Review of Ian McEwan Solar

Alternative Energy and Self-Deception

Rating: 4.5 bookmarks
Michael Beard, a Nobel Laureate, is a cuckold, scientific hoaxer and one of the least likeable main characters. McEwan presents Beard's story in a span short of a decade. McEwan opens the novel as we are introduced to Michael, this egotistical physicist, who is failing at his fifth marriage. He has been an unfaithful husband to all of his five wives, but he cannot fathom his existence when Patrice, his fifth wife, cheats on him with a common house builder. He cannot believe he is now the cuckold - note there is no word for a woman who has suffered the same fate - and instantly needs some gratification and solace.

As Beard's marriage is dissolving, an accident related to his wife's adulterous behavior, provides him with a chance to extend his professional redemption. He becomes a world advocate for saving the planet to conquer climate change by deriving power from artificial photosynthesis, using "light to split water into hydrogen and oxygen." Beard believes he no longer has to rest on his laurels of his earlier contribution to Einstein's work.

Unfortunately, Michael is a liar, amoral and devious without measure. Aspiring to surpass his youthful brilliance and recognition, he embarks on a plan to recast himself as a hero of the environment. One part of this quest leads him to a symposium when he is attacked for stating that men outnumber women as physicists because there are inherent differences in their brains. The media attack him for gender discrimination and he becomes a hate figure. This incident brings the Lawrence Summers blunder to mind.

McEwan continues to provide accidents and singular situations where Beard either capitalizes on someone else's poor fate or finds himself more of a dope than ever. He is out of touch and the more he becomes ingrained in his plagiarized projects, he grows fatter and fatter. The ending has an interesting twist and McEwan proves he is a wonderful storyteller.

I did like the book. Michael Beard is despicable which made the narrative entertaining. However, the details of this particular science encumbered the story and I had to re-read many parts to get back on track.