Reviews

Atonement by Ian McEwan

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3.5/5- I was supposed to fully read this book before we started annotating it in class but I've got to admit that I found it so hard to pick this up and I ended up reading it as we went (I have realised since that you should never, and I mean never, force me to read a book because I simply wont begin it out of pure rebellion). However, I will say that this ultimately a good book, I wouldn't say I love it but if someone was to ask for a good crime novel I would definitely recommend this to them. It is a beautiful novel that explores guilt and class very concisely. yes briony is annoying in part one but she is literally 13 and thinks that her sister is being abused and she deems it her responsibility to protect her, which ultimately, plus many other factors, leads to her lie at the end of part 1.
While I would definitely recommend the book, the same sadly can not be said for the movie (unless you really want to see James McAvoy, which honestly is fair games)

elenakoh's review

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

4.25

zoe_abbott's review

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5.0

McEwan’s Atonement is full of duplicity.
The pace is slow and yet fast, private and yet public, psychological and physical. All these combinations create a compelling and gut reaching story.

Briony is complex from beginning to end, I struggled to relate and understand how her imagination can be so destructive. This makes the moment of realisation and literal atonement even more powerful. Cécilia, too is complex and yet a forgettable character.

I felt it was a competition of who’s story it really was, Robbie or Briony. I had so much patience and empathy for Robbie and wanted more from him in the end of the book. I also would’ve loved more detail into the domestic lives of Lola & Paul Marshall to unpack how as a couple they move past, or perhaps don’t move past the event that changed everyone’s lives.

Overall I really loved this, and thought it was adapted pretty well into a movie, it was a sad afternoon when I came to the end and had to put it down.

cdhotwing's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dembury's review

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3.0

I don't have much to say other than I thoroughly enjoyed the first 175 pages, but the following portions sort of lost it for me. The first and second halves are just so very different in tone, setting, and pacing that starting the second half felt like I had been ripped from one book and dropped into another. Which, considering the fact the second half is 5 years into World War II, I suppose one could make an argument on the purpose of the disjointed feeling, but personally I just didn't like it. I mentioned this earlier but I also just don't really enjoy war stories: I completely understand their importance and how meaningful they can be, but I'd rather read nonfiction accounts of theses moments, like biographies. Again, this is a personal preference, so someone else will likely enjoy the war portions.
Also, I felt like the main conflict and drama presented in the first part never got any worthwhile answers. The audience kind of does for a moment before THAT rug is ripped away, too (spoilers, so I won't say). I feel like McEwan was trying to really get into depth about fiction writing here, but I think I lost the point.
However, I do want to say that I am totally checking out another one of McEwan's books in the future because his writing style is incredibly appealing to me. It's very lyrical, sensual, and the imagery he creates is soooooo nice to read! Holding out some hope that I'll enjoy another work of his even more!