Despite criticisms that this is well worn territory (is this one of the reasons he didn't win the Booker?), McEwan writes beautifully and I found Atonement mesmerising. His characters are well developed and I was always intrigued to see what they would do next. A satisfying and rewarding book.

This is the second copy I have registered and it's promised to fushmush.

A bookcrossing bonanza in the mail today! Thanks Fuji :D

This book has been promised to another bookcrosser --> KiwiKat (mmmm, kitkat). When I finally get around to reading it!

I just finished reading this and I'm so very sad :( Finally a Ian McEwan novel worthy of all the hype. This novel was a wonderful read!

Ian McEwan perfectly captured the 13 year old Briony. Such melodrama!:
"Briony indulged herself by looking through the window in a spirit of farewell. Her mother was forty-six, dispiritingly old. One day she would die. There would be a funeral in the village at which Briony's dignified retience would hint at the vastness of her sorrow. As her friends came up to murmur their condolences they would feel awed by the scale of her tradegy. She saw herself standing alone in a great arena, within a towering colosseum, watched not only by all the people she knew, but at all those she would ever know, the whole cast of her life, assembled to love her in her loss."

Before this book is sent to KiwiKat it is going to make a short stop with Kuju.

Recieved from Fushmush! I've jumped the queue but I'll send it off to KiwiKat as soon as I can!

It took me awhile to get into this book. I can't say I enjoyed the whole book but parts were beautifully described. I've already passed this book back to Fushmush who passed it to Noodlebowl last night (another queue jumper!). Sorry KiwiKat for hijacking it so long!

Oops, didn't realise I was a BC terrorist! Be alert, not alarmed!

Just started this morning on the train. It will be good read for my upcoming sojourn to the country for christmas. (I cannot wait darling! We shall drink tea and eat scones and nap all the high noon day!)

Very well written and engrossing. I was frustrated by Briony, more that I could identify with her age and way of thinking. I finished it during the Christmas break but it temporarily went on holidays in our black hole of a study.

On to Kiwikat next, sorry for the delay. "Australia Post, show us the meaning of haste"

Apologies to Kiwikat. =( This book is to be returned to Fushmush today who has someone wanting to read it.

Certainly more deserving of the Booker Prize than his later "Amsterdam". But, like "Amsterdam" I thought this story seemed to fizzle out in the end. McEwen definately has a beautiful narrative and develops both his characters and his scenery with wonderful depth and attention. But in so doing, there are times when it feels that the story that encompasses them is of less interest, less deserving of the same attention and it feels almost as if he wants to wrap it up to get onto something new.

In particular I felt that the true punishment for Briony's crime was swept aside in a tide of almost indulgent nostalgia, that the true atonement was of little consequence. But then, maybe he meant it to be that way.

That said, a good read and I do enjoy well-developed characters. I just think he wrapped it up too easily, in much the same way as Briony's first novella.

Passing it back to fushmush.

Lent to the lovely barista at Bar Mattino, Chippendale.