Pilker,+Emma

Atonement (2001) by Ian McEwan

//Destiny Review:// //Ian McEwan’s// Atonement //is a stylistic gold mine. Not only does the book envelop the reader, but it appeals to every acute and hidden sense that the human possesses. McEwan’s precise word choice, his incredible sequencing, and his descriptive judgment all set// Atonement //on a level beyond. Most of all, it is his stunning capability to communicate across the intricacies of the mind, as well as his thorough knowledge of psychology and philosophy, that make every page a ravishing read. The book is a gripping, masterly crafted work of romantic, tragic, and heart-wrenching beauty.//

**BACKGROUND** Ian McEwan's most praised book is, by far, //Atonement//. He has written eleven novels to date, his most recent being //Solar (2008)//. McEwan also writes short stories, screenplays, and other literary works. His prestigious awards include the Somerset Maugham Award, the Prix Fémina Etranger, The Man Booker Prize, and many, many others. For //Atonement// alone he has been awarded the WH Smith Literary Award, the National Book Critics' Circle Fiction Award, the Los Angeles Times Prize for Fiction, and the Santiago Prize for the European Novel. He resides in London, England.

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 * SUMMARY ** //Atonement// begins as, what is seemingly, a dry and plotless story about the pre-World War II English countryside. The fields and fountains surrounding the Tallis Estate in Surrey Hills, England set the scene for a dormant turn of events. But it is the young mind of thirteen-year old Briony Tallis which sets the book apart from the masses. Briony, a gifted and self-absorbed teenager, ruins two people's lives with a false accusation that is the result of her over-active imagination. Robbie Turner, the son of the Tallis's help, is wrongly accused of raping Briony's younger cousin. Cecilia, Briony's older sister, must watch Robbie, the love of her life, be sent to prison for a crime of which he was innocent. Years later, Briony visits Cecilia to find that her sister and Robbie have reuinted, for good. The final chapters of the book are told from the point of view of a 77 year old Briony Tallis, who reveals the truly earth-shattering conclusion of //Atonement// that will leave the reader completely stunned.

** A MASTER OF STYLE ** DESCRIPTION & DETAIL: Where and how McEwan chooses to reveal details makes the book disturbingly real. He is not consistently detailed, which is refreshing as most authors feel the need to detail every aspect of a story, or none at all. The act of Briony and Cecilia's cousin being raped is merely described in vague and confusing flashes. Geoff Dyer of //The Guardian// calls him "an invisible rather than a flamboyant stylist." Evidence echoes Dyer's review on almost every page. A paragraph begins with "It was a long bitter winter for the British Expeditionary Force in northern France. Nothing much happened." The following begins with, "It may have been the first touches of green along the French lanes and the haze of bluebells glimpsed through the woods that made him feel the need for reconciliation and fresh beginnings."

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: The author's character development is specifically impressive when it comes to the young and troubled Briony Tallis. Using psychological aspects of adolescence and the innermost workings of the human mind and human nature, McEwan delves into self absorption, perfectionism, and teenage confusion. He uses Briony's thoughts, which flow in a stream of consciousness, to present her as an intellectual and yet naive young writer.

DIALOGUE: Something that sets //Atonement// apart from the regular novel is the added effect of a correspondence of letters. Robbie and Cecilia keep in touch with written mail, through which the reader quickly gains an even better insight into both of their personalities and their never-ending love. Both Robbie and Cecilia's voices are clearly and concisely heard through each of their many personal and touching letters.

SUSPENSE: Something about Ian McEwan's writing puts the reader on the edge. As Tom Shone of the New York Times puts is, "His books have a natural 45-degree tilt, leaning forward, through a fog of mounting unease, towards a claret-dark revelation." There is in fact a growing sense of non-consuming apprehension until the reader reaches the conclusion.

CONCLUSION: Says David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle, "McEwan courageously employs a 'gotcha' ending in //Atonement,// ...The device, which usually doesn't work because it seems too gimmicky, cause our previous suspension of disbelief to double back on itself..." This ending, which is particularly shocking, **is the key to the entire book**. Without this ending, the book would otherwise remain an incredibly written piece of enticing literature. But is the conclusion alone which singularly defines //Atonement//.

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Works Cited Dyer, Geoff. “Who’s afraid of influence?” Rev. of //Atonement//, by Ian McEwan. //The Guardian.// The Guardian, 22 Sept. 2001. Web. 23 May 2010. 

McEwan, Ian. //Atonement//. New York: Random House, 2001. Print.

Shone, Tom. “White Lies.” Rev. of //Atonement//, by Ian McEwan. //New York Times.// New York Times,10 Mar. 2002. Web. 23 May 2010. < []>

Wiegand, David. “Stumbling into fate / Accidents and choices trip up the characters in Ian McEwan's new novel.” Rev. of //Atonement// by Ian McEwan. //San Francisco// //Chronicle. //San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2002. Web. 23 May 2010. <[]>