The Innocent

by Ian McEwan | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0099277093 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingBookAmblerwing of Isle of Lewis, Scotland United Kingdom on 3/15/2008
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21 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingBookAmblerwing from Isle of Lewis, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, March 15, 2008
I bought this new (!) because I'm reading McEwan's books chronologically and haven't seen this one secondhand in over six months of looking.

(BookAmbler previously known as Pakasanelly :)

From the back cover;
The setting is Berlin. Into this divided city, wrenched between East and West, between past and present, comes twenty-five-year-old Leonard Marnham, assigned to a British-American surveillance team. Though only a pawn in an international plot that is never fully revealed to him, Leonard uses his secret work to escape the bonds of his ordinary life – and to lose his unwanted innocence. The promise of his new life begins to be fulfilled as Leonard becomes a crucial part in the surveillance team, while simultaneously being initiated into a new world of love and sex by Maria, a beautiful young German woman. It is a promise that turns to horror in the course of one terrible evening – a night when Leonard Marnham learns just how much of his innocence he’s willing to shed.

Journal Entry 2 by wingBookAmblerwing from Isle of Lewis, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, March 22, 2008
The first half of this book is in McEwan’s plodding (but pleasing) descriptive style with occasional humour thrown in. Then comes the event on the ‘terrible evening’. I guessed what was coming but the aftermath certainly wasn’t predictable! Thereafter, the pace picks up, and the story draws you in a lot, lot tighter. I was grateful for the postscript which I thought wrapped it up nicely.

I also liked the fact that the story is built around true historical events. McEwan explains this in his author's note, but don't read that before finishing the book.

I think, aside from The Daydreamer, which is a different genre, this is the best so far.

Warning: there are some gruesome details so it's not a book for the fainthearted.

There were light, rainy evenings when they stayed in and sat apart without talking for as long as an hour, Maria with one of her romantic novels, Leonard with a two-day-old copy of The Times. He could never read a paper, especially this one, without feeling he was imitating someone else, or in training for adulthood. […] It gave him great satisfaction to know that if he lowered the paper, his girl would be there. In was a luxury to ignore her. He felt settled, proud, truly grown-up at last.

Journal Entry 3 by wingBookAmblerwing from Isle of Lewis, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, March 22, 2008
I'm offering this up as a bookring. Please PM with postage preferences if interested in joining.

UK only first:
Booktwitcher (Essex)
MoleKilby (BrithDir)
OceanRipples (West Yorks)
Fushmush (London)

Offered as an international ring from 3rd May 08:
Sherlockfan (NZ)
Kihli (Greece)
Annodyne (UK)
Tagesmann (UK)
Scotsbookie (UK)
Lunacia (Norway)
Girandola (Italy)
Gahan (Italy)
RhythmBiscuit (US)
Sintra (Germany)
Starry-Starry (UK)
MarcThomas (France)
Nediamnori87 (UK)
Philosoraptor (UK)
Mafarrimond (UK)
Tostle (USA)
==> Wild Release :o)

Journal Entry 4 by wingbooktwitcherwing from Chelmsford, Essex United Kingdom on Monday, March 31, 2008
Hope to finish by Firday to pass to MoleKilby

Journal Entry 5 by wingbooktwitcherwing from Chelmsford, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, April 3, 2008
Like Pakasanelly, I found this was a book of two halves, with all the action taking part in the 2nd half against the description from the first. Although it is quite a short book, I felt it could have been cut by 20/30 pages as the scene setting does drag a little. Off to MoleKilby tomorrow.

Journal Entry 6 by molekilby from Brithdir, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, April 5, 2008
Received this in the post today. I have recently read Atonement and On Chesil Beach by this author so it will be interesting what I make of this.

I now have to apologise as I have two ring books before this (I've had three this week!), and I also have a book to read for someone at The Convention, so this will be a couple of weeks before I get round to starting it. Thanks for sharing.

Journal Entry 7 by molekilby from Brithdir, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 22, 2008
I finished this travelling home from the Convention, a fab time and great to meet booktwitcher.

The book was McEwan's usual style, detailed scene setting and difficult situations confronted. There was that moment when a decision was made between truth and self preservation. This seems to be a crucial point with all McEwan's works (a decision between two routes) as after this choice is made doubts set in that the correct one was selected.

