Atonement

A brilliantly stunning novel! It takes time to get into the story, but the reward for this perseverance is breath-taking.

What I think the author was saying is that atonement can only be found in fiction.

The quality of writing is amazing - I give it five stars just for use of language. However, I also appreciated the character development, inventive plot, just plain interesting story.

‰ЫПAt the age of eleven she wrote her first story ‰ЫУ a foolish affair, imitative of half a dozen folktales and lacking, she realized later, that vital knowingness about the ways of the world which compels a reader‰ЫЄs respect. But this first clumsy attempt showed her that the imagination itself was a source of secrets: once she had begun a story, no one could be told. Pretending in words was too tentative, too vulnerable, too embarrassing to let anyone know. Even writing out the she saids, the and thens, made her wince, and she felt foolish, appearing the know about the emotions of an imaginary being. Self-exposure was inevitable the moment she described a character‰ЫЄs weakness; the reader was bound to speculate that she was describing herself. What other authority could she have? Only when a story was finished, all fates resolved and the whole matter sealed off at both ends so it resembled, at least in this one respect, every other finished story in the world, could she feel immune ‰Ы_.‰Ыќ

This book is, in a word, incredible. Ian McEwan has a writing style that pulls you in with rich description and compelling plot. The book is also a good example of a story with an untrustworthy narrator.

Briony Tallis is quite possibly one of the most self-involved characters I have ever read a book about. The whole book is about her coming to terms with a horrible thing she did as a child and the consequences of her actions. She drove me insane at times, but I couldn't stop reading.

Part one is by far my favorite part. The dinner party setting, the plot is dynamic and continuous, and the developing love story between Cecilia and Robbie thoroughly captured me – which turned out to be an incredibly important part of really connecting with the rest of the book. Part two is an amazing description of war from a soldier's perspective; Robbie's description not only of what was happening around him but why he wanted to survive it all was brilliant. Part three was good as well, though my feelings for Briony probably colored my opinion of it... and part four incensed me like very few books ever have. Compelling, aggravating, and absolutely stunning work.

I would recommend this to anyone and everyone who enjoys good literature. This one I am sure will stand the test of time.

Slow start, ok book. I know others loved it. I did not.

I read the book. I read the discussion. I heard a lot of enthusiasm for this
book.

I didn't feel it.

I thought it was a well written book, but it left me cold. I didn't really
care whether I finished it or not.

I will rate Atonement an 8.