A review by aman757
Atonement by Ian McEwan

challenging emotional lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

I liked the way this book was divided into different parts. The first part was my favorite I'd say, mainly in terms of plot and the characters being introduced from the unique perspective of the child writer Brione.

It was very interesting to see how the accusations against the war veteran boyfriend of Brione's sister developed, and how some of the first stages of the romance developed through the eyes of Brione in this first part. /spoiler> It was also interesting to see how some of the stylistic choices of the second part of the book, particularly going from chapters to telling the second part as a more continuous narrative. The plot of this section also connected well with the first part. It also connected well with the third section in returning to the story of some of Brione's later life. I truly wasn't expecting a fourth part of the book either.

This part was a little different, making a sort of fourth wall breaking allusion to Brione being the writer of story that was told in the book.

That is a stylistic technique I haven't seen in books very often. I only withhold the last half of a star because the ending to the book, being a sort of musing from Brione's to the love story she'd want to tell. And I just wasn't sure if this was the way a female author, for example, may choose to end this book. It is an interesting choice, though, and I would say it is still a somewhat satisfying conclusion to me.