Book of the Week #3: Atonement

The third book on my quest for well-read-ness is Atonement, by Ian McEwan. Unlike the last two books, this one was actually in paper form when I read it, having been gleaned from the “free” bin at a yard sale. 

This book was phenomenal in its twists and turns. It spans the lifetime of Briony Tallis, a young English girl, beginning in 1935, and finishing up after the war, along with a present-day epilogue.

Briony, at the beginning of the novel, is a thirteen-year-old with a passion for writing. She lives on the country estate of her parents with her older sister, Cecilia, and their three cousins, twin boys, and an older girl, Lola, who have been sent to stay as a result of some nastiness with their parents. Shortly thereafter, Briony witnesses a moment between Cecilia and Robbie, the housekeeper’s son. Robbie is smitten with Cecilia and returns to his room to write her a note expressing his feelings to her. In frustration, he writes an erotic version that he never intends to give to her. However, of course he accidently gives that one to Briony to deliver to Cecilia. Briony, being a nosy teenager, reads the letter. Soon after, Robbie and Cecilia make love in the library. Briony walks in on them, and thinks that the acct was non-consensual, and Robbie is therefore a sex maniac. 

Later that night, Lola is raped by an unknown assailant, and Briony is quick to accuse Robbie. While Cecilia believes he is innocent, he is nevertheless taken away, driving a rift between her and Briony. The rest of the novel is spent, as the title implies, trying to find atonement for the crimes committed. 

Like I said before, this novel is brilliant. It’s nuanced, and smooth, in a way that I hadn’t expected. Similarly to when I read Looking for Alaska, this novel explores the differences in how things appear to someone in their youth, as opposed to how an adult may see them. 

This phenomenal book was made into a movie, that I haven’t yet seen, but I will certainly go get now. I was pleased with both the clarity and style of the novel, as well as the accuracy historical theme. It’s a great read, and I strongly encourage you to pick it up the next time you’re at the library :)