Reviews
first act was too long, but once the action picks up, it’s a great read with an unlikeable protagonist (which made me almost give up reading! but i didn’t) i think this was still worth the read and it’s a good reflection on how stories are told, and how small and stupid we are
“A person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn and not easily mended.” *** More than Keira Knightley’s iconic emerald green dress in the 2007 film adaptation breaking the internet, trust that this novel is one you wouldn’t want to miss. Atonement is heralded as one of the greatest British novels of the 21st century. Through fragmented narratives, we follow an affluent family ravished by the Second World War. The story centers on a pair of star-crossed lovers divided by their social status: Cecilia, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Tallis family, and Robbie — the house cleaner’s son. Despite their mutual intelligence, any sense of foresight was eclipsed by their passion for each other. Conflict arises when the youngest daughter, Briony, tells one small lie on a hot summer’s day. Little did this precocious child know, her actions would unravel a chaos that would change the lives of everyone around. Atonement examines the complicated threads between history, memory, and writing. It highlights the power of storytelling and questions its extent of assuaging our guilt. Having watched the film before reading the book, I already had an inkling of what was coming. Joe Wright’s adaptation did a great job of strategically pacing the events and adding a masterful soundtrack to heighten emotions. Still, McEwan’s work is not to be missed as the writing style is enchanting enough to draw you in and ultimately, leave you disquieted at the volatile turn of events.
** spoiler alert ** That dude can write a story! I wasn't sure where it was going when this started, but it was quite a journey. I feel like the epilogue/final section was largely unnecessary; I think the ending with Briony writing the letters as so powerful and open ended.
I was into this thematically, and McEwan can make very pretty sentences. I underlined a lot.
But I didn't feel much for any character, which is tough in a novel that concentrates on the power and tragedy of incomplete perspective.
I studied this novel for English and it was absolutely amazing to analyse. Trying to discover the hidden foreshadowing made this novel ten times better in addition to the writing style 😁
Masterfully written - I loathed Briony, but her writing is beautiful. It's the best version of "sticky summer day when everything changes" I have ever read.
un labirinto di flussi di coscienza e di prospettive narrative. un assoluto capolavoro. il plot twist sul finale e la riflessione di Briony sull'espiazione sono geniali. unica piccola pecca l'eccessiva prolissità dell'autore nel cimentarsi nelle descrizioni (la precisione è a suo modo una strategia per entrare nel corpo dei personaggi e non posso negare che sia stata trattata con un'indiscussa maestria)
'I'll wait for you. Come back.' One of the best books I've ever read. I wish I'd read it before seeing the movie now but it's evident throughout the book how well it was adapted to screen so I'm not too annoyed - but if you are seeing this and you haven't read/seen either yet, you have to read the book! Ian McEwan you are a mastermind.
This has been sitting on my shelf for ages and I think because I have watched the film previously I've been putting it off knowing how the twist ending. Controversial for some, but I think it's heartbreaking and brilliant. The book still lived up to my appreciation for the film adaptation. Joe Wright and Keira Knightley are one of my fave director/actor duos (P&P you'll always be my fave).
3.5 stars
Wow, this was definitely one of my best reads this year. I'll be writing a review of this one, and soon.
it wasnt bad it was really good, but i think i need to reread it when im older to like it more because the war part and most of brionys life really didnt spike intrest in me and i just briefly read through those pages because i wanted to get to the end. also i saw the movie before this so i knew the ending.
Great book
This book is divided on three parts and I liked them on different levels so here's the breakdown: The first part took me soo long to get through, I feel like it could've been much shorter than it was and maybe then I would have liked it better. So my rating for this part is 2 stars. Then we have the second part, which is much shorter (maybe 50 pages shorter?) and more interesting, however it still was pretty repetitive so 3 stars At last: the third part, where everything comes together and by far the most interesting to read = 4stars. To be fair, I added all my stars for each part (total being 9)and divided them by the number of parts in the book. Which is why I'm rating the book as whole in 3 stars (though before I finished and rated the last part it would've been 2,6 stars)
This took a while to read. I'm generally not that good with slow-paced books, but here it's just just full of nothing sometimes. This book has just three moods: confusion, nothing and World War .
