Explore the ways in which McEwan creates suspense and engages the readers interest in the opening
The opening scene of the first chapter sets a strong and unusual tone to the story. ... This irregular opening gives the reader an immense amount of suspense, and throughout the book McEwan engages their interest. The beginning passage raises questions immediately, as the writer excludes large amounts of specific details in the text, along with McEwan deciding to enter the story in the centre of a main and important event. ... Joe, when reciting the events, is extremely precise and attempts to lead the details out, his description creates a strong tension between the characters themselves as well as the character with the reader. The author, McEwan uses a large amount of literacy techniques to portray the narrator’s sense of shock and awareness of the current situation. ... The large majority of suspense is used whilst the narrator ‘brings’ himself to come to terms with the event and enlightens the reader of the accident.