One of the world's most acclaimed novelists, New York Times best-selling author Ian McEwan has earned the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. A tour de force of stunning power, The Cement Garden is a beautiful yet disturbing look at the psychology of childhood. After their parents die, four children are left alone in the family house. They are free to live however they choose-but they must preserve a terrible secret.
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"One of McEwan's darker books: cleverly written and perfectly constructed. A shocking story about a family of children who are orphaned and how they deal with their new situation. Despite the shocking nature of the book, it has a realistic feel to it. It could really happen! "
— Maureen (4 out of 5 stars)
" It was more a novella than a novel. I didn't like it. It is like a macabrae version of The Boxcar Children. I guess it could happen, but it was depressing. The father was an odd character. The mother seemed okay, but none of the kids were likeable. I have read two other books by the author and they were much better. "
— Suzanne, 2/15/2014" Interesting story, but it didn't really go anywhere with the family. Liked the images it described. "
— Kevin, 2/3/2014" Disturbingly beautiful... "
— Aldana, 1/26/2014" This was a very strange novel from start to finish. There's elements of incest, which were disturbing to me, but not enough to stop reading the book. It was an easy read, but very dark and sad in many ways. I would only recommend it to those who aren't easily bothered by unhappy endings and descriptions of incest. "
— Kristine, 1/22/2014" A very quick read albeit highly disturbing. "
— Ting, 1/15/2014" This book is fucked up. Kind of wish I hadn't read it. "
— London, 1/8/2014" Disturbing, compelling story of lost siblings "
— Robert, 11/14/2013" Immensely decent. Not enough pages to justify McEwan's quality here. "
— Alastair, 11/7/2013" Pretty good. Very strange, somewhat disturbing, but pretty good. "
— Lizzy, 5/5/2013" Good quick read, very dark, bit sick in places! "
— Jill, 1/2/2013" Wierd. Not necessarily recommended. "
— Katie, 12/10/2012" somewhat depressing book. First one i've read by this author. have another on order. "
— Bill, 11/15/2012" Strange uncomfortable little book. Well written, though, as is usual from Mr. McEwan. "
— Sofia, 8/14/2012" gruesome and terrible and nearly perfect. "
— Slushy, 12/31/2011" Reaaaally messed up. Half the McEwan I've read, like his collection of short stories First Love, Last Rites, makes my eyes go wide with stuff I've never even imagined. I haven't figured out if that's a good thing or not. I do know that it is quite disturbing at times. "
— Cheri, 12/28/2011" I think Ian McEwan is one of our best story-tellers since Somerset Maugham and a much better writer. "
— Kent, 11/30/2011" I liked this. Very kinky. "
— Marcos, 9/9/2011" Wow. McEwan's early stuff sure touches on difficult topics. Not for the morally squeamish, but still wonderful storytelling. "
— DL, 6/21/2011" Well written but creepily strange with an unsatisfying ending. "
— Lisa, 5/23/2011" kind of creepy beware. mcewan's first novel, the start of his mastery. "
— Conor, 5/3/2011" It's a great short read.<br/>Twisted family, starting with the father. A pity for them :S<br/>Sue seems to be the most normal of all. "
— Rachael, 4/28/2011" Extremely disturbing. And yet. Only an exceptional writer can write something like this and get away with it. "
— Alessandra, 4/27/2011" It's so interesting to read the Goodreads reviews on this book. So many people dislike it intensely. There's no doubt that it's a deeply disturbing book, but I think it's brilliant. I don't think I'll ever read it again. I don't need to. It was that visceral.<br/> "
— Diane, 4/16/2011" A fascinating, but extremely disturbing book! It is certainly not for everyone, but as an Ian McEwan fan, it was so interesting to read his first novel. This is one that you will probably either love or you will hate. "
— Anne, 3/12/2011" McEwan is fast becoming a favorite author, this short novel tackles 4 children who try to carry on in their home after their parents' death, pychologically compelling, warning--incest involved "
— Jennyreadsexcessively, 3/7/2011" Shocking. Tense. Your worst nightmares when you wonder how people are so messed up and do such cruel things to each other. "
— Michele, 3/1/2011" From a master of the genre of Somewhat Disturbing, I enjoyed this short but interesting book. Would rate it 3 1/2 stars but can't get that happening here. I'm a bit stingy with my stars, I should point out. I'd have to be raving about one to give it 5 (or have been smitten with it for years). "
— Heather, 2/21/2011" Enjoyable if not a bit surreal and most definitely bizarre. "
— Stephanie, 2/19/2011Ian McEwan is the author of more than a dozen books, including either New York Times bestsellers. His novel Amsterdam won the 1998 Book Prize; Atonement, won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the W. H. Smith Literary Award; and The Child in Time won the Whitbread Award. His story collection, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award.
Steven Crossley, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, has built a career on both sides of the Atlantic as an actor and audiobook narrator, for which he has won more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a nominee for the prestigious Audie Award. He is a member of the internationally renowned theater company Complicite and has appeared in numerous theater, television, film, and radio dramas.