in her words together forever
Book 6: Atonement (Ian McEwan)
Uncharacteristically, I watched Atonement before reading the book. I loved the movie, did some research, read a few reviews, and decided that I had to read the book for myself. Yes, the film was phenomenal; but I had a feeling that I was missing out. I had questions that I thought only the book could answer. And I was right! I got to understand and know the characters more intimately. And though I pictured them as the actors (James McAvoy was and always will be Robbie, no one could do Cecilia justice the way Keira Knightley did) the characters became much more real and intricate and beautiful. Still, I had a hard time writing this review, perhaps because there is so little to criticize.
"...as she passed she felt him touch her lightly on her forearm.
Or it may have been a leaf." (page 51)
It was at this point (the end of chapter 4, part 1) that I realized how much I was truly loving and enjoying this book. "Delicious language," I remember thinking to myself. I was completely engrossed.
Yes, I knew the outcome of the story, but I got wrapped up in the action once again. I was furious with Briony, mentally coaxing her to retract her statement so that Robbie would be free to love Cecilia. I loved the scenes in the hospital with Briony and the soldiers. There was a sincerity there that made the soldiers come alive; their stories were real, their illnesses painfully sad. The one part that I thought dragged a bit was Robbie's journey to Dunkirk. I really enjoyed the scenes on the beach, the pig chase and the descriptions of the drunken soldiers; but I can see why they condensed it in the movie. The ending was fantastic, I thought. Better, in fact, than the film's conclusion. But, once again, I understand how it would have been difficult to fit every single scene of this epic novel into the film. Perhaps the book would have been more gripping had I not seen the movie first, but I doubt it. It was a fantastic read regardless.
*** Highly recommended
Book List:
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini (370)
2. Veronika Decides to Die - Paulo Coelho (210)
3. My Darling Dead Ones - Erika de Vaconcelos (195)
4. The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Melissa Bank (274)
5. Never Satisfied: How & Why Mean Cheat - Michael Baisden (254)
6. Atonement - Ian McEwan (351)
Also posted at 50 book challenge: http://community.livejournal.com/50bookchallenge/9239708.html
Uncharacteristically, I watched Atonement before reading the book. I loved the movie, did some research, read a few reviews, and decided that I had to read the book for myself. Yes, the film was phenomenal; but I had a feeling that I was missing out. I had questions that I thought only the book could answer. And I was right! I got to understand and know the characters more intimately. And though I pictured them as the actors (James McAvoy was and always will be Robbie, no one could do Cecilia justice the way Keira Knightley did) the characters became much more real and intricate and beautiful. Still, I had a hard time writing this review, perhaps because there is so little to criticize.
"...as she passed she felt him touch her lightly on her forearm.
Or it may have been a leaf." (page 51)
It was at this point (the end of chapter 4, part 1) that I realized how much I was truly loving and enjoying this book. "Delicious language," I remember thinking to myself. I was completely engrossed.
Yes, I knew the outcome of the story, but I got wrapped up in the action once again. I was furious with Briony, mentally coaxing her to retract her statement so that Robbie would be free to love Cecilia. I loved the scenes in the hospital with Briony and the soldiers. There was a sincerity there that made the soldiers come alive; their stories were real, their illnesses painfully sad. The one part that I thought dragged a bit was Robbie's journey to Dunkirk. I really enjoyed the scenes on the beach, the pig chase and the descriptions of the drunken soldiers; but I can see why they condensed it in the movie. The ending was fantastic, I thought. Better, in fact, than the film's conclusion. But, once again, I understand how it would have been difficult to fit every single scene of this epic novel into the film. Perhaps the book would have been more gripping had I not seen the movie first, but I doubt it. It was a fantastic read regardless.
*** Highly recommended
Book List:
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini (370)
2. Veronika Decides to Die - Paulo Coelho (210)
3. My Darling Dead Ones - Erika de Vaconcelos (195)
4. The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Melissa Bank (274)
5. Never Satisfied: How & Why Mean Cheat - Michael Baisden (254)
6. Atonement - Ian McEwan (351)
Also posted at 50 book challenge: http://community.livejournal.com/50bookchallenge/9239708.html