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A review by bluereen
Atonement by Ian McEwan
4.0
“A person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn and not easily mended.”
***
More than Keira Knightley’s iconic emerald green dress in the 2007 film adaptation breaking the internet, trust that this novel is one you wouldn’t want to miss. Atonement is heralded as one of the greatest British novels of the 21st century.
Through fragmented narratives, we follow an affluent family ravished by the Second World War. The story centers on a pair of star-crossed lovers divided by their social status: Cecilia, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Tallis family, and Robbie — the house cleaner’s son. Despite their mutual intelligence, any sense of foresight was eclipsed by their passion for each other. Conflict arises when the youngest daughter, Briony, tells one small lie on a hot summer’s day. Little did this precocious child know, her actions would unravel a chaos that would change the lives of everyone around.
Atonement examines the complicated threads between history, memory, and writing. It highlights the power of storytelling and questions its extent of assuaging our guilt. Having watched the film before reading the book, I already had an inkling of what was coming. Joe Wright’s adaptation did a great job of strategically pacing the events and adding a masterful soundtrack to heighten emotions. Still, McEwan’s work is not to be missed as the writing style is enchanting enough to draw you in and ultimately, leave you disquieted at the volatile turn of events.
***
More than Keira Knightley’s iconic emerald green dress in the 2007 film adaptation breaking the internet, trust that this novel is one you wouldn’t want to miss. Atonement is heralded as one of the greatest British novels of the 21st century.
Through fragmented narratives, we follow an affluent family ravished by the Second World War. The story centers on a pair of star-crossed lovers divided by their social status: Cecilia, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Tallis family, and Robbie — the house cleaner’s son. Despite their mutual intelligence, any sense of foresight was eclipsed by their passion for each other. Conflict arises when the youngest daughter, Briony, tells one small lie on a hot summer’s day. Little did this precocious child know, her actions would unravel a chaos that would change the lives of everyone around.
Atonement examines the complicated threads between history, memory, and writing. It highlights the power of storytelling and questions its extent of assuaging our guilt. Having watched the film before reading the book, I already had an inkling of what was coming. Joe Wright’s adaptation did a great job of strategically pacing the events and adding a masterful soundtrack to heighten emotions. Still, McEwan’s work is not to be missed as the writing style is enchanting enough to draw you in and ultimately, leave you disquieted at the volatile turn of events.