Ian McEwan’s ‘The Children Act’ Is Thought Provoking [REVIEW]

Sometimes a traumatic event can stifle the lines of communication between spouses.In fact, one may try to force the impasse out in the open but only proceed to push their partner away instead of drawing them closer. Anger, resentment, and bitterness set in every time one thinks or sees the other. Resolution becomes a far reaching goal where no one wins. In Ian McEwan's latest novel The Children Act, Fiona Maye is in this very situation.

As a leading High Court judge, Fiona is respected and has handed down many rulings in which the moral and ethical decisions were hard to define. However, one case haunts her and makes her question everything she has ever known. Her husband realizes something is amiss, but Fiona is unable to confide in him due to her feelings of inner turmoil, at least until she meets Adam Henry.

Ian McEwan weaves a beautifully composed story rich in human emotion and philosophical dilemmas people the world over have thought about at one time in their lives. McEwan writes the story from an impartial vantage point and allows the reader to ponder the circumstances in question without being unduly influenced one way or another.

Although The Children Act is less than 250 pages, the novel presents several profound situations a person may find themselves in as they grow in understanding of themselves and others, always remembering each person must make choices for themselves.The question will be "what decision will you make?"

Once again, Ian McEwan has penned a deeply moving novel that will stay with you long after you have read the last page. The Children Act is another smartly written novel to add to your list of "must reads."

THE CHILDREN ACT
By Ian McEwan
221 pages. Nan A. Talese/Doubleday. $25.