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whatsshwereading 's review for:
Atonement
by Ian McEwan
Atonement is a love story.
There's star-crossed lovers - Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner and the bad guy - Briony Tallis, Cecilia Tallis' elven year old sister. In McEwan's words, Briony is a "busy, priggish, conceited", melodramatic brat. Exulting in all her pre-adolescent glory, with an immature and hasty declaration, she wrecks the lives of Cecilia and Robbie. And for all the afore mentiones, she is now third (after Umbridge and Amy Dunne) on my list of most hated literary characters.
Atonement is a hauntingly beautiful love story.
My heart hurt for both Cecilia and Robbie and burnt with hatred for Briony (No! She was NOT too young to realise what she had done!) Reading the novel was like watching a boulder fall. Slow at first, then it gains momentum and wham! I loved how McEwan portrayed Cecilia and Robbie's commitment to each all through their miserable lives.
While atonement is an excellent love story, the writing is terrible.
The book was so wonderful and the end made me want to cry like a baby, why three stars? Well, as brilliant as the story was, I didn't care much for the writing. Part 1 was a pain to read. superfluous and tedious. While I love reading lyrical prose, McEwan went over the top. Then there's that bit which says Briony spends the rest of her life trying to atone for her sin. Yeah. That wasn't apparent. So, she gave up a seat at Cambridge to train as a nurse instead. *Gasp* what a sacrifice!
All said and done, its not a bad book to read, but its not that splendid either.
There's star-crossed lovers - Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner and the bad guy - Briony Tallis, Cecilia Tallis' elven year old sister. In McEwan's words, Briony is a "busy, priggish, conceited", melodramatic brat. Exulting in all her pre-adolescent glory, with an immature and hasty declaration, she wrecks the lives of Cecilia and Robbie. And for all the afore mentiones, she is now third (after Umbridge and Amy Dunne) on my list of most hated literary characters.
Atonement is a hauntingly beautiful love story.
My heart hurt for both Cecilia and Robbie and burnt with hatred for Briony (No! She was NOT too young to realise what she had done!) Reading the novel was like watching a boulder fall. Slow at first, then it gains momentum and wham! I loved how McEwan portrayed Cecilia and Robbie's commitment to each all through their miserable lives.
While atonement is an excellent love story, the writing is terrible.
The book was so wonderful and the end made me want to cry like a baby, why three stars? Well, as brilliant as the story was, I didn't care much for the writing. Part 1 was a pain to read. superfluous and tedious. While I love reading lyrical prose, McEwan went over the top. Then there's that bit which says Briony spends the rest of her life trying to atone for her sin. Yeah. That wasn't apparent. So, she gave up a seat at Cambridge to train as a nurse instead. *Gasp* what a sacrifice!
All said and done, its not a bad book to read, but its not that splendid either.