Ian McEwan has received prestigious awards and international praise for his novels, including Enduring Love. In Atonement, three children lose their innocence--as the sweltering summer heat bears down on the hottest day in 1935--and their lives are changed forever. Cecilia Tallis is of England's priviledged class; Robbie Turner is the housekeeper's son. In their moment of intimate surrender, they are interrupted by Cecilia's hyperimaginative and scheming 13-year-old sister, Briony. And as chaos consumes the family, Briony commits a crime, the guilt of which she shall carry throughout her life.
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"feels. FEELS. after finishing this book i had to sit and contemplate it. it's unlike any book i've ever read. while boring at some parts, everything comes together in the end to make the reader (well at least me) freak out and flail around my room. the narration, while it annoyed me at some parts, was absolutely crucial in making the book stand out to me so much as it did. loved it!"
— Kelsey (4 out of 5 stars)
“[A] masterpiece…Atonement is a work of astonishing depth and humanity.”
— The Economist (London)“An elegant, deeply felt meditation on the power of love and art.”
— The Guardian (London)“This is a thoughtful, provocative, and at times moving book that will have readers applauding.”
— Amazon.com“This haunting novel…is at once McEwan at his most closely observed and psychologically penetrating, and his most sweeping and expansive.”
— Publishers Weekly“[McEwan] excels brilliantly at depicting moral dilemmas and stressed minds in action without losing a keen sense of the body’s terrible fragility, the touching absurdity of desire, and time’s obstinacy.”
— Booklist" Amazing, amazing book. McEwan makes the world seen through the eyes of a thirteen year old girl so nefarious; her determination to be viewed as an adult leads to a fateful mistake that will forever disrupt several lives including that of her older sister Cecilia and her lover Robbie... "
— Tasha, 2/20/2014" This has to be one of my top 5 all time favorites. The story is incredible. The characters are original and developed in such a way that you can't help but become involved in their stories. I became emotionally attached to each character. The ending of the book completely surprised me. This was the type of book that left me wanting more. "
— Natalie, 2/4/2014" now this is a great book! "
— Mara, 2/2/2014" How boring....I hate to give up on a book and I hoped it would be better than the movie so I kept trying...oh well "
— Lynn, 1/21/2014" A very good book. Another look at war in England. "
— Karen, 12/23/2013" The story is really good but sometimes hard to read. "
— Christina, 11/27/2013" An example of Book v Film .... book wins "
— Michelle, 11/24/2013" This is a WONDERFUL book, one of the best books I have ever read. I had seen the movie some years ago, and fortunately had forgotten alot of the story, which came back to me as I read the book. The movie was excellent too, but really, you must read the book, it's a treasure. "
— S.M., 9/13/2013" Atonement is hands down the best book that I've read by Ian McEwan. "
— Amicia, 8/8/2013" One of the finest works of fiction I've ever read, disturbing, human, and brilliant. "
— Marti, 8/7/2013" I actually saw the movie first and really liked it a great deal. The book is always better. "
— Deanne, 6/4/2013Ian McEwan is the author of more than a dozen books, including either New York Times bestsellers. His novel Amsterdam won the 1998 Book Prize; Atonement, won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the W. H. Smith Literary Award; and The Child in Time won the Whitbread Award. His story collection, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award.
Jill Tanner was a principal actress with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival for eight years and has appeared in many classical and new American plays. She has been in productions on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in most major theaters in the United States.