Amazon.co.uk Review
Atonement is Ian McEwan's ninth novel and his first since the Booker Prize-winning Amsterdam in 1998. But whereas Amsterdam was a slim, sleek piece, Atonement is a more sturdy, ambitious work, allowing McEwan more room to play, think and experiment.
We meet 13-year-old Briony Tallis in the summer of 1935, as she attempts to stage a production of her new drama The Trials of Arabella to welcome home her elder, idolised brother Leon. But she soon discovers that her cousins, the glamorous Lola and the twin boys Jackson and Pierrot, aren't up to the task, and directorial ambitions are abandoned as more interesting preoccupations come onto the scene. The charlady's son Robbie Turner appears to be forcing Briony's sister Cecilia to strip in the Fountain and sends her obscene letters; Leon has brought home a dim chocolate magnate keen for a war to promote his new "Army Amo" bar; and upstairs Briony's migraine-stricken mother Emily keeps tabs on the house from her bed. Soon, secrets emerge that change the lives of everyone present...
The interwar upper-middle-class setting of the book's long, masterfully sustained opening section might recall Virginia Woolf or Henry Green, but as we move forward--eventually to the turn of the 21st century--the novel's central concerns emerge, and McEwan's voice becomes clear, even personal. For at heart, Atonement is about the pleasures, pains and dangers of writing, and perhaps even more, about the challenge of controlling what readers make of your writing. McEwan shouldn't have any doubts about readers of Atonement: this is a thoughtful, provocative and at times moving book that will have readers applauding

An intricate, intense and wonderfully written character driven novel set in three main locations. Firstly we are treated to a wonderful description of country house living just prior to WWII, then Robbie’s wartime experiences in France and those of Cecilia and Briony as nurses in London.
The underlying theme is about writing and the pleasure and pain it can give to both author and reader by the subtle use of words to deceive ourselves and others.

It certainly gave me a few hours of pleasurable reading. The suspense built all the way through as we follow Briony Tallis, her sister Cecilia and family friend Robbie Turner as the story takes one from 1934 to the end of the twentieth century.
Not just their lives, but those of others were changed for ever on that hot summer afternoon in 1934. Briony at thirteen is precocious but still did not understand things that she should never have witnessed anyway; misconstruing these events led her to spend the rest of her life trying to seek atonement for her wrong doings that fateful day. Briony’s character develops from that of a spoilt youngest child to an adult regretting her mistakes. Fortunately Cecilia and Robbie’s love is not dimmed by the cruelty of Briony’s actions and although circumstances separate them they remain in touch with each other.

I should have read this 7 years ago and wish that I had not taken so long to get round to reading it. It is only the fourth book I have read by this author and it is certainly my favourite and the best in my opinion. So far that is as I shall definitely read more of his work in the future, especially looking forward to his most recent one, On Chesil Beach.
As I also prefer to read the book first, I can now also look forward to seeing the film.

I am going to suggest to my husband that he reads this one.

I am sending this on its travels as a Bookray. Please make a journal entry when book arrives with you so we all know where it is! If possible for the sake of others waiting, read, journal and pass on again within a month. Hope you all enjoy!

iwanttobeinital Italy
FireOpal Italy
Maireen Italy
Mallary France
Suffolk-Barnowl UK
Tregossip UK
Sidney1 Germany
Tsjara Netherlands(skip as now has own copy)
MrsJennings UK EN ROUTE HERE SINCE MAY 09
Littlesuz UK (Skip as now has copy sent as RABCK)
Kamischka Poland (Skip as now has own copy)
okyrhoe Greece (Skip as now has own copy)
Nagwan Yemen

July 5th Update. Sent this message to remaining bookcrossers on the list.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4579587 Gone missing and apparently in poor condition. I apologise and suggest you look elsewhere for a copy.

Sorry to let you down

RELEASE NOTES:

En route to iwanttobeinital

Arrived safely today.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The characters were very well drawn and the descriptive text exceptionally well-written.
Thanks for sharing LindyLouMac 8-)
Now awaiting an address for FireOpal to send it on its way.

Received this the other day and have yet to start reading it...

I had already seen the film and enjoyed it so was keen to read the book as well.
Part One, I thought, was a bit slow kicking off, and I don't think it helps having seen the film first...

Parts Two and Three I enjoyed more, and I found the stuff about Dunkirk very interesting.

