The Cement Garden

by Ian McEwan
The Cement Garden cover
Good Books rating 4.47
Literary Fiction
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 3136
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781409090052
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2010-03-11
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In the scorching summer heat, four siblings—Jack, Julie, Sue, and Tom—are left orphaned and must fend for themselves. The absence of their parents forces them to abandon the familiar routines of childhood and adapt to a new, unpredictable world. As they struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy, their lives take a dark and twisted turn, revealing the fragility of their bond and the harsh truths of their situation. The outside world begins to encroach on their fragile existence, pushing them to the brink of unrecognizable change.

Reviews
I Might Be Pedantic · 2018-11-16
admiring 4.20

The novel is admired for its restraint and the depth of its characters' motivations. The reviewer suggests it could be studied for its intricate backstory.

The reviewer admires McEwan's restraint in this novel, which allows for a deep exploration of the characters' motivations and backstory. They find the tale compelling and suggest that it could be studied extensively for its complexity. The novel's ability to hold the reader's attention is particularly noted.

Quick quotes

    You could study this book for ages, examining motivations, trying to establish backstory.

    Most of all, I admire McEwan's restraint.

    This tale is riveting and holds the reader's attention.

The Independent · 2012-07-12
masterful 4.70

The novel is described as a masterclass in clarity and precision. The reviewer appreciates the imperturbable authority of the author's voice.

The reviewer describes the novel as a masterclass in clarity and precision, with the author's imperturbable authority felt but not heard. They appreciate the teenage voice that carries the narrative, making it both compelling and authentic. The novel's ability to maintain clarity while dealing with complex themes is particularly noted.

Quick quotes

    The novel is a masterclass in clarity and precision; the imperturbable authority of the author is felt but not heard.

    The voice is all teenage, making it both compelling and authentic.

    The novel's ability to maintain clarity while dealing with complex themes is particularly noted.

The Guardian · 2005-06-10
intense 4.50

The novel is praised for its emotional intensity and moral daring, despite its concision. The reviewer finds it significant for its vivid portrayal of extreme behavior.

The reviewer highlights the novel's emotional intensity and moral daring, which make it a significant work despite its brevity. They appreciate the vivid portrayal of extreme behavior by the family, which feels deeply truthful. The novel's ability to convey such intense emotions in a concise manner is particularly noted.

Quick quotes

    Yet for its concision, vivid emotional intensity and sheer moral daring, ...

    By this spurious standard, The Cement Garden is an insignificant work.

    I love the deep truth of some pretty extreme behavior by a family ...

Appears in Lists