When I had read ‘Lessons’ by Ian McEwan I decided I had to read more by this acclaimed writer. ‘Enduring Love’ is a fascinating if rather disturbing read.
A hot air balloon floats over the Chilterns and suddenly seems to be in trouble. Several people picnicking go to help and grab hold of ropes. There is a boy still in the basket and the balloon is about to go over the edge of the escarpment. A sudden gust of wind sends it into the air. Just one person keeps hold of his rope. He is hanging, hundreds of feet above the ground and eventually falls, falls to his death.
That is a dramatic enough story opening but the reader has no idea about what is to follow. In the blurb, the novelist AS Byatt says the plot ‘ is so engrossing that it seems reckless to pick the book up in the evening if you plan to get any sleep that night.’ She is right. You just have to find out what on earth will happen next.
Critics write about literary fiction but this is one step further on; it is intellectual fiction. The reader has to become involved and to (enjoyably) work quite hard. The book is packed full of ideas and theories, a tight, taut plot and careful, thoughtful characterisation.