THE CEMENT GARDEN -- Ian McEwan

Anchor Books -- tpb
New York -- ©1978 -- 153pp
ISBN: 0-679-75018-5

First their father died, and then their mother passes away in the bedroom, and four children are suddenly free of all restraints and free to explore life as only orphans alone can.

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I feel so unclean.

The writing is so strong in this short novel that I felt as though I could smell the filth of the characters and their house.

I was caught up in the story, even though I didn't really want to visit this place. I would read, hoping for the best, but not expecting it.

Strong writing, but a story that made my flesh crawl in all the worst ways (not horror, but revulsion). I'd certainly like to read some other works by McEwan.