Atonement
by Ian McEwan
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Book Reviews of Atonement
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: 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: Moving and Poetic
Summary: 5 Stars
Briony Tallis is the focus of the first part of the book. She is a budding writer and the author focuses on the nuances, the pain, the pleasure of writing through the eyes of a thirteen year old. She witnesses several "scenes" between her older sister, Cecilia, and the housekeeper's son, Robbie. She does not understand the adult scenes she witnesses and accuses Robbie of a terrible crime. There is a second half, involving Robbie during WW2 and Cecilia who by then is Robbie's lover. The accusation that Briony makes against Robbie, and which later she recognizes as her mistake, causes decisions in her life and others where she tries to rectify the mistake she made as a young girl. There is what you would call a third part of the book that again focuses on Briony and writing. I found the first part interesting through Briony's eyes and that of her family and was very satisfied how the author moved into the second and third parts where there was still an intellectual movement of the story but with more action. I definitely recommend this book. Although I haven't seen the movie I have good feelings about it. I hope that it is as satisfying as the novel.Book Review: Brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
It's difficult to describe the plot of this novel without giving it away. Briony is a thirteen-year-old aspiring writer. Her sister, Cecilia, and their tenant's son, Robbie, have just returned from Cambridge. On a hot day in the summer of 1935, Briony sees adult events that she can't understand and sets in motion a series of events that changes their lives forever.
This is not a feel-good story. But for those who are willing to recognize that there isn't always a happy ending, this is a brilliant and absorbing read. The structure that McEwan gives to his novel is complex but effective and not fully appreciable until the end of the book. The characters are realistically drawn, and the reader can understand each character's point of view without being forced to empathize with them. Perhaps most striking is the highly evocative imagery. The novel focuses mainly on three settings: the Tallis estate in Surrey, war-torn France, and a hospital in London, all of which are depicted with incredible detail. The novel is an incredible explication on the results of our actions.
Book Review: Don't Waste your Time or Money!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
This novel, in all of its 351 page glory, was an absolute waste of time. First of all, it takes the reader to have read over 150 pages of the novel, before the central conflict is even introduced. It takes over 150 pages to describe an event in one single day. The author uses many run-on sentences and loves to describe things to death. I have to admit that the first couple of chapters were very well written and interesting. After those first two chapters, the novel pretty much flatlined. The worst was about 2/3 of the way into the novel, the ravages of war were described in too much detail and really took away from the romance of the novel. Not to mention, there was hardly any dialogue during these parts of the novel-just banal, endless descriptions. The most insufferable part was about the last six pages-I couldn't bring myself to finish the last six pages of it, I had to skim it and put the book down. This is one of the few times you would be better off watching the movie-it was a little bit better than the book. I honestly don't know what the hype is about!