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hannacolm's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Aside from a snide, misogynistic/domestic abuse “joke” made by a soldier in this, Atonement holds up and is a near-perfect read. I didn’t know that the film was adapted from this novel. I like that they are slightly different, because then the book felt fresh to me. I don’t normally enjoy historical fiction. The first 1/2 of the book takes place over the course of a single day and evening. The other half takes places 5 years later and then makes a huge time jump to the end of Briony’s life. Heart breaking and beautiful prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Rape
aricoy's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape
akgrantmatz's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very well written, and a unique story.
Knocks because I don't appreciate the character development of the narrator, because although she talks about atonement and being a better person, she only makes horrible decisions and goes back to her central flaw as a person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
damianwayne's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jesus fucking Christ. I hated the first half of this book when nothing happened, but then too much happened and I was desperate for it. Really beautiful and haunting writing from Ian McEwan even if you can read his cockiness through his writing sometimes (all the time). I am actually actively fighting against crying right now because I’m sitting with my family. Might be added to my list of favourite books I’ve ever read (this, Maurice, Babel)
Three things need to atone for this book breaking my heart: McEwan, Briony and the shuffle of TTPD that Spotify created.
I finished this book whilst listening to Peter by Taylor Swift and the idea of never reuniting with not only the person you loved, but never feeling again that level of love itself is heartbreaking. This is why my teacher said crime is just a sub genre of tragedy really. loml is playing now it’s so criminal.
Also, I think it’s so interesting that my willingness to forgive Briony came from initially believing the happy ending she gave us. But ultimately what makes me hate her is that her giving them a happy ending isn’t her atoning, but her cowardice to truly admit that despite her wanting to make amends, she couldn’t and they would’ve suffered no matter what. The damage she did was so great there was no going back from the moment she uttered those words to Leon that night. It was always going to end this way.
I finished this book whilst listening to Peter by Taylor Swift and the idea of never reuniting with not only the person you loved, but never feeling again that level of love itself is heartbreaking. This is why my teacher said crime is just a sub genre of tragedy really. loml is playing now it’s so criminal.
Also, I think it’s so interesting that my willingness to forgive Briony came from initially believing the happy ending she gave us. But ultimately what makes me hate her is that her giving them a happy ending isn’t her atoning, but her cowardice to truly admit that despite her wanting to make amends, she couldn’t and they would’ve suffered no matter what. The damage she did was so great there was no going back from the moment she uttered those words to Leon that night. It was always going to end this way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and War
Moderate: Death and Rape
commiebeatle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia and Classism
rochelleisreading's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
blackfaefables's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm so glad I decided to pick this book up again. The beautiful descriptive writing, the detailed historical fiction, and captivating slow-burn romance at the center were definitely the highlights of this read.
I felt like an English major again as I tried to predict the trajectory of the story using the many beautiful uses of literary devices throughout.
I highly recommend. it's more slow paced than medium paced to me but in a good way I think.
I felt like an English major again as I tried to predict the trajectory of the story using the many beautiful uses of literary devices throughout.
I highly recommend. it's more slow paced than medium paced to me but in a good way I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and War
Moderate: Rape
clara_reads_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Sexual assault
euannn900's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is gorgeous and stunning. You can't help but feel like you are there along with Briony and Robbie and Cecilia. It makes you feel everything, from anger to anxiety to just overwhelming sadness, and the ending rips your heart right out of your chest and everything you thought you knew out of your head, all at once. Everyone should read this book before they die, at least once.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and War
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexual content
noiraet's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape and Injury/Injury detail