Atonement by Ian McEwan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Atonement
Book Review: Atonement
Summary: 1 Stars
Very hard to follow and very hard to keep interested. One of the worst books I have read so far.Book Review: Cramped, overwritten book
Summary: 2 Stars
I won't offer a plot summary that can be found in other book reviews. I'll offer my frank opinion that this book is over-rated and destined for the literary dustbin. "Atonement" is a cramped miniaturist piece that aspires to something greater, particularly in its commentary about written narrative, but ultimately, the major plot points boil down to the warped opinions of an adolescent mind. Lies, false accusations, fanciful opinions, need for drama--all products of a prepubescent's girl's mind. And unfortunately, a rather likable student is sent to war, separating him from his true love, because everyone is too willing to believe the idiotic opinions of the teenage girl Briony.Book Review: Hmmmmm.....
Summary: 2 Stars
So this is one of those books that you pick up only coz it has tons of reviews and everyone you know is reading it and there's a movie on it, so it must be good right?
Welll it is an interesting theme but at the end of it the only image of Briony that I had was of a silly brat and not the complicated child prodigy that the author beings to paint her as. I did enjoy reading the book but only because the author does a good job of eloquently beating around the bush and making you believe the story is about to get fiercely dramatic...that never happens. The story wraps up much too quickly in a few pages for all the time you've spent tracking these people's lives. Overall the book's an easy, fast read so go ahead but do not set high expectations.
Book Review: Who decided this was a well written book?
Summary: 1 Stars
Yes, I'd love to know who makes up the panel that decides what are well written books, or award winning stories. And they made a movie out of this?? Those were the most boring first 189 pages I've ever read, and that was just to get half-way through the book. The only reason I continued on is because I was reading it for a book club discussion. The amount of excrutiatingly boring details was just more than I could bear!! Sorry to say (after all the buzz I've heard about it) but I'll definitely stir away from anything else McEwan has written.Book Review: Loved It For McEwan's writing
Summary: 5 Stars
Best book I've read so far this year. Despite a couple bumps (like length), this novel was awesome. McEwan's writing is perfect, and I look forward to reading more of his novels. Even though I say his writing style is perfect, the book is a little lengthy, but it did not take away from my engrossment in the plot. I do say, I wish the second part of the book had been longer, and Briony's parts less, but I still think it would have taken too much away from the point of the book. The point being not just a love story, but the sadness that we can try our best to manhandle and control life, but ultimately cannot. I don't want to give too much away! The ending I think is superb and lets us remind ourselves of the greatness of McEwan's writing- to suck us in completely to the point where we become more than just a reader-- we become a critic of life. I loved the ending-- it gives me a reason to continue reading fiction: someone always pulls something out that's different and refreshing, if not heartbreaking. Alas, I've said too much...
*I saw the movie after I read the book, and am glad I read the book first. Although the movie tries extremely hard to fit every morsel and important piece of the story into 130 minutes, it cannot live up to the book in any way shape or form. You especially miss out on Ian McEwan's masterful writing. It is worth watching, but please don't forget the book!