Atonement

Atonement is Ian McEwan's ninth novel and his first since the Booker Prize-winning Amsterdam in 1998. But whereas Amsterdam was a slim, sleek piece, Atonement is a more sturdy, ambitious work, allowing McEwan more room to play, think and experiment.

We meet 13-year-old Briony Tallis in the summer of 1935, as she attempts to stage a production of her new drama The Trials of Arabella to welcome home her elder, idolised brother Leon. But she soon discovers that her cousins, the glamorous Lola and the twin boys Jackson and Pierrot, aren't up to the task, and directorial ambitions are abandoned as more interesting preoccupations come onto the scene. The charlady's son Robbie Turner appears to be forcing Briony's sister Cecilia to strip in the Fountain and sends her obscene letters; Leon has brought home a dim chocolate magnate keen for a war to promote his new "Army Amo" bar; and upstairs Briony's migraine-stricken mother Emily keeps tabs on the house from her bed. Soon, secrets emerge that change the lives of everyone present...

The interwar upper-middle-class setting of the book's long, masterfully sustained opening section might recall Virginia Woolf or Henry Green, but as we move forward--eventually to the turn of the 21st century--the novel's central concerns emerge, and McEwan's voice becomes clear, even personal. For at heart, Atonement is about the pleasures, pains and dangers of writing, and perhaps even more, about the challenge of controlling what readers make of your writing. McEwan shouldn't have any doubts about readers of Atonement: this is a thoughtful, provocative and at times moving book that will have readers applauding.--Alan Stewart

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Much ado about not much - Rated
This was the first novel by McEwan that I read. My wife bought it before the film was released and I approached reading it with expectation of a good read from a respected author.

The first part in the country house set the scene well I thought. Did wonder why the note was 'obscene'. Would Robbie really have written this in this way? The same effect could have been achieved with a gentler touch and Briony's actions would have been all the more tragic. It seemed that McEwan had a plot worked out but lacked the skill to piece the story together. For me the second part had all the technique of a school essay (c+). I finished it, otherwise it would only have rated 1*, but wondered why this is rated so highly. Also watched the film which also felt like a chore.

Will not try McEwan again in a hurry.

Marvelous beginning let down by the rest - Rated
McEwan beautifully evokes the atmosphere, nuances and characters within the setting of a 1930s country house. As the reader you feel yourself being drawn into this world and the stage is set well. It is reminiscent of L.P.Hartley's "The Go-Between" from the early 1950s. However, the rest of the book is a real letdown, as soon as the action leaves the mansionhouse setting - the war scenes have been told numerous times before and add little and the rest is very fragmentary and nowhere near as realized as the first part of the book. (I had the same feeling about the film version which faithfully follows the book.) I feel he should have written a shorter book based entirely around the country house. Having said this, there is enough in the second half to keep you reading to the end.
If you have enjoyed this review, why not buy my own novel on amazon "Freya's Quest" by Julian Lawrence Brooks

The best book I have read so far this year! - Rated
I was asked to read this book for a book group I had just joined. I had never read anything by Ian McEwan before and so was quite eager to read a new author. It did not disappoint - i could not put it down and I have a toddler and was pregnant with my second child (ie not much spare time) The author writes beautifully, very powerful and created amazing imagery with his narrative. An excellent book - one I would happily read again.

Superb. - Rated
This is easily one of the best books I've read in the last 10 years.

A book to read before you die! - Rated
I had never read an Ian McEwan book, and it seems I picked the best one he's written to start with. What luck. I absolutely loved the book, fortunately I read it before the film came out, which I thought was an excellent portrayal of the story, but the book describes beauty even a multi million budget film can't capture on screen. It's an amazing book to escape from where ever you are. This book is a MUST READ, yes it could have had an ending that we all wanted, but that isn't real life.