is very much appreciated.