By Part Three I was wondering if they had deviated from the film, until the last two pages really.

Good read.

Posted to Maireen on Tuesday 26th August.

Happy reading!

Book arrived this morning. Hope to start reading it in a few days . . have another on the go. Thank you FireOpal.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had expected to. Could be for the very gruesome descriptions of the retreat and suffering of the British Army in Part 2. Expected a bit more 'story' in Part 3 but would be interested to see how it is interperated in the film.

Will be forwarding to Mallary as soon as I have her address.

Thanks for sending this despite the problems posed by my moving house just as my turn came up!
I can't wait to get cracking, I enjoyed the film but I reckon the book is going to be even better!

The book was much better than the film because the characters in the book have their thoughts and feelings better described and you feel as though you can empathise with them more. I don't remember all of the retreat scenes in the book, just the dunes at Dunkirk and I also don't remember the birthday party! If I'd known the film was based on a book by Ian McEwan I probably would have waited until I had read the book but there are so few English language films over here, I jumped at the chance without doing my homework!
Thanks for sharing the book with me, I also obtained a copy just recently from a car boot sale so I shall look forward surprising someone with a copy!

Pming Suffolk-Barnowl for her address...

Book recieved from Mallary today, I will look forward to reading it when I have finished my current book. I have not seen the film and from the comments perhaps that is the best way to appreciate this story.

I do not often give up on a book and I found Atonement very heavy going. It needed perseverance for me to keep reading, a very intense book and although I did eventually enjoy it I would not go out of my way to read other books by this author.
I look forward to seeing the film version to see how the story is translated.

Arrived in this mornings post and looking forward to it
Thanks Sue for the note, it's delightful

An intense book to read (not seen the film) but characters are well drawn and described. I can't say I loved it as who can love such an awful time in history and the suffering of so many. But am pleased to have read it and thanks one and all.

have PM'd next person to send on it's way again

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Germany

Arrived safely in Munich today. See whether I like it as much as the film ...

First of all: my sincere apologies for taking so long to read the book. ☹ I was scared of reading it, as it’s so full of suffering.

I think the book is a clever reflection on the power and responsibility of the writer. I like the way that each time Briony changes the story to satisfy the reader it is noticeable in her writing. Example, when Briony nearly turns back on her decision to visit her sister: p. 329: ‘Perhaps this was the first step in the undoing of her plans, but she was already walking back, retracing her steps … (further down) as she walked along the Common, she felt the distance widen between her and another self, no less real. ’ McEwan shows us the point where reality turns into fiction – in a story he has made up. This is clever, holding up a mirror to the reader, saying: do you know what is true? It becomes true because I, the author, write it. Readers expect excitement, drama, (look at the suggestions the magazine makes to improve Briony’s short story), but happy endings, please. Which, of course, McEwan refuses to give us. I liked the book better than the film because these ideas about writing come across much more clearly. The film is more a love story with a twist or two.

Very clever, well written. The middle part is the least essential to the story, except that it gives more background and some more thoughts on atonement. Thank you, LindyLouMac for including me in the ring.

PS: the book arrived in a sad state and is rather falling apart. No pages missing yet ...

Have asked for Tsjara’s address.
Update 20.05: Tsjara now has her own copy, have pm'd MrsJennings for her address

Sidney1 sent this book on its way at the end of May so it looks as if it might have gone missing en-route to MrsJennings in the UK.
As the book is apparently showing signs of wear and tear I will not worry but will suggest to the remaining Bookcrossers on the list that they should maybe look elsewhere for a copy.

Meanwhile maybe this book will report in soon!

Update July 9th: This has in fact arrived safely with Mrs Jennings in the UK. See message pasted below. However I think due to its condition I will not recontact the others on the list! Good to know it arrived safely though. Thankyou.

Hello Sidney1,

many apologies for not registering the book yet, it has arrived safely. I
don't have internet connection at the moment so can only get online
infrequently. Unfortunately i haven't got the bcid with me today so will
register the next time i'm on.

Thanks

MrsJennings

Sorry I made you think the book had gone missing! I moved house and have only just got the internet. The book is not in that bad a condition if anyone else on the list still wants to read it. Looking forward to reading, thank you.

No problem, good to know it was safe with you after all. I will leave it to you to decide if this book is fit to travel any further. All the best in your new home.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Starbucks - upstairs on the bookshelf