Review: The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan

The Comfort of Strangers traces the experiences of a couple on vacation in an unnamed city (likely Venice). But this holiday is not just any vacation; the two, Colin and Maria, meet a man who promises them good food and fun at a small restaurant in town. But, as the novel progresses, you find that this is not just any man, and this is not just any holiday for Colin and Maria.

I have to admit: I found this novel to be quite the head-trip. It was a psychological novel, exploring themes of violence and violent relationships and what such experiences can do to the psyche of an otherwise-normal person. It made for a dark and foreboding novel. I've found that McEwan's novels are often intended to make the reader consider and reconsider how they understand the world around him/her. But this is no plot twist at the end of an otherwise beautiful and moving novel. The Comfort of Strangers, in other words, is by no means Atonement. In this novel (if you can imagine) is even darker, exploring what violence and masogynism can do to people in a relationship.

I don't know if I can describe this novel any other way. As usual, McEwan does a fantastic job of characterization--his "good" guys are clearly good...flawed but noble...and his "bad" guys are dark and sinister. But the characters don't seem all that important in the novel. Instead, McEwan messes with the readers' brains at the same time as he messes with the brains of his main characters. It makes the book one that I don't know if I can recommend to anyone. It took me a good long time to get the themes of the novel out of my head...but I really, really wanted to stop tripping over this novel.

My rating: 7.9/10

Other Reviews:
Farm Lane Books
Citizen Reader
Books for Breakfast
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