Book: Enduring Love, by Ian McEwan

i know what you're thinking..... why in the world is Josh, who has
impeccable taste, reviewing a romance novel? ah, don't judge a book by
its cover (or name). when the lovely Vikki recommended this book to me,
i also fell into the trap of thinking she was trying to get me to read
some sappy romance novel; boy, was i way off.

in reality, this book is a suspenseful, cleverly-written story about
fear, how extreme situations effect those involved, and, yes, love. the
story begins with Joe and Clarissa enjoying a lovely picnic on a windy
day in a field north of London. the lovers are recently reunited as
Clarissa has been in Boston for a few weeks to do research on her
favorite subject (on which she lectures and writes), the poet John
Keats, and they are celebrating with a quiet picnic in the country.
then tragedy strikes and Joe, Clarissa, a young man named Jed, and two
other gentleman are drawn into a situation that will irrevocably change
their lives forever. as the ensuing story unfolds, the character's
lives collide, Joe and Clarissa's relationship starts to fall apart,
and Jed shows his true self as a disturbed young man. believe me, this
is a must-read. McEwan is such an incredible, suspenseful, clever, and
descriptive writer; his work begs to be read..... and read you should.