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A review by missbear
Atonement by Ian McEwan
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
There's a lot to cover here. I didn't really know this when I started reading this novel, but since I finished it, I've learned that Ian McEwan is a quite controversial author, who frequently writes about "dark" and "shocking" themes. And of course, this book is a controversial book, whether due to pacing or the plot (or lack thereof) or the post-modern metafiction elements. If I had known this, I think I would have been more skeptical. Basically, this book combines one set of controversial things that I tend to really like (bring on the "pretentious" writing, the prickly characters, the metafiction! I adored Possession, after all) and another set that I really don't (spare me the "oh my! Can you imagine how horrible it would be if this extremely unlikely series of events occurred? Shocking!" plot here. I read enough Jodi Picoult as a teenager.)
Because I really had no complaints at all about a strangely paced book about Briony's internal angst and development as a writer. But I have a lot of complaints about a book whose plot is primarily shock value and the characters need to act in completely absurd ways in order to create such an extremely unlikely scenario (for example, everything that Cecilia does). And, if I'm honest, some serious ethical qualms about the themes explored here. Is it wrong to write a novel about the tragedy of a false rape accusation? No, not in itself. Is it wrong to write a novel which mocks the child victim of the actual, not-fake rape that takes place and recasts the true villain and victim of the story as the accuser and accused, rather than the rapist and victim? I kind of think it is. If Ian McEwan wanted to write a book about false rape accusations without having to deal with the messy results of actual rape, I'm not sure why he chose to write an actual rape scene into the book in the first place — except for shock value, right?
All in all, this ended up leaving a bad taste in my mouth, even though there were elements of it that I was really interested by. I don't think I'll be seeking out more Ian McEwan.
Because I really had no complaints at all about a strangely paced book about Briony's internal angst and development as a writer. But I have a lot of complaints about a book whose plot is primarily shock value and the characters need to act in completely absurd ways in order to create such an extremely unlikely scenario (for example, everything that Cecilia does). And, if I'm honest, some serious ethical qualms about the themes explored here. Is it wrong to write a novel about the tragedy of a false rape accusation? No, not in itself. Is it wrong to write a novel which mocks the child victim of the actual, not-fake rape that takes place and recasts the true villain and victim of the story as the accuser and accused, rather than the rapist and victim? I kind of think it is. If Ian McEwan wanted to write a book about false rape accusations without having to deal with the messy results of actual rape, I'm not sure why he chose to write an actual rape scene into the book in the first place — except for shock value, right?
All in all, this ended up leaving a bad taste in my mouth, even though there were elements of it that I was really interested by. I don't think I'll be seeking out more Ian McEwan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Rape