6.82k reviews for:

Atonement

Ian McEwan

3.92 AVERAGE

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging dark sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

One of the best books I've read. So sad and yet such a great story. I love this book.
dark reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really liked it, McEwan illustrates some beautiful imagery. I found it a little hard though. I usually plough through novels, and this one took me quite a while to finish. I would read, then realise I hadn't taken it in, and re-read.

Well worth it though
challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It took me a long time to finish this book, but that didn’t lessen the impact of its treacherous ending.
dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

An incredible look at the complex nature of existence and the pain and struggle to make amends for the mistakes of misunderstandings and youth. A tale which follows a rollercoaster of emotional growth, trauma, and guilt, all with the backdrop of the Second World War across it's most compelling moments. Then,
once you've experienced this gripping struggle for the main character to clear their conscious, the author exposes the ultimate secret, the fact that atonement was truly impossible for the main character, and that she had to live with the guilt of her actions for the rest of her life.
emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes