Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Children Act, by Ian McEwan



Moral ambiguity is a feature in most of McEwan’s writing and this new novel is no exception.  Fiona Maye is a High Court judge specializing in family disputes – divorce, child custody and the like.  She has recently presided over a sensational judgment involving conjoined twins and has had to make, as she often does, a judgment of Solomon.  Despite dealing daily with children’s problems, she has somehow neglected to have any of her own until it is out of the question – not a conscious decision, but irrevocable.  Her husband has just told her he is going to have an affair.  As she struggles with this shocking announcement after 30 years of a happy marriage, she is called into court quickly decide whether an almost-18-year-old Jehovah’s Witness is competent to make his own decision to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion.  When she visits his hospital bedside, she is taken with his maturity and beauty.  Does she come too involved to make an impartial decision, and how will this decision ultimately turn out.  Much to think about and discuss in this short book.  231 pp.

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