Atonement by Ian McEwan Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.14 You Save: $4.85 (61%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.95 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Atonement
Book Review: Loved it!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of my favorite novels ever, I read it before it was made into a movie. The story is so romantic and engaging, two lovers that have only a few minutes together to share in their whole lives because of a person's false accusation, three lives destroyed due to ignorance and childish egoism. I loved both the part in the Tallis' family house before the dramatic change of events and also Robbie's efforts to reach Dunkirk (that was almost lost in the film). I couldn't see the end coming... I think that final twist in the story is what made this great book brilliant. I absolutely love Mr Mac Ewan's way of writing, so fluent, so natural and efficient. He is one of the most talented authors today as far as I am concerned. I hated Briony and at the same time I could get into her mind and understand why she acted as she did. I have been urging many of my friends to read it ever since, and those who did, have all thanked me! I read On Chesil Beach lately, perfect writing as well. I like that Mac Ewan's novel get you into the process of thinking... all those "what if's"... you're not done with his books even when you're through them, they stay in your mind, in your heart. Don't skip it just because you saw the movie, this book's just perfect.Book Review: Sweeping, Epic, Sensational
Summary: 4 Stars
First let me say, I truly loved the story of this book - which as you've probably recognized, was recently made into a film. Given that most readers at this point will be picking up Atonement because of the movie, I think it's fair to do a fair bit of comparison between the two. Both the book & the film play out in similar ways in that they both possess some shining, outstanding moments of brilliance and clarity, but for every four of those there was one moment that needed some polishing, hence my grade of 4/5 stars.
The story starts in the mid 1930's when a thirteen year old girl named Briony, known for being a bit fantastical and in her head, witnesses a series of events one day and misinterprets them to the entirely wrong, adolescent conclusion, and tells a lie that sets off a rapid chain of events that forever change the lives around her - most notably of her older sister Cecilia and her newfound love interest, their longtime childhood friend Robbie. The story follows the path of the lie and its far-reaching consequences through World War 2 up until the end of the 20th century.
Part of me wishes I hadn't seen the movie - given the very unique ending - but a bigger part of me is glad I had, as it made the book a lot easier to read than I suspect it would be for someone who hasn't seen the film. I was amazed at how good the film really was in its adaptation of the book, in terms of keeping in the majority of major dialogue sequences and accurately portraying the scenery as it is described in the book. Most importantly, it really did a great job of capturing what the book was about, the general feeling and sensations you got from the book were translated beautifully on screen.
The one main thing the book did better than the movie was the delivery of the story itself through Briony, especially her thought process as she witnesses the various events early on in the story. The prose itself is quite well written, although (like in the film) it tends to lag a bit and get off track from the core themes during the section set in the fields of WW2. There are excellent themes surrounding redemption and coming of age and lots of complicated moral questions that made the book more enjoyable to read than I had anticipated.
My final note would be that the film did a much better job at revealing its final twist than the book - it was acted in such an outstanding way that you felt the weight of the final revelation that much more, although it was strongly based on the excellent writing of McEwan in these final pages. Recommended for fans of books such as The Kite Runner.
Book Review: Absorbing, moving story
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this novel down and read it in two sittings. Of the books I've read in the past few months, this is my favorite. The characters are extremely well-developed, and the plot is engaging and deeply moving. I'm eager to read more by this writer who was new to me.Book Review: So boring!
Summary: 2 Stars
I really thought this book was extremely boring. Moved way too slowly and there was honestly nothing in this book that made me WANT to finish it. I would not recommend this book unless you need something to help put you to sleep every night.Book Review: Boring beyond belief
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm no stranger to long, involved novels; as a matter of fact most of my favorites are 400+ pages with plots so multi-layered and characters so complex you'll need to take notes just to keep up. Although the genre I read the most is `mysteries,' I'm not wedded to just one type of book so, tried "Atonement" mostly due to all the hype.
The first half or so of the book seemed alright--I wasn't keen on the paragraph-long sentences and the overwrought descriptions of just about everything, but not a big deal; figured I could live with it. However, when I reached Part II (Robbie's Dunkirk exploits), that's when it became a struggle for me to even continue. Nothing so far had impressed me, but as I've experienced many times before, there are authors who will work the reader hard, but the payoff will be worth it. So onward I went to ---- what? The most inane denouement I've ever read. I actually felt cheated and this is a feeling I don't often get with my reading. And this is the twist/ending that practically everyone was saying was brilliant?! I actually re-read the last section just to make sure I didn't miss anything; perhaps some nuance that slipped by me, etc. Nope. Read everything, understood everything, and still felt cheated. Deflated doesn't even come close to describing what I felt.
Those greater than I, I'm sure, will be eager to comment on what a nitwit I am for "not getting IT," it being what the rest of the civilized world gets and Philistines like me don't. So be it, I welcome whatever comes with graciousness, but stand by my one-star review.