Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Children Act

Fiona and Jack have been married for most of their adult life.
She is a highly regarded Family Court judge in London and he a professor at the nearby university. They have by default not had any children of their own but have a large extended family and brilliant careers that keep them busy and content. Until, its not. Jack approaches Fiona with the idea that as he turns 60 and before he dies, he needs a love affair with the gusto they once had themselves. Fiona changes the locks. Simultaneously we are pulled into the trials that Fiona's position demands daily. The cases defend and protect the welfare of children at all costs. It is not the morality but the law that must provide a safety for these children, thus The Children Act. Fiona's most intimate case is a loving family that refuses to give their son, who is battling leukemia, a blood transfusion due to the fact that they are Jehovah's Witnesses and it is against their religious belief. This is a fast paced, sophisticated read. While pulling the reader's heartstrings for all involved, Fiona's marriage issues cannot wait, as she loves Jack deeply and does not want to lose him. Highly recommend this excellent story that explores love and faith on a whole other level.

2 comments:

  1. I've enjoyed several of McEwan's novels and this one sounds excellent! Thanks for the review.

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  2. Great review! I really want to check out this book. Atonement by Ian McEwan is one of my all-time favorite books, so I have high hopes!

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