Atonement

By: Ian McEwan

Narrated by: Jill Tanner

Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

National Book Critics Circle, Fiction, 2003

In Atonement, three children lose their innocence, as the sweltering summer heat bears down on the hottest day in 1935, and their lives are changed forever. Cecilia Tallis is of England's priviledged class; Robbie Turner is the housekeeper's son. In their moment of intimate surrender, they are interrupted by Cecilia's hyperimaginative and scheming 13-year-old sister, Briony. And as chaos consumes the family, Briony commits a crime, the guilt of which she shall carry throughout her life.

©2001 Ian McEwan (P)2003 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

• Book Sense Book of the Year Award Finalist, Adult Fiction, 2003

"A tour de force. Every bit as affecting as it is gripping." (The New York Times)
"Enthralling...With psychological insight and a command of sensual and historical detail, Mr. McEwan creates an absorbing fictional world." (The Wall Street Journal)
"A beautiful and majestic fictional panorama." (The New Yorker)

Beautiful book

This book was beautifully written. The reader is one of my favorites on audible (she was one of the readers of "The Thirteenth Tale", my favorite audible book to date). The story was long, bittersweet, slow - something to savor over a cup of tea with a warm blanket, or sit on the porch with a cup of coffee. I can't wait to see the movie!

A long read

I enjoyed the story but just felt it so long for what it had to say. There was too much running on about the texture of the surrounding but not enough insight in to character development or what attonement really ment to the main character at a more deep understanding. I was disappointed.

Great story but gets a li'l slow...

The story is really well put but I do agree with many other reviewers that it digresses in the 2nd part with the elaborate war descriptions but I guess it was important for the plot. Other than that, well read and a unique plot.

A love story cut short by a lie

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. An easy and fascinating read with some unexpected twists at the end. A captivating story about young lovers stopped from pursuing their romance by a lie by a younger sister. Takes place mostly in England with a small but significant part in France as troops retreat to Dunkirk. Vivid imagery of the retreat and of casualties evacuated to a hospital. Story told from the point of view of the younger sister.

Very good

Better than the movie. Good reflection of High-class English life before and during the 2nd War.A totally different king of story telling.

Briony oh briony...

This book totally grew on me. Once the characters were fully developed the real story could be told - and it was superb. Be patient with the character development - it's worth it, to totally immerse yourself in the situations at hand in the book. Loved it. Have avoided this author in the past but would totally go for it based on what I experienced with his writing this time.

Not enough of a story

The book was obviously very well written but for me there was not enough of a story. The part I enjoyed the most was when Robbi was making his way back to Dunkirk during the war but that did not add much to the story line, other than showing his will to live. I also thought it lacked emotion, I like books to make me laugh, cry or both but this did not really stir my emotions. I think this is one for the classroom where it can be pulled apart and all the little literary gems can be discovered.

Astonishing and Haunting

Beautiful, prose and impeccable characterization follows a fascinating plot to a haunting twist. I listen to this book every year, and with every listen I am astonished all over again!

Masterpiece

Beautiful story, sad ending. I’ve enjoyed the story of the complex characters and the journey they went through during WWII.

An amazing book about complex human perception

"Atonement" is a deeply satifying, extraordinarily well written book that seems simple because it is so well crafted, but deals with such complex issues. Core to the book is that each of us comes to our own 'truth' while never really seeing the whole. One of the characters says "It's like being close up to something so large you don't even see it. Even now, I'm not sure I can. But I know it's there." Throughout the book the reader watches this happen again and again, something so large the individuals don't see the whole of it, although they know it is there. For Briony, this lack of understanding leads to tragic consequences, but the book goes on to show how each of us lacks a comprehensive understanding.

I thought it a wonderful, brilliantly written book that will stay with me for many years. Rarely have I had such a satifying "read." From start to finish McEwan didn't let me down. I think those who don't like it are listeners who prefer more action in their books, and this isn't that. It isn't a light read, nor is it fast-paced. I find myself almost wishing I belonged to a book club so I could talk about it, since I know that for all I got out of it, I missed so much. If this type of book isn't to one's taste, or the subject matter and ideas the author explores aren't interesting to you, then certainly don't get it. But that it is well written is not in doubt. I also found the topic utterly fascinating and felt the author was able to express ideas that I have played with in my own head but never would be able to write up as well.