Which to experience first....

books:


	• Atonement Ian Mcewan Anchor, 2007 - 496 pages average customer review:based on 741 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Atonement blows me away

I truly believe there is no better book. "Atonement" is so beautifully written, there are no down parts, no slow parts, no boring parts. The author could be talking about paint drying and you still wouldn't be able to put the book down. One sentence just flows into another so much that you're pulled forward, and you're on your way. McEwan is now one of my favorite writers.

Of course it's not for everyone, though. Nothing is. If you enjoy simpler books and quicker reads, then you may not enjoy it. This book will make you think. You have to like that. Atonement is for someone who wants something meaningful, something that explores human emotion, and something that isn't afraid to break your heart in the end. Don't read it if you're one of those people who feel "tricked" at endings that don't turn out the way you expect or want. The ending of this book changes everything, so much, in fact, that I had to reread the entire thing over with the ending in mind to grasp everything from that new point of view. I can't emphasise enough that this is one book you shouldn't go without reading. Wonderful.

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Gorgeous

"Atonement" was an absolutely beautiful novel.

McEwan is very gifted at characterization- that's probably what I liked the most about the novel. Also, I felt he was extremely adept at getting his audience involved emotionally with the story. (Right after I finished reading I had to call my fiancee to make sure he wasn't dead or something.)

I can see why some readers might not enjoy his style, as it's somewhat complex and a little hard to follow at points, but I think it's well worth it to muddle through the parts that are a little convoluted. He's not at all pretentious when you get down to it; his writing style is just different than most modern authors' styles.

"Atonement" is a romance at heart, but there is much more than the love story going on (despite what the movie trailer made it look like). It's just all around a good read. If you're looking for an easy one I wouldn't bother, but if you're looking for something to make you think, then I'd at least borrow it from the library. I bought it after that.

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works better as a movie

I have read many of Ian McEwan's books, and enjoyed them all. Amsterdam and Saturday are both riveting character studies. However, I was a bit disappointed in Atonement the book, although I truly enjoyed Atonement the movie. For instance, not much happens in the beginning of Atonement, which opens with a long description of a wealthy English home. But in the movie we see all of the things that are described in such detail in the book. Once the story gets started, though, the tale is even more moving than Amsterdam or Saturday. I do recommend Atonement, especially for readers who enjoy books that bring to life the atmosphere of a period.

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Atonement a love story

A beautiful story, for the romance in all of us. A nice diversion since I usually read thrillers and sci-fi.

Which to experience first....

Should you read the book first or watch the movie?

Really, you could choose either. I read the book before seeing the movie, and it was one of the best reading experiences I've ever had. The prose is lush but not overdone, the characters finely drawn, and the plot leaves nothing to be desired. I'd never read a McEwan book before, and now I'm a bit skeptical that any of his other books could even come close to this brilliant work.

As for the film: it, too is lush and brilliant and an experience in itself. I don't know that I've come across a movie that remained so true to the book in both action and spirit.

If you're an avid reader looking for an excellent story with memorable characters and an ending that will be on your mind for days, read the book first. If not, then watch the film. Of course, if you're reading this review you probably have a strong interest in reading. So read the book.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

On a summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a moment?s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant. But Briony?s incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination bring about a crime that will change all their lives, a crime whose repercussions Atonement follows through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century.

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Atonement

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