Thanks for the chance to read this and I will look out for further McEwan titles to read. Will pass on at the weekend.

Journal Entry 8 by starchilli on Saturday, April 26, 2008
Thanks, this arrived safely today.

Journal Entry 9 by starchilli on Saturday, May 3, 2008
Started eading this today.

Journal Entry 10 by starchilli on Tuesday, May 27, 2008
I was disappointed with this one unfortunately, I have read and enjoyed other books by this author but I really couldn't get into this book. Maybe I'd have enjoyed it at a different time. I'll PM fushmush for their address to send it on to.

Journal Entry 11 by starchilli at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, June 19, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (6/19/2008 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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On it's way to fushmush

Journal Entry 12 by fushmush from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, June 23, 2008
Received today. I have one bookray ahead of it. Should get to it soon enough :D

Journal Entry 13 by fushmush from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, June 30, 2008
Not an original story but definitely an original setting. Loved that it's based around a true story. Found the twist particularly gruesome and had to skim bits.

PMing the next in line.

Update 02/07/08: Starry-starry asked to be skipped. PMing Sherlockfan.
Update 07/07/08: Posted today.

Journal Entry 14 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, July 14, 2008
Thanks fushmush - it arrived this morning, just as I am finalising the contents of my suitcase to leave to come back your way tomorrow morning. As the next reader is in Greece it will be alot simpler for me to post it from UK. We are going to be in France and Brittany for 2 - 3 weeks and then heading to Surbiton where we will be based for a few weeks. Looking forward to that. WIll try to find a meet-up somewhere handy.

This looks like a great book to have on the plane. The leg from Singapore to Charles de Gaule seems to be 13 hours!!! I'm almost too old for these long cattle-class flights but the draw of our son's family over there is strong enough as yet!

Journal Entry 15 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Well, that was a long drawn out trip. Electronic troubles kep us in the plane on the ground in Sydney for 2 1/2 hours before we finally left, far too late to catch the flight from Singapore to Paris. Ended up going via Frankfurt then another wait there. Luckily I could get a message to our daughter-in-law who was scheduled to meet us at Charles de Gaule at 6 am and prevent her having a long wait. Eventually arrived 6 hours late but all went well after that.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this book. Perhaps not quite the same tension as "Saturday" but neverthless a good plot with the usual interestingly drawn characters.

It is ready to head off to deadendmind now.
Thanks for letting me take part in this ring and I'm sorry it has been held a little longer than necessary.

Journal Entry 16 by Sherlockfan at on Friday, September 12, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (9/12/2008 UTC) at

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Just posted this book to kihli in Greece. Deadendmind wished to be omitted
from this ring just now.



Journal Entry 17 by kihli from Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Tuesday, September 16, 2008
just got the book and I'm glad :)
thanks!

Journal Entry 18 by kihli from Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Tuesday, October 21, 2008
somehow I couldn't get into the book...maybe it was because I was reading it together with other two books which I really liked and also my job started...

anyway as far as I read it was good,maybe if I kept on I 'd like it more-usually I like McEwan :)

thank you for this,I'll post it as soon as I have an address.

Journal Entry 19 by kihli at Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (11/13/2008 UTC) at Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece

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going to the next person on the list

Journal Entry 20 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Just to let you know that the book has arrived here in freezing cold England. I'm still deep in the 600 - odd pages of Alan Bennett's Untold Stories, but when I am finished, this will be up next!

Journal Entry 21 by Annodyne from Sale, Cheshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I'm writing this journal much sooner than I'd expected because once I'd got past the slowing-burning early pages, which seem by now to me to be a typically MeEwanesque way of building tension, I found this to be quite a compulsive read. I agree with molekilby that the theme of the book does seem to be "the road not taken", and the profound influence that a specific moment's decision can have on the course and outcome of one's life.

I am trying to read all the McEwan that I can because he is such an interesting writer. Thanks to pakasanelly for making this lesser-known work available as a bookring, and to kihli for passing it on.

To be posted on to Tagesmann when I have an address.

Saturday 13/12/08 - posted today.


