Darice de Cuba

I finished reading Atonement by Ian McEwan within a couple of days. I was continuously drawn to McEwans classic writing style. I didn’t expect the book to be a classic, which means, this is one to be on the literature list for many years to come. This book was an impulse buy without knowing anything about the book or the writer and I wasn’t disappointed.

Main Entry: atone·ment Listen to the pronunciation of atonement

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈtōn-mənt\

Function: noun

* obsolete : reconciliation * the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ * reparation for an offense or injury : satisfaction * Christian Science : the exemplifying of human oneness with God

The story is told in three parts, the main character are 13 years old Briony Tallis, her older sister Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner their childhood friend. The three parts happen in 1935, 1940 and 1999.

On one hot summer day their lives are changed forever by different occurrences during the day and Briony’s childish fantasy. Briony will spend the rest of her life atoning for her crime.

It all starts with the arrival of their cousins Lola of 15 year and the twins Jackson and Pierrot of 9 year. Meanwhile Briony is preparing her play, “The Trials of Arabella” for the home coming of her older brother Leon.

Leon brings along his friend the chocolate magnate Paul Marshall who is hoping that there will be war (World War 2) so that he can sell his chocolate amo with the army. We soon learn that Paul is not what he pretends to be. Leon being a free spirited guy who doesn’t see faults in anyone is blind to what happens around him. Their father Jack Tallis, works for the ministry and is never at home. Mother Emily Tallis suffers from migraine and spends most of her days in her bedroom. She is so absent from her children’s life that they call her Emily instead of mother.

McEwan is one of those writers who likes details, being an impatient reader sometimes I would get frustrated. But the details makes the story come to life. The war scenes where raw. As someone who likes history and has read a lot about World War 2 I was captivated as I never read how the evacuation of Dunkirk went so I was totally into the story wanting to find out what would happen. The war has a great effect also on the lives of the characters.

I wouldn’t say this is a light read, it’s pure literature. I would even say this is one of the books that is a must to be on the literature list for English class in high-school and college. The ending leaves you wondering a bit but is surprising.

I will definitely be reading another Ian McEwan book.

Lately I have been reading more then one book at a time which I normally never do. I’m reading Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith and A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon.

I’m getting more picky about books which each new one I read. It’s more then natural that if a writer publish his/her first book and it’s a hit you have high expectations of the next one. Also when reading books by other writers. For example after finishing “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows”, it was such a good book that I was a bit at lost as what to read next.

I read complete pocket series of writers I like, like John Grisham and P.J. Tracy but even so not all of their books are good. I remember the first Grisham I read was “The Client”, I read that book uncountable times when in high-school. But his last few books didn’t do anything. P.J. Tracy first book “Want to Play?” was great, the second was close but the last two where a bit of a disappointment.

I started getting into Dean Koontz but gave up after about the fifth book, after “Odd Thomas” and “Forever Odd” the other books seemed boring. With all pocket series it happens that the stories start becoming predictable, before I didn’t have a problem with that but like I said I am more picky now.

Because of that now I’m always on the look out for new books from writers I haven’t read yet. A few days ago I just bought my first book by Ian McEwan, “Atonement”. That one is next on my reading list I’m curious about the writer, hopefully the book won’t disappoint.

I’m still looking for the next pocket book with a fictional story that keeps me reading in one sit, especially if the plot line is about some conspiracy theory. Meanwhile my bookcase is full and books are starting to pile up on the floor. I already got rid of lots of books, pockets mostly but it’s not something I like to do.