6.83k reviews for:

Atonement

Ian McEwan

3.92 AVERAGE

stainedsouth's review against another edition

4.0

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There is no denying that this book is brilliantly written, hence I give it 4 stars. For me, the first half of the book was EXCRUTIATING. I hated it so much - not because it wasn't written well, but because Mr. McEwan so painstakingly set up the horrible act perpetrated by 13-year-old Briony Tallis which had sad, lasting repercussions for so many adults involved - including herself once she was an adult.

The second half of the book moved much more quickly and was quite interesting. It followed the lives of the adults directly impacted by Briony's lies - namely Robbie and Briony - with some focus on Briony's sister, Cecilia, who also happened to be in love with Robbie. Basically it was the personal trauma of these three individuals wrapped up in the global trauma of World War II because the setting was Dunkirk and London during the war.

On top of all this the epilogue produced a huge twist - I didn't see it coming and I was horrified all over again. Agh!

maddireads13's review against another edition

3.0

dark reflective sad medium-paced

ingy_be's review against another edition

4.0

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

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Enraging and hated Briony but it was good overall!

bettybooks77's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

katricia's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jessicaamy's review against another edition

5.0

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damn fucking damn

novel_by_any_other_name's review against another edition

3.75

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

eunnie's review against another edition

4.5

challenging mysterious sad tense slow-paced

shxdowww's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

jxhh_m's review against another edition

4.0

slow-paced