Atonement by Ian MacEwan

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Anyone read this? I'm just about to start it.

[*Classic*Charm*]

I read it this year. Lemme know once you're done- we'll discuss it. I seem to have very different opinions than most of the people I know who've read it.

Enjoy!

[Moira]

I didn't like it much. Not impressive, just an easy read with few interesting parts.

[Aiculík]

I didn't like it very much, too. It was weird... but only for sake of being weird. As Moira said, it was easy read with few interesting parts, but pretending to be very intellectual and sophisticated and difficult... And I don't like pretence.

[DBS]

I find that with alot of Ian Mcewan books.
I couldn't even get past the first few pages of this one, though i've read most of the others.

[SnowQueen189]

i'm actually reading it right now...i'm just finishing up part 1 and, so far, i'm really enjoying it...i can't wait to see the movie!

[aeroport]

I've started it, though I had to stop a small way in. So far, however, I am very impressed. Once I reached the first chapter about Cecilia (2, I think), I could tell he was (is) a master stylist. The movie probably won't be in theaters here long (from what I understand it wasn't very successful), so hopefully I can finish it soon in time to watch it...

[Tersely]

I just purchased this book but its on my waiting list. I'm surprised a couple of people feel that way considering the movie is suppose to be such a great story, being constantly nominated by the G.G.'s. Wonder if they are going to be anything alike. Hm.

[Patience]

I think it's a wonderful rich book, one of my favourites. It definitely depends how you favour Ian McEwan's way of writing though. Let us know when you've finished it! :)

[LadyW]

I read it just before the film was released :)
It is one of my favourite books, I would deffinitely recommend it.
Such a moving and beautiful yet heart-wrenching story.
When you've finished tell me what you thought of the characters.

[pussnboots]

ok, my curiousity is peaked. I have the book and I guess I 'll start to read it. My mother saw the movie and said it was pretty good

[Splendour]

I like it.....I like the way it was written and I love the ending....but some times it is annoying with an air of pretence

[Lovisa]

I liked the book and fell in love with the film. I think the plot itself is very interesting, and it surrounds a unique perspective on guilt. As for the movie, it was so beautifully adapted I was quite surprised. Even aside from the gorgeous cinematography, I think James McAvoy playing Robbie totally carried the whole thing away. :thumbs_up

[Lioness_Heart]

Haven't seen the film yet but loved the book. there were bits that got a bit tedious at times, but it was mostly really good, and the ending was very clever.

I especially liked the bit with Briony at the beginning with her writing, as anyone who likes writing would be able to identify with it.

[Niamh]

you can leave a review of the book Here (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28989) and vote in the attached poll.:)

[*Classic*Charm*]

Wow!! Others who think like me!! When I read it, I !LOVED! the first part, hated the second, thought the third had the potential to be WAY better, and was really indifferent to the end. I found it really disjointed in the change of narrative View for each part. If the entirety of the novel had been written from multiple perspectives as the first part was, especially the third, I would have LOVED it. I still want to see the film though. I Love Keira Knightly, and it was directed by the same guy who directed P&P, so I have high hopes.

[Igetanotion]

It is actually one of the books I am reading for an independent study this semester! I'm glad everyone on here is reading/has read it, if I have questions I know where to go... LOL... I am supposed to study it for temporal structure, emotional evocation and any presence of magical realism or hyper realism. I'm nervous now that half of you hate it though... Nothing is worse then having to dissect a bad book.

KIT while your reading it Ali, I was going to read a different book first, but I'll start reading that one again since you and a few others are reading it now. :)

[Rogers_68]

I read it last year. I thought it was a little slow at first but overall it was pretty good. I didn't love it but the characters were interesting and I liked the way the story line is set up.

[Pecksie]

I thought it one of the most beautiful, elegiac and moving novels I've ever read.

[kelby_lake]

I didn't see much point in the second bit. The third bit was quite clever actually, and made me want to re-read parts.
It was sad :(

[book_jones]

I quite enjoyed the book. It was the only book we read in my British Lit class that was written in my lifetime. At the time it was the newest book I had ever read. I wrote a very misunderstood essay about it which I still think should've gotten an A! I especially liked the middle section of the book that took place during the war. It's been a couple years since I read it though so I'm not really going to say too much. I liked it though.

[kasie]

I have just finished reading the book and enjoyed it very much. I have not seen the film. It took me a while to grasp what was going on with the changes of style and did not fully grasp the implications until the final line, the date and the initials (I don't have to put a spoiler alert for that do I? I haven't given away the ending?) Then I did a rapid review of the whole thing wondering about the possibility of an Unreliable Narrator - I'm still thinking about it, finished it late last night. I had been wondering about the middle section at Dunkirk and that doesn't become clear until the Postscript. I'm not sure I want to see the film - how do they get this aspect of the work across ?

[downing]

I read 200 pages of it and gave it a break...had other things to read...but I'll pick it up again as soon as I can. I saw the movie before and it's fabulous!

[WICKES]

Personally I think he is one of, possibly the, best living writers in the english language. He is certainly one of the best English/ British writers alive (although I rate Julian Barnes very highly and I like Will Self). Tbh I preferred Saturday to Atonement- I'm not too keen on writers setting their novels in the past.

[wessexgirl]

It's one of the many books I have on the go, but I've only read the first part so far. I have seen the film though, and loved it. I'm liking what I have read a lot. There's a bit of distance between me seeing the film and reading the book, so I hope I don't get the imagery of the film in my head too much, but can judge it as a novel.