this book ruined my weekend
Have you ever read a book that annoyed and bored you at the very first few chapters but completely astounded you at the end? That was exactly the case here in Atonement by Ian McEwan. Reading the first part took so much of my focus and concentration. it annoyed me quite a bit, because reading is supposed to be good and relaxing, and I hate it when it sort of becomes burdensome to me. Only the thought the the first part of the story played the most crucial role to make the book a whole kept me motivated to press onwards. At the end, though, I adored the book, judging it as a whole, and found it very satisfying to my reader needs. I found the plot unique and captivating. I have been wanting to read this for as long as I can remember. It was a refreshing change from the modern day settings of the books I have been reading a lot lately. The early 1990's, a mystery, forbidden love, all this drew me like a moth to a flame. Plus everyone has been singing praises for McEwan's work. Okay, maybe the movie trailer looked good, too. And maybe I should mention my not-so-secret obsession with James McAvoy. All through out the book, I saw the movie cast as the characters, Keira Knightley as Cecilia, Saoirse Ronan as Briony and James (I like to think we're on first name basis already) as Robbie. That helped a lot, too, although I usually dont do it. The details were simply brilliant in its telling. The characters were one of the best ones I've ever read. Briony Tallis was very vividly illustrated. She was young and innocent, but not completely free of malice. As a writer myself, I felt for her. The passion, the urgency and frustration of writing a story. Cecilia and Robbie were also amazing. I love how naive they were at first, how they never noticed how they felt for each other until suddenly, in a moment by the fountain, they did. All the characters actions, thoughts and decisions were so incredibly unaware, flawed and human. The human nature, guilt, betrayal and forgiveness were explored very well. The book has so much substance and depth to it. Very well written, plotted out, organized and researched, not to mention the wicked plot twist at the end. I certainly am looking forward to reading more of Ian McEwan's work.
“A person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn and not easily mended.”
So last time I read this I gave it four stars but honestly it gets me every time.
this is a sort of book that i think i could have read in english in high school and had socratic discussions about and analyzed to bits and then talked about the last chapter with my classmates. like im imagining my old english class of 8 people reading this book. its good. the movie is amazing too and a really good adaptation but the book really gives you insight into the narrators uncertainty and justifies her childishness.
OUCH
Slow start, ok book. I know others loved it. I did not.
Highlights
After that they pushed him into the car, and she spoke hurriedly, before the crying began that she could no longer hold back, and she said that what had happened between them was theirs, only theirs. She meant the library, of course. It was theirs. No one could take it away. ‘It’s our secret,' she called out, in front of them all, just before the slam of the door. ‘I won't say a word,' he said, though Nettle's head had long disappeared from his view. 'Wake me before seven. I promise, you won't hear another word from me.'
But it was a tranquil sea, and now that he himself was calm, of course he saw how fine it really was that she was waiting. Arithmetic be damned. I’ll wait for you was elemental. It was the reason he had survived. It was the ordinary way of saying she would refuse all other men. Only you. Come back. He remembered the feel of the gravel through his thin-soled shoes, he could feel it now, and the icy touch of the handcuffs on his wrists.
He raised Turner’s head and put the canteen to his lips. The water tasted metallic. When he was done, a long steady oceanic swell of exhaustion began to push him under. He walked across the land until he fell in the ocean.
Let the guilty bury the innocent, and let no one change the evidence.
He cared when she ran out across the gravel and spoke to him by the open police car door. Oh, when I was in love with you, Then I was clean and brave.
Even this question was hard to hold for long. He had so much unfinished business here in France that it seemed to him sensible to delay his departure for England, even though his bags were packed, his strange, heavy bags. No one would see them if he left them here and went back. Invisible baggage.
The witnesses were guilty too. All day we've witnessed each other's crimes. You killed no one today? But how many did you leave to die?
Waiting. Simply one person doing nothing, over time, while another approached. Waiting was a heavy word.
Beneath him the floor still seemed to list, then switch to the rhythm of a steady march, and once again Turner found himself too afflicted by impressions, too fevered, too exhausted to sleep.
As the food reached his stomach a bloom of warmth opened across his chest and throat. He had been walking these roads, he thought, all his life. When he closed his eyes he saw moving asphalt and his boots swinging in and out of view.
It was his mind. Periodically, something slipped. Some everyday principle of continuity, the humdrum element that told him where he was in his own story, faded from his use, abandoning him to a waking dream in which there were thoughts, but no sense of who was having them.