From the Bookshelf of The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
I am not sure if maybe I just don't get this book or what? But I had a really hard time getting into the first 1/3 of this book. It seemed to endlessly go on and on about every little detail, and although beautifully written, after a while I felt like I was stuck in a beautiful but frozen world where emotion never fully flourished. I often felt like I was looking out at the world from a character's eyes but never really getting into his or her head. The character development was lacking for me a
...more
I just re-read this book (and am changing my rating) because I want to see the movie and needed a refresher. I still liked it, but didn't find it as haunting as I did the first time around. I know the character of Briony is supposed to be infuriating, but geez she's annoying. I read this book a few years ago and I don't remember being as annoyed with her as I was this time. I just find it really hard to imagine that a 13 year old could wreak so much havoc without being a vindictive character. I
...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I had heard that this book is really slow and hard to get into. However, I did not have this problem at all. I loved this book from the very start, and I thought the introspection and descriptions in the first half of the novel were excellent. I loved how Briony had that one passage about realizing that each person is just as "alive" as she is, with their own perspectives and ways of interpreting events. I like how that theme carried throughout the book. And, the ending was spectacular. I have t
...more
Contrary to what one may think from the movie reviews, this book is not light-hearted or a romantic comedy of any sort. The story is a tragedy. A 13 year old misunderstands her sister's relationship with her boyfriend and falsely accuses him of rape. It ends tragically, and forgiveness is never really obtained. I wanted to kill myself after I read this book (metaphorically, not literally), and I do NOT want to see the movie.
...more
The fact that McEwan can cram such a powerfully detailed and well-written story into such a few number of pages has elevated his writing in my eyes. I loved idea that the mistakes we make, even the ones of our youth, can have such terrible and life-long repercussions. Some of this novel's scenes remain vivid in my mind long after I've read it.
...more
Very slow beginning and not very much dialogue. The ending picked up a bit. The end of the story left me questioning what I just read.
Three and a half stars. I did love the ending.
Feb 19, 2008
Kristi
marked it as to-read
Apr 14, 2008
Katy
marked it as to-read
Jun 21, 2008
Sarah
marked it as to-read
Sep 29, 2008
chris
marked it as to-read
Nov 24, 2008
Summer
marked it as to-read
Apr 08, 2009
Carissa
marked it as to-read
