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: \É™-ˈtÅn-mÉ™nt\
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.
