A review by kenbooky
Atonement by Ian McEwan

5.0

God I loved this book. I know people have their qualms with New York Time’s 100 best books of the 21st century list that just came out but this deservedly staked its claim. It was awarded number 26 which is pretty high to be fair. I might argue it should be higher. I have never been and never will be a war book reader, however, I found myself enjoying the war scenes equally as much (enjoys probably not the right word) I was engaged in those parts just as much as the beginning. I should preface this by saying I have never watched the movie and I think from the things I know about the movie it sounds pretty cohesive. Okay now the book. We all have a little Briony in us don’t we. The way we get swept up in our own bullshit and ignore life and reason all together and put ourselves at the center. I found I felt sympathy for all our narrators NOT PAUL MARSHAL thought fuck that scum. Poor Lola, poor Quincey children in general. I think in general this book is about how people fail each other and maybe even don’t realize their failings until 1.) it’s too late or 2.) that failing has had some disastrous summary. I think Ian McEwan is so talented. I read his Saturday in college for a class and was hooked. His wording is so delightful and honest and he writes awkward situations with such humor and grace. Not only that the story is so very cinematic, with the breaking of the vase, the green dress, Lola’s arms, the letter — and Ofcourse the intense moments from the war I really did create images in my mind of these moments that I can’t stop thinking about. I loved the helplessness of the characters that they truly couldn’t be anything other than themselves and give into baseless desires that turned out to have much base to them and have evidence of a long build up. It all felt so actual and stifling like you watched the characters stop and come to realizations about themselves and life and their wrongdoings or falsehoods.