Atonement by Ian McEwan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Atonement
Book Review: love, rape, lies, war, injury and redemption
Summary: 4 Stars
All right, here are reasons to read, or not read, Atonement, depending on what your preferences are. The bad news first.
What you may not like:
1. While Ian McEwan does wonderful things with imagery (see below), it becomes a bit much at times, especially when he is detailing landscapes.
2. If you are not one who enjoys reading a novel that takes place on the battlefront, beware. About eighty pages center around a character's (who is a soldier) trek through France as it is being attacked by the Germans. 3. Having questions that you don't feel are being resolved. And I'm not just talking about the ending; throughout the novel I felt slightly frustrated at times that I was being left out. Granted, that's how life works, you're not always privy to every piece of information.
4. The last section seemed rushed, to me. On one level, I felt McEwan was trying to hurry up and tidy up the novel, but I again felt left out of the loop in some regards. The premise for the last section was interesting, though, I just had a problem with the execution.
What you may like:
1. Ian McEwan is an outstanding writer. He develops interesting, multi-faceted characters, beautiful descriptions and an intriguing plot. His writing isn't generic or typical of the genre; you can tell his syntax is carefully crafted, he's trying to create something more than just words on a page.
2. There is definitely a feeling of drama to this novel. You have love, rape, lies, war, injury and redemption all in one novel. Because of McEwan's style, it's drama that flows and weaves between characters, places and time periods.
3. The two main female characters, who are sisters, are strong, independent women who refuse to rely on their wealthy parents. Their mother is a perfect contrast; not as modern as her daughters, she doesn't understand their desire to become educated and explore the world.
4. The male characters are a diverse sample. There's rich and poor, motivated and unmotivated, honest and deceitful, kind and malicious.
5. The concept of justice isn't unrealistically portrayed. Unfortunately, the wealthy often prevail, although that doesn't mean there's no hope for the common man.
All in all, I recommend it!
Book Review: multi-faceted, fascinating
Summary: 4 Stars
There were a lot of things I liked about this book; not the least was how the author drew believable characters and gave me so many reasons to identify with each one. Young Briony, who loses herself in her fantasies, writing stories and plays to impress her family, particularly her older brother. And her later experiences as a trainee nurse, writing in her her journal every day as the only way to preserve her individuality in her institutionalized life. Her older sister Cecilia, agonizing over the few choices an independent woman has in 1930's Britain after college. Robbie trying to understand where his relationship with the child Briony went wrong. Somehow, McEwan turns what might have been a mundane tale in another writer's hands into a page turner. His writing is smooth, detailed and evocative, but never feels overwritten. he painstakingly constructs the viewpoints of various characters and de-constructs many miscommunications. He keeps the drama taught--Briony witnesses a sexual assault and fingers a family friend as the perpetrator--yet keeps the right amount of humor present, such as when Robbie sends the *wrong* love note to Cecilia. Only the ending felt a bit out of place and contrived, if unexpected. Highly recommended.Book Review: simply brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
Atonement is a literary masterpiece centering around Briony Tallis in the summer of 1935, her sister Cecilia and their neighbour Robbie, and the actions and consequences of one summer day in which the lives of all three will drastically change, and for which Briony will spend the rest of her life trying to atone. The book is divided into three parts, the event itself, the war, and when Briony is older.
In the her bedroom looking out the window, 13 year old Briony sees her sister strip down to her knickers and plunge into a fountain in the garden, whilst Robbie watches on. Not understanding what she has seen, Briony lets her imagination run away with her, concocting all different scenarios in which her sister is always the victim. Pushing it to the back of her mind-but not forgetting, Briony carries on with the task at hand- preparing for her adored brother Leon's visit by preparing a play in which she is the writer, director and star. A few hours later Briony's cousin is found down by the river. She sees a man walking away from her cousin, and based on what she saw earlier, accuses Robbie of rape. He is sent to jail based on her sole testimony and life carries on.
Next we see it has been a few years, and Robbie is serving in the war. He is trying to make his way home- to England, to a new life, and to Cecilia. The final part of the novel centres back on Briony. She is a nurse at a hospital, having now realised the consequences of her false accusations and wanting nothing to do with her family- trying to atone already. She works at the same hospital as Cecilia, who disowned her family when it became known why Robbie was taken away from her and by whose charge. Robbie and Cecilia are together again, and Briony goes to their place and tries to apologise for the wrong she has done. They send her on her way with specific instructions on how to exonerate Robbie, which she is more than happy to do.
An epilogue of sorts- Briony is now much older and has written a book as a testament to that summer day and the part she played in the crime that ruined the lives of two innocent people. The twist is fabulous, sad and heartbreaking, but on reflection was needed to show just how far reaching the consequences of our actions are and the damage they can do.
A humbling book of sorts for any who have ever exaggerated a story, or told a lie, it makes you aware of the potential consequences of our actions and how everything we do affects those around us, and can continue to affect those around us for many years. Stealing some money from your mothers purse and blaming it on your siblings, breaking someone up out of jealousy, telling someone they are fat or ugly- all can have far reaching consequences that cannot possibly be known at the time but could have easily been avoided. It makes you want to be a better person, show compassion and never take things at face value.
Ian McEwans writing is brilliant, superbly capturing the thoughts and feelings of all his characters and using meticulous detail to describe the surroundings. A born storyteller, this book is a fantastic addition to any library and i couldnt reccommed this book more highly- you wont regret reading this.
Book Review: works better as a movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read many of Ian McEwan's books, and enjoyed them all. Amsterdam and Saturday are both riveting character studies. However, I was a bit disappointed in Atonement the book, although I truly enjoyed Atonement the movie. For instance, not much happens in the beginning of Atonement, which opens with a long description of a wealthy English home. But in the movie we see all of the things that are described in such detail in the book. Once the story gets started, though, the tale is even more moving than Amsterdam or Saturday. I do recommend Atonement, especially for readers who enjoy books that bring to life the atmosphere of a period.