Atonement
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I HATED this movie is the book worth reading?
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Stephanie
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rated it 5 stars
Jan 17, 2012 06:56AM
I just finished the book and watched the movie first. I thought that the director did a great job conveying what could be conveyed. There were so many internal monologues within the text, making a movie that followed it to the letter would be impossible. I felt that both were excellent, but there is nothing like getting under the skin of each character like you can in a book. I say 5 stars... but that's just me :)
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The book was a little better than the movie but honestly, I didn't like either. I liked On Chesil Beach so much better. The writing, in my opinion, was so beautiful.
Carolyn wrote: "The book was a little better than the movie but honestly, I didn't like either. I liked On Chesil Beach so much better. The writing, in my opinion, was so beautiful."I agree with you Carolyn, On Chesil Beach is my favorite of Ian McEwan's though I do like Atonement and a few others.
Tammy wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "The book was a little better than the movie but honestly, I didn't like either. I liked On Chesil Beach so much better. The writing, in my opinion, was so beautiful."I agree wit..."
My favorite of his remains Saturday....excellent.
One of the best books I have read in the last 10 years. Blew me away!! But I also loved the movie.
loved the movie but not so sure about the book... it dragged on too long. it's like my brain's about to explode because the description is skillfully and intricately written, my juvenile brain couldn't it all, couldn't stand the agonizingly great writing of McEwan... I think it's just not for me..
I also thought the movie was a stinker, but I read the book first, and the book was fantastic! It had everything the movie didn't: depth, nuance, revelation. I think it's far and away his best book.
Tammy wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "The book was a little better than the movie but honestly, I didn't like either. I liked On Chesil Beach so much better. The writing, in my opinion, was so beautiful."I agree wit..."
I just started Saturday.
Carolyn wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "The book was a little better than the movie but honestly, I didn't like either. I liked On Chesil Beach so much better. The writing, in my opinion, was so beautiful...."look forward to hearing what you thought Carolyn.....s
I haven't read the other comments, but I disliked the book. I felt it had so much promise at the beginning but then devolved into a straightforward war story. Not that there's anything wrong with war stories, but I was expecting something else, something deeper about relationships. The book is fast fading from memory which also tells you something about its impact on me.
Nelly wrote: "I haven't read the other comments, but I disliked the book. I felt it had so much promise at the beginning but then devolved into a straightforward war story. Not that there's anything wrong with w..."The war happened, but it felt that this was more a story of how a precocious, interferring child can trick or deceive people. Her interferenctrim their lives and love for each other was truly sad and made sadder by them all then getting through the war and finding out what and why but that they still loved each other....IMO. Quite a love story really.....
I'd disagree that this book was ever a straightforward war story. It was the child turned grownup author's interpretation of the war, something that she never experienced but tried her best to empathize with and present. It was her act of atonement, telling the story of the lives she'd ruined, except that ultimately, it was nowhere close to enough, and she recognizes this, I think. Remember, she tries to remake the ending of their story so that the couple rediscovers each other, finds love, all that. Only that part of the story that she told was not "true." Some of the book IMO was a commentary on how subjective reality is, but mostly it was about how we try to construct narratives from our pasts that at times make more sense, are easier to live with, than what actually happened.
Lisa wrote: "I'd disagree that this book was ever a straightforward war story. It was the child turned grownup author's interpretation of the war, something that she never experienced but tried her best to empa..."So well put......thank you Lisa. It was tragic really...
I liked the movie but the book was far better. Writing is beautiful and poignant. Just read Chesil Beach and loved it.
Lisa wrote: "I'd disagree that this book was ever a straightforward war story. It was the child turned grownup author's interpretation of the war, something that she never experienced but tried her best to empa..."Very nice interpretation. Bravo.
Lisa wrote: "I'd disagree that this book was ever a straightforward war story. It was the child turned grownup author's interpretation of the war, something that she never experienced but tried her best to empa..."Now that I am reading what you wrote, the story is coming back to me and yes, your're right, it is about the reconstruction of reality and how she needed to do that to come to terms with what she'd done. I guess I just found the middle of the book a bit slow.
I found the book manipulative. Yes, all writers manipulate us, giving us certain viewpoints. A woman commits adultery, in MADAME BOVARY she seems a shallow cow cheating on a dull but kind man. ANNA KARENINA does the same thing and she is a great romantic heroine.Ian McEwan seems to show you one way and then goes "oops". But that is the entire point of the book a character may see one truth but a change of perspective gives you another truth.
Bonnie, yes, the entire narrative is a manipulation (I mean, I'd argue that ALL narrative is manipulation, but let's not go there :D) -- when you realize what it is that you've been reading, you have to go back and reconsider the entire story in that light. I'm a big fan of the unreliable narrator as a story-telling device, so that's one reason the book resonated for me the way that it did.
I could only get through the first couple of chapters. So much for its literary genius.
I realize this post was started several years ago...but this still stands out in my mind as valuable reading time I'll never get back! Hated the book....watched the movie thinking it had to be better....hated that too!
