Reviews with content warning for Rape - Atonement

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Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Atonement by Ian McEwan

152 reviews

waltersb's review against another edition

4.25

emotional reflective sad

Strong character development: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

risemini's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

zara89's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

makmak03's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Ian McEwan is an incredibly descriptive and immersive writer, which is no doubt a talent. But at times the detail droned on to a point of boredom, especially during part two where the war theme required many words that I simply didn’t have the knowledge of.

The entire book consists of I believe 6 days in total that are stretched to impressive length by the detail’s of the characters thoughts.

I also, understanding that it was a conscious writing choice, hated that

it was not until the SECOND TO LAST PAGE that it is said that Robbie and Cecelia died, with one sentence of details. Luckily I had read about the movie and knew they both died at the end, so I wasn’t as hurt by this as I could’ve been lol.

There were times I had to force myself to read this book, and having finished it I feel okay that I have read it, but would have been fine if I hadn’t.

Content Warnings

lillymacantire's review against another edition

1.5

emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I found the storyline, down to the way the characters interacted with the world and their inner dialogues, to be gross. I don't dismiss the reality that this could have happened, but its likelihood is narrow and it's a telling that perpetuates a lot of rape myths. Wasn't surprised to learn that the author "maintained skepticism" regarding Harvey Weinstein—the prevalence of narratives like this one create a society where people who associate with Weinstein can get away with sex trafficking. Didn't really appreciate the way disability was spoken about, either. I read this after watching the movie and wanting to take the time to develop my thoughts. Now developed, my thoughts are quite against this story. I will not be recommending this author or reading anything else of his. I found the story, one which appeals to a lot of my interests, to be written dryly and lacking in emotion. I was very ready for the story to end, and I considered more than once putting it down. Had to put the audiobook at double speed to convince myself to finish.

Content Warnings

lana_camilli's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

livallen's review against another edition

3.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Content Warnings

alexia445's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

lexiegriff's review against another edition

3.5

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Content Warnings

claywerner's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Another audiobook listen through, and I’m not sure I could have read it in twice the time. The themes are heavy and the pace teeters on slow, but the content is absolutely arresting.

Themes of guilt and whether we can ever truly atone for the worst of our actions, and whether simply telling the story is enough of an avenue to do so if the storyteller is forever unreliable provide incredibly provocative questions. And to set this deeply individual story against a vivid backdrop of the Dunkirk evacuation and the surrounding war is a moving juxtaposition.

Most of the way through the first part of this book, I wasn’t sure it was for me, but now it’s among the most wholly moving stories I have “read.”

Now to watch the 2007 adaptation for the first time.

Content Warnings

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