The Comfort of Strangers

I just did not “get” this book. This is the second book by Ian McEwan that I've read, (or attempted to read) and I was flummoxed. :-) A married couple, Colin and Mary, is vacationing in an area/island/country (??) unfamiliar to them where they don't speak the language. The two of them are kind of losing their attraction/love for each other and tension is high. They get lost and a threatening man basically stalks them, then attaches himself to them by offering to help and as a resource for getting around. The man (Robert) gradually acts more and more aggressive towards Colin and flirtatious with Mary.

For reasons beyond me, Colin & Mary go to Robert's place, meet his friendly yet odd wife, Caroline, and then are not “allowed” to leave. As the couple plots ways to escape, they seem to rekindle their relationship. The whole situation with Colin and Mary in Robert's building reminds me of a horrific nightmare–not because of graphic images, but just the aura of impending violence and FEAR that shrouds the whole setting. I suppose that was the author's intent–“normal” masking the reality of fear/violence.

Colin & Mary fall in love again after escaping, but their newfound attraction plays out in graphic fantasies of sexual violence, bondage, helplessness, etc. Disturbing to say the least. The couple eventually returns to Robert & Caroline's “house of horror”, on the pretext of rescuing Caroline and solving a mystery, and it doesn't end well. I'm still kind of befuddled by what actually happened.

I will say that Ian McEwan is skilled at writing description and dialogue that seems to just flow right out of his characters' thoughts and experiences. At one minute you are amazed at how exact he is with the flow of thoughts in people's heads, then you're shocked by some utterly surprising or repulsive idea that follows.

I guess I will say that I didn't “like” this book, but it's a book that won't leave my thoughts any time soon.