No, this was a dreadful book. In fact, I can't think of any other book that deserves only 1 star.
I liked the movie and I didn't even like the book. If you hated the movie, definitely don't read it. It was hard for me to get through because I didn't want to read his ridiculously detailed prose (I think there's a three-page section about the main character watching her pinky bend and wondering how her knuckle works) when I knew everyone was going to die unhappy.
I hated the book, did not want to see the movie. I found none of the characters likable I found the plot plodding. I found the overall tone dreary.
The film stayed very true to the book so, yes, if you didn't like the film don't bother with the book. I thought the book was fantastic and the film (which was not quite as good but IMO films never are) was beatifully done. The film scored by making the ending a little easier to understand as the last chapter of the book needs to be read very carefully to avoid confusion. Heart breaking story; a full 5 stars from me.
I've always found that if a movie precedes a book, it's difficult for the imagination to conjure up the characters on its own. Ian McEwan does write beautifully, but you'd be picturing Keira Knightley in every scene!
I read the book and enjoyed it, maybe 3 1/2 stars. Then oneday I joined my family in the tv room to watch a movie, having missed the very beginning so I had no idea what the movie was called and only about 20 minutes or so in I realised what it was supposed to be. I didn't enjoy the movie. If I hadn't read the book I would not have known what was going on and found myself constantly filling the others in on the background for them to understand the scene.
I'm not trying to be a stinker, but for those that "hated" the book, why did you hate it? I am always curious for the reason. What specifically made the experience so aweful for you? When I read a review or something like that from someone and it says, "I hated it," I find that less than helpful. I generally try to include good reasoning when giving a book a bad review. That way, those that enjoy the same reading styles I do may be able to avoid the suffering. If you could give me some insite into why you hated it, it would be easier for me to understand that perspective...
I absolutely loved the movie, and it's the main reason I wanted to read the book. The movie had me weeping because I so desperately wanted Robbie and Cecilia to be together, and I wanted Briony to not only understand, but to receieve repercussion for what she did. I'm reading the book now, and in a sense I'm kind of upset that I already know the ending - although, at the same time, I'm glad so at least I'll expect it, and I won't absolutely die. Books are usually worse for me, so I'll probably cry all over again but whatever. I'm really enjoying the book so far, and I think his writing is surprisingly good; it's definitely better than I expected. As much as I want to hate Briony for what I know she will do, I can't help but like her at least a little because of her voice in the book.
Overall, I just think this is really good so far, and I'm excited to really read it and get into it.
I didn't think so....rather like watching paint dry in places. The movie was much better.
I come from the other direction; I read the book first and as a result had no inclination at all to see the film. Maybe I should as I didn't enjoy The Time Traveler's Wife that much but did enjoy the film.Thinking about it, most of my issues with the book were with the writing rather than with story or plot.
Missed the Movie in the Cinema and had to work, when it was on TV, but stumbled on the DVD in the public library today. It was disappointing, although the surreal Dunkirk setting had some moments. Maybe I would have hated the movie, if I loved the book, but this movie has ruined my motivation to read the book, although I had a good opinion of Ian McEwan befoe.
Funny, I hated the book and rather liked the movie. But then, one of them had Keira Knightly. Yum.
While this is one of my favorite books, I found the movie forgettable, aside from costume/scene design elements. In general I have found that books and movies are different critters entirely, and so I try to judge them separately. Because you don't internalize visual and read content the same way, the movie and the book or short story can't necessarily stand in for each other.
And, the flip side of my first line, above is that while I really did not enjoy Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain in print, I thought it was a fantastic movie.
I loved both the book and the movie. It was one of those times when they actually got it almost right on film. McEwan is a master of disguise in this book.
I did not see the movie, nut I quite liked the book.
The book is brilliant! The movie in comparison is just a shadow of the book has to offer. McEwan can be here and there with his writing, but this book is one of two of my favourites of his (the other is The Innocent). I think that if you're at least slightly interested in the book, it's worth reading just to make up your mind, whether you finish it or not.
I have three words for you: yes, yes, and yes. The movie was kinda slow for me, but the book was simply exquisite.
Part 1 was okay, if a bit lumpy in its language. Part 2 was fantastic. part 3 was risible.
an exasperating book, one I let fly across the room when finished with it. He has a good writing style, but when you can't trust your narrator why bother?
Bill wrote: "an exasperating book, one I let fly across the room when finished with it. He has a good writing style, but when you can't trust your narrator why bother?"ah no, hang on a minute. It might not have worked very well in this book, but I'm rather partial to the unreliable narrator. Weren't some of Jane Austen's heroines somewhat unreliable narrators? For me the important thing for an author to do is by the end of the novel establish the reasons why their narrator might be unreliable
I enjoyed the book, but I haven't seen the movie...
In my opinion the book was ten times worse than the movie
It's praised as a literary masterpiece. That being said, I couldn't get through the first five chapters.
I agree. The movie was awful but I really enjoyed the book. However, I usually enjoy the book more.
I have not read the book, but I saw the movie... didnt like it at all.
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