Journal Entry 22 by tagesmann on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Arrived today.
I'm really looking forward to this. Ian McEwan is an interesting writer. "Atonement" is my favourite book ever. But I couldn't finish "On Chesil Beach" so I am approaching this one with anticipation.

Journal Entry 23 by tagesmann on Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I have just finished this. It was very enjoyable and a surprisingly good example of the genre. Speaking to others who have read this but who haven't read a lot of spy novels I got the impression that they thought this was an example of what a good author could do with the genre. Which is frankly ridiculous. There are some fantastic authors who specialise in that genre and this book follows the same formula as a number of the better books by these authors. An innocent gets involved in the spy business for whatever reason and the inevitable results follow.
Of course, in this book, the innocence isn't to do with the spy business. And so this book isn't about espionage and isn't therefore of that genre. The spy business is just a stage for the actual (brilliant) story.

Journal Entry 24 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Arrived safely this mornin, thank you. I have a couple of rings/rays ahead of this but will get to it asap.

Journal Entry 25 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, February 12, 2009
My favourite book by McEwan so far. I enjoyed the seemingly plodding way the tension was built up until the 'terrible night' (as another reviewer called it). The following events were not what I expected! I was interested in the factual events that the novel contained which for me set it in context to the times.

Just off to PM Lunacia. Thank you for the chance to read this book.

Journal Entry 26 by scotsbookie at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 26, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (2/15/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Enjoy!

Journal Entry 27 by winglunaciawing from Fredrikstad, Østfold fylke Norway on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Arrived safe and sound in my mailbox today. Will need to read a couple of books for work before I read this, though...

Journal Entry 28 by winglunaciawing from Fredrikstad, Østfold fylke Norway on Saturday, March 14, 2009
I have now read about 1/4 of this book, and I'm giving up on it. It's not that it isn't well written, it just doesn't speak to me. I have so many books to read, so I will PM RhythmBiscuit and get hir address to pass the book on.

I must admit I'm very disappointed, as I've read a couple of other boos by the same author, and enjoyed them very much. This, on the other hand, I found dull.

Journal Entry 29 by winglunaciawing at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 30, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/31/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Will mail this out tomorrow!

Journal Entry 30 by Girandola from Ziano Piacentino, Emilia Romagna Italy on Thursday, April 16, 2009
the book arrived today in Italy, thanks a lot :))))))))

Journal Entry 31 by Gahan from Ziano Piacentino, Emilia Romagna Italy on Friday, May 1, 2009
The book is here with me...

Journal Entry 32 by Gahan from Ziano Piacentino, Emilia Romagna Italy on Tuesday, May 5, 2009
I've read the book in two afternoons during a sunny bank holiday. The story is gripping even if not very original. I especially liked how McEwan describes the feelings of Leonard and Maria at the beginning of the story, Leonard's inexperience and his difficulties in communicating...
In my opinion the "Postscript" is unnecessary, I could have done without it...
I enjoyed this book but still rate "Atonement" as the best McEwan.

The book is already in the mail.

Thank you very much!!!

Journal Entry 33 by rhythmbiscuit from Northglenn, Colorado USA on Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thank you for sharing this book. I look forward to reading it.

Journal Entry 34 by rhythmbiscuit from Northglenn, Colorado USA on Thursday, June 18, 2009
This was the first McEwan book I've read, and I didn't care for it. For one thing, I find it hard to enjoy books when I don't like any of the characters. For another, I had to skim over some of the excessively detailed descriptions of setting, and the gruesome parts as well.

That said, thank you, Pakasanelly, for the opportunity to read this book. I have contacted Sintra so I can send the book along.

Journal Entry 35 by rhythmbiscuit at bookray/bookring, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 22, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (6/22/2009 UTC) at bookray/bookring, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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I mailed this book to sintra. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 36 by sintra from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Monday, July 6, 2009
Received the book today. Thanks a lot!

Journal Entry 37 by sintra from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Monday, July 20, 2009
I enjoyed this book although it's not my favourite McEwan novel. The tension is built up nicely and the historical setting is quite interesting. The gory bits are gruesome but they are also great to illustrate the absolute horror of the situation for Leonard.

Thanks a lot for this ring, Pakasanelly! The book will be on its way again soon.

