Atonement: A Novel
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A symphonic novel of love and war, childhood and class, guilt and forgiveness that provides all the satisfaction of a brilliant narrative and the provocation we have come to expect from the acclaimed Booker Prize–winning, internationally bestselling author.
One of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century • A Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of the Century
“A beautiful and majestic fictional panorama.” —John Updike, The New Yorker
On a hot summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a moment’s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant and Cecilia’s childhood friend. But Briony’s incomplete grasp of adult motives—together with her precocious literary gifts—brings about a crime that will change all their lives.
As it follows that crime’s repercussions through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century, Atonement engages the reader on every conceivable level, with an ease and authority that mark it as a genuine masterpiece.
One of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century • A Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of the Century
“A beautiful and majestic fictional panorama.” —John Updike, The New Yorker
On a hot summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a moment’s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant and Cecilia’s childhood friend. But Briony’s incomplete grasp of adult motives—together with her precocious literary gifts—brings about a crime that will change all their lives.
As it follows that crime’s repercussions through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century, Atonement engages the reader on every conceivable level, with an ease and authority that mark it as a genuine masterpiece.
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Readers say *Atonement* is beautifully written with rich, immersive language and complex, flawed characters. Many praise its unique structure and comp...
Written 2/8/08
Would like to see the movie recently released- I enjoyed the book-Briony witnesses her sister in a "moment" with the neighbor boy-believing this boy is now filled with lust, she falsely accuses him of rape when her cousin claims she was attacked. It turned out the cousin was not raped but was rather ashamed of sexual relations she had prior to her later in life marriage. Briony's sister is in love with the boy but they are destined to spend their time separated first by his incarceration, then because of the war in which he never returns- the sister is also killed during the war - Briony lives her life, after realizing what she has done, full of regret and remorse for being the cause of her sister's loss of love - She grows up to be an author, when she writes the story of her situation only to change the ending to ensure her sister "lives" out her happy life with her love-
**The movie was very true to the book...I enjoyed it
Would like to see the movie recently released- I enjoyed the book-Briony witnesses her sister in a "moment" with the neighbor boy-believing this boy is now filled with lust, she falsely accuses him of rape when her cousin claims she was attacked. It turned out the cousin was not raped but was rather ashamed of sexual relations she had prior to her later in life marriage. Briony's sister is in love with the boy but they are destined to spend their time separated first by his incarceration, then because of the war in which he never returns- the sister is also killed during the war - Briony lives her life, after realizing what she has done, full of regret and remorse for being the cause of her sister's loss of love - She grows up to be an author, when she writes the story of her situation only to change the ending to ensure her sister "lives" out her happy life with her love-
**The movie was very true to the book...I enjoyed it
I consider myself a fairly competent reader, but I had no idea what was going on half the time. Or maybe my daydreams got the best of me and I simply wasn't paying attention. I hated this book. I personally don't care for the writing style. The plot was annoying, and it made me angry. Not a fan at all.
I loved it!! The writing is so fluid and amazing, and the way the book is structured is too. The way it shows different perceptions is so great. The plot had me hooked! I literally couldn’t put it down. The ending is so gut wrenching
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