I really don't understand the need for authors to have a really truly awful main character, and surround them with other characters who are little better. Isn't there enough grief in the world? The best part of this book is when his penis stuck to his zipper in the freezing arctic. Not a moment too soon, as he's on the rocks with his 5th wife due to the fact that he can't keep it in his pants. I heard Ian McEwan was a good author. Too bad this was my first book of his, as it will be my last...