Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Atonement by Ian McEwan

17 reviews

anna_99l's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

I firmly believe that 'Atonement' is only of the few cases where it is acceptable to say that you prefer either the movie or the book. However, this does not take away from McKewan's writing in the slightest. This is not a book for those that are looking for a fast paced novel - half of the novel takes place in one afternoon. Rather, the book is very character driven.

I find Atonement so compelling because it reminds me that no matter how sorry you are about a past wrong, oftentimes our desire to repent cannot be actualised. There are some wrongs that cannot be righted and we have to live with our own actions. This makes me appreciate the gravity of my actions more, although I don't think I would have every acted like Brioney regardless of whether I had read the book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

grace17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The writing was just beautiful, with amazing descriptions and a story that was truly heartbreaking.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Sexual harassment

paperback_moon's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War

tbookworm's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Genocide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Antisemitism

fruitea's review against another edition

2.0

ok this is a weird one because we actually read the ending chapters as a class but i wasn't paying attention so i've put it as dnf. sorry ms williams it was just infuriating to sit through nearly 2 hours of people reading aloud so monotonously and you never saw me playing solitaire on my phone anyway.
anyway. i did not like this book. evidently. the whole premise seemed so flimsy and i feel like briony's stupidity ignorance was used as a plot device.

besides, i'm sure there's more nuance to police investigations than taking the word of a thirteen year old as infallible. also she wasn't entirely truthful.

 
speaking of briony, she was so annoying. she never grew out of her immaturity, she always played the victim, never taking responsibility for her actions. i get that 13 years old is young to witness such a crime, but also at that age you know not to lie to the police about these things????????? she knew it herself??????? so what was the reason? because i never found any explanation for that. listen briony my dude, you made a mistake, you knew it was a mistake but still did it anyway, and then blame others for the consequences of your own actions. also, it's a pretty forgettable story except for those major plot points. like the middle of the book felt like filler, it didn't add much to the story. briony had no character development either. so basically it's not worth the read, watch the movie instead. keira knightley and james mcavoy redeem it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Rape

phantasyia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, and Dementia

whatannikareads's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

i read this because i remember loving the movie when i was little but not remembering the entire plot, and it did not disappoint! ian mcewan's writing style is very pretty, although i did skim through some parts that felt like superfluous, flowery details. the plot twist made me gasp and i'm glad i didn't remember it. i love a not so happy ending. very much sucks you in. the emerald green dress cecilia wears is iconic!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape