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In this stunning new novel, Ian McEwan’s first female protagonist since Atonement is about to learn that espionage is the ultimate seduction.
Cambridge student Serena Frome’s beauty and intelligence make her the ideal recruit for MI5. The year is 1972. The Cold War is far from over. England’s legendary intelligence agency is determined… (more)
In this stunning new novel, Ian McEwan’s first female protagonist since Atonement is about to learn that espionage is the ultimate seduction.
Cambridge student Serena Frome’s beauty and intelligence make her the ideal recruit for MI5. The year is 1972. The Cold War is far from over. England’s legendary intelligence agency is determined to manipulate the cultural conversation by funding writers whose politics align with those of the government. The operation is code named “Sweet Tooth.”
Serena, a compulsive reader of novels, is the perfect candidate to infiltrate the literary circle of a promising young writer named Tom Haley. At first, she loves his stories. Then she begins to love the man. How long can she conceal her undercover life? To answer that question, Serena must abandon the first rule of espionage: trust no one.
Once again, Ian McEwan’s mastery dazzles us in this superbly deft and witty story of betrayal and intrigue, love and the invented self.
Publisher: Nan A. Talese (November 13, 2012)
Page count: 304 pages
File size: 2.3 MB
Protection: DRM
Language: English
McEwan hasn’t lost his gift for ending on a high note, but unlike in Atonement, the ordinary details aren’t imbued with enough convincing drama to earn such a breathtaking finish.
MiamiHerald.com: Books : Ian McEwan's ‘Sweet Tooth’ explores a world of spies (November 25, 2012)To be sure, the delicious ending reinforces Sweet Tooth’s slightly-too-sunny disposition, but it is difficult to remain impervious to the story’s life-affirming and almost defiantly romantic outlook.
Los Angeles Times : 'Sweet Tooth' by Ian McEwan is a spy novel, but not a thriller (November 23, 2012)What we learn at the end should make readers want to flip back through the book and re-read it with opened eyes; unfortunately, the experience of wading through "Sweet Tooth" the first time dispels much urge to read it again.
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