Journal Entry 38 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, August 3, 2009
It's arrived safe and sound in Wales, thanks Sintra for sending it on. I'm on the home straight of my current book so should be able to start this sometime today or tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

Journal Entry 39 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Friday, September 4, 2009
Like other readers I did find the early pages a little plodding, but once Maria was introduced the plot sped along after that and it became one of those books that I had to carry around with me in case I got a chance to read a couple of pages.

The thing I like about McEwan's writing is his attention to detail, it really helps to set the scene without drowning out the plot. MacNamee's teeth for example are well described and then a couple of pages later comes that little reminder "fink". It just makes me want to hug the book when the writing is this good.

The story of Leonard and Maria is fascinating, I always enjoy stories that hint at another ending and finally, if I needed any more proof that I had enjoyed this book, I engaged with it - I actually shouted "You stupid man" at Leonard on more than one occasion.

Thanks Pakasanelly for giving me another chance to read it, I'll be in touch shortly about sending it on.

Journal Entry 40 by MarcThomas from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Monday, January 11, 2010
Got it in the mail a few days ago. I've got a few ring books to read beforehand then I'll get on with this one as soon as I can.

I recently read Ian McEwan's "Atonement" and I really enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to reading this one. :-)

Journal Entry 41 by MarcThomas from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Started reading this morning.

Journal Entry 42 by MarcThomas from Paris, Ile-de-France France on Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Really liked it. A very nice read.

PMed Nediamnori87.

Journal Entry 43 by MarcThomas at on Friday, February 12, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (2/12/2010 UTC) at

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Sent to the next reader in Scotland. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 44 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
This arrived yesterday thank you for sending it to me. Have another ray to read first and then this.

Journal Entry 45 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, February 20, 2010
I actually really enjoyed the entire book. I thought the pace was just right and fitted well with the story. I also felt it had a really satisfactory ending with most of the loose ends tied up with just a bit of speculation left for the reader about how the future would pan out. I particularly enjoyed the book being set during real historical events in Berlin.

I did enjoy the writing style but was going a bit green towards the end of the book. I'm not sure I could entirely appreciate that particular description and wanted to get through it as quickly as possible.

Thank you for sharing.

Journal Entry 46 by nediamnori87 at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, February 20, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (2/20/2010 UTC) at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom

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Given to philosoraptor to read, I think he was supposed to be after me although his name isn't on the list

Journal Entry 47 by Philosoraptor at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, June 17, 2010
Ian Macabre strikes again! My love for McEwan's books is well known and this one I'm happy to say did not fail to keep me engrossed. Although slow to start there's a comfort which McEwan is able to draw you into through the relatively mundane. I greatly enjoyed the character development and found myself celebrating their victories and despairing at their mistakes and misfortunes. No one can capture the uniqueness of a relationship like McEwan. Such was the subtlety of the rising tension in the plot narrative that I felt at any moment their lives could be blown wide apart from many different sources so I was kept on the edge of my seat. Common themes from McEwan's other books pervade but not in a predictable way and perhaps surprisingly the ending is definitely a departure from normal McEwan novels!

Loved it.

Journal Entry 48 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, June 24, 2010
The book has arrived safely. I am really looking forward to reading this.

Journal Entry 49 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, July 17, 2010
This is probably the novel of McEwan's that I have enjoyed most. I like his style of writing, his descriptions, his characters and his humour.

I liked the building around of the story around the history of the city.

Journal Entry 50 by mafarrimond at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (7/28/2010 UTC) at Salt Lake City, Utah USA

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Posting onto Paulsbooks. Enjoy.

Journal Entry 51 by tostle at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Thursday, August 5, 2010
I received this book! Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 52 by tostle at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Wednesday, November 3, 2010
This was a fascinating book that became unbearable for me! I could not believe what happened to this couple. It was a bit eerie for me.

I see I am to wild release...I will find the perfect release spot! Thanks for sharing this very interesting book!

Journal Entry 53 by tostle at Starbucks - 15th East And 15th So in Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Saturday, December 1, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (12/1/2012 UTC) at Starbucks - 15th East And 15th So in Salt Lake City, Utah USA

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This book was released at our first Salt Lake City Bookcrossing meeting!

We meet the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 at the Starbucks on 15th East and 15th South in Salt Lake starting on Saturday, December 1st.

Happy travels, book!

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