Questions About Atonement

by Ian McEwan (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (19)

Is this appropriate for a mature 15-year-old? How much sexual content and/or violence is there?

Lindsey By now, you've made your decision. But for anyone reading these answers asking the same question, here are my thoughts.
This depends on your standards.…moreBy now, you've made your decision. But for anyone reading these answers asking the same question, here are my thoughts.
This depends on your standards. I read this book for an upper level university course.
In my opinion, there is one sexually explicit scene. This was explicit to me, but as you can tell by other answers, some people don't agree. It detailed more than just that they had sex, but how. For anyone looking for guidance, I think this should tell you more than other reviews here. I personally found this scene disturbing and skipped over the rest of that chapter (but read a summary online so I didn't miss anything big).
Everyone responds to content differently, and every reader should keep in mind that even "maturity" doesn't mean you have to be okay with explicit content no matter your age. That's personal choice.
There were many uses of f*** in the war chapters.
As for violence, there were some very disturbing images in the battlefield and hospital scenes. (More than just blood... exposed bone, brain, & muscle descriptions).
While this particular content was disturbing to me (and I would not choose to read such content again), McEwan does not include it lightly. The content he includes is there with purpose.
Literarily, I think this is an exquisite piece. If it weren't for the explicit content, I'd be recommending this book to everyone I know.
If you are a parent wanting advice for your child, read it first and see for yourself. If you choose to let your kid read it, check in with them along the way and talk about it.
If you want personal advice, I wouldn't want my kid to read this book, not even as a teen.
If you're reading this for yourself, take stock of how you respond to certain content. Does violence give you nightmares? Pay attention, you don't need to be scarred just because someone said "it wasn't that bad" or "you'll be fine." Graphic content isn't something to play with.(less)

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I watched the movie and it wasn't as good as I thought it would be...should I read the book??

Nela In my opinion, the movie is similar in atmosphere at times, but the book is infinitely better. Plus I don't think that neither Keira Knightley, nor Ja…moreIn my opinion, the movie is similar in atmosphere at times, but the book is infinitely better. Plus I don't think that neither Keira Knightley, nor James McAvoy, nor Romola Garai were good fits for their roles (and I watched the movie before reading the book so that really is saying something).(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Taylor It wasn’t out of jealousy. When she’s remembering at the wedding, she thinks about the day she told Robbie she loved him, and she said she promptly fo…moreIt wasn’t out of jealousy. When she’s remembering at the wedding, she thinks about the day she told Robbie she loved him, and she said she promptly forgot about it a day later. Showing that it was just a childish crush and not any kind of motive (which Robbie suspects at one point).

I think it became very clear to her sometime in those five years that it was Paul, but it wasn’t right away. I’m her head, everything that was going on between Robbie and Cecilia was sinister. She had to “protect” her sister. She couldn’t fathom her sister “disgracing” herself by undressing in front of a man or tolerating the things he wrote in his letter. So to Briony, Robbie must have been sexually obsessed and had some kind of evil power that her sister was powerless against (as was evident, to her, by findin them in the library).

At first, I think I’m her head she honestly was protecting her sister. I think it becomes clear in the description of the legal proceedings that she starts to doubt herself then.

I agree that she didn’t begin to understand the consequences of that she was doing. (less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Mary I'm still wondering and I've read the book twice! I keep thinking that maybe Briony focuses a lot on rape (real or imagined) as a means of distancing …moreI'm still wondering and I've read the book twice! I keep thinking that maybe Briony focuses a lot on rape (real or imagined) as a means of distancing herself from her own guilt regarding Robbie. It's hard to know about Lola's behavior and reactions since she is consistently portrayed as manipulative and deceitful.(less)

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I am only in Chapter four of this book, but I am already bored. Is it worth the trouble of continuing to read it? Does it get any better?

Jonkonfui No. The book is extremely boring and it does not get better. The last 10 pages might reveal a new side of the story and most things make sense. But th…moreNo. The book is extremely boring and it does not get better. The last 10 pages might reveal a new side of the story and most things make sense. But the book in itself is very boring. (less)

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