Atonement by Ian McEwan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Atonement
Book Review: Delicious
Summary: 4 Stars
A wonderful read (well... a wonderful listen... I got the audiobook). Jill Tanner's reading was gorgeous... GORGEOUS. McEwan should buy her a hot meal. She really brought his words to life. I enjoyed this book immensely. The unveiling at the end... twisting back in your mind. Lovely read. Worth the purchase.Book Review: A truly admirable novel
Summary: 4 Stars
So many people have written a review of this book already that I think it would be a little redundant of me to do another plot summary (yawn). Suffice it to say that the plot really revolves around three characters: Briony Tallis, who's thirteen in the summer of 1935, her sister Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the charlady's son, who conducts an illicit romance with her. The novel is written in four parts, taking place in 1935, the Battle of Dunkirk during WWII, at a hospital in London, and then in 1999 when Briony is an old woman.
I have to say that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I'd heard that the book was slow to begin with, but for me that wasn't the case at all. Rather, it was when the novel got to WWII where my interest began to flag a bit (I'm sorry, but endless descriptions of warfare are uninteresting to me). The novel is all about perspective: that of thirteen-year-old Briony as she truly doesn't understand what was going on at the fountain that day; that of Robbie on the warfront; that of Briony, age 18 as a nurse and trying to make amends for what she has done; and that of 77-year old Briony at her birthday party. It's a pretty amazing story, and McEwan is a pretty fantastic writer. Even though I really didn't like Briony, I could more or less understand why she does what she does. It's a book with a complicated plot and not much action--but don't allow that to put you off from reading this truly admirable novel.
Book Review: A delight!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first book I read by this author. After reading this, I bought "Saturday". This guy can write! His descriptions, characterizations, lovely! I'm not a writer nor do I have any sort of formal education in literature, but I do love a good book and this is one!Book Review: Stunning Historical Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
This book left me reeling in awe. Essentially three novellas tied together by the two main characters (lovers who come of age in pre-WWII England), it spans 70 years in an intricate manner that propels the plot forward.
A slow start will lead to a rich reward for those who have the patience. The movie Atonement (HD DVD and DVD Combo) [HD DVD] is a less-than-perfect adaptation and doesn't come close to capturing the majesty of the book.
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!