Atonement by Ian McEwan REVIEW

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Michael Chabon's theory of literary & genre fiction that I mention early in the video is explored most clearly in the essay "Trickster in a Suit of Lights," which opens Maps & Legends - an essay collection I cannot recommend highly enough.
About stylistic contagion - the term was coined by Dorritt Cohn in Transparent Minds (1978), where she defines it as a type of narration "where psycho-narration verges on the narrated monologue, marking a kind of mid point between the two techniques where a reporting syntax is maintained, but where the idiom is strongly affected (or infected) with the mental idiom of the mind it renders" (33).
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[@TheBookchemist]

The first 1000 people who click the link will get 2 free months of Skillshare Premium: skl.sh/thebookchemist0820

[@shallowgod5539]

One thing I loved about the book was how the novel's writing style evolved from classic, modern, to post-modern, reflecting both the evolution of Briony's writing and writing in general in the setting of the novel.

[@shmizzleshmazzle9830]

Atonement features the greatest love letter ever written

[@HipHop226]

True

[@silkegehtyoutubegarnichtsa892]

Well, I've only just finished page 144. ... :D I'm not actually looking for spoilers (never seen the movie, shamefully), so I assume now there'll be another letter. Though, then again, oh well. ;)

[@jnbfilm56]

Were you talking about the first letter Robbie sends to Cee? If thats the case, then yes, its the best ever

[@Abhishek-fe3zs]

I just finished reading this and I actually ended up crying many times during the final sections. This novel is so clever you don't actually grasp at everything it did until you pause and think about it. I still can't believe something this great could be written on page and that's exactly what the book is about. This is honestly the cleverest piece of fiction I've ever read.

[@rogeriomorais4581]

Problably my favorite novel. I think that Atonement is a book about writing and Sweet Tooth about reading. I liked that you finaly made a video about McEwan.

[@silkegehtyoutubegarnichtsa892]

Seriously, does anyone else notice McEwan's usage of green (yep, the colour)?? Cecilia's dress (i.e. all those memories), Marshall's ingenius Amo bar has a dab green coating of sugar, the gardening of course, the fountain's water, the water in the lake where Robbie gave swimming lessons to Briony, a much appreciated drink of water courtesy of the Green Howards, and, a comrade with an Amo bar, the green leafs providing cover from the summer sun and Stukas... I'm sure there's much more. Well, blending blue and yellow, chilliness and warmth, reason and pleasure, intellect and intuition, activity and passivity (e.g., the "waiting"), hope, also envy, prematurity, toxity, tolerance, beginnings, growth, healing, regeneration, rebirth... Imo, it's not a coincidence, nope.

[@user-xv8sw4cn3l]

ive read the book in my english Class and didnt really put much thought into how the characters were portrayed and characterized. But you showed me how complexe and interesting they really were. I also liked the way you are commenting on the narrative stuff. I only had trouble with how you spoke sometimes because sometimes you were repeating yourself.

[@pabloguzman013]

I read it a few years ago and I still remember how McEwan changed the pace and the style in each of its parts. I read it in Spanish, but still, in translation, his prose felt rich and vibrant. I wasn’t familiar with the concept of purple prose jajaja after Atonement I became a fan of his work and yes, I can see that sometimes his prose is a little over the top but I mean it in the nicest way possible, for I think the writing is never actually annoying. I definitely want to re-read it! I read when I was like 17 and I’m pretty sure I missed most of the subtleties you mentioned 😂😂

[@andrewrussell2845]

I just finished this - great review! I loved it - a beautifully crafted novel that demands of the reader that they query the nature of forgiveness and the effect that even seemingly insignificant actions can have on events in the (very) long-term. I think I get what you are saying towards the end of the video...there was a very poignant conclusion for Atonement but it lacked the 'gut-punch' that I have experienced with other works, including A Fine Balance and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

[@FleurPillager]

One of my favorite novels.

[@JuanReads]

Many years ago, I went through an Ian McEwan phase and read most of his novels. Atonement was the last one I read and it probably is the only one I would ever want to read again. Now, I'm curious to check out Sweet Tooth!

[@AnotherChatterbooks]

I could not put words on my thoughts about this read ! Your review was really helpful for me in a sense because now I understand why during my first attempt at reading The Atonement, I stopped reading after a few pages and then picked it a up a year after. And I devoured it. Even though like you, I was not completely taken by the story because I kept on reflecting on the literary and historical commentaries that McIan put here and there through the novel. Overall when I finished it I had mixed feelings because I was blown away by the ending and I felt like Id just read a story that will stick with me for a long time... But it did not make me fall in love with McIan's writing style...

[@sms1511]

I agree with you on this reflection. I read attonment many years ago as a teenager so that could be a factor of why I was sometimes bored by the style of writing. However the second half and ending did leave an impression on me on how the narration can kindof trick your perception of events. I did reccomend this book to people and eventually gave my copy to someone to pay it forward.

[@jnbfilm56]

This is a fantastic story. Very slow paced, but amazingly written, smart, heartfelt and beautiful. Hope people give this book a chance, its an incredible piece of work! Next I'm doing to read Hurracane Season (Temporada de huracanes) by Fernanda Melchor

[@QZaccardelli]

another great video! thank you!

[@emmalocatelli5831]

Ciao Bookchemist, ho scritto la mia tesi di laurea su Ian McEwan prima che diventasse una "literary star". Ci sono due fasi ben distinte nella sua produzione letteraria: una prima fase sperimentale caratterizzata da uno stile scarno, essenziale e altamente disturbante e una seconda fase "superpiaciona" (passami il termine) che si apre proprio con "Atonement". Romanzi come "The Cement Garden" (il libro che mi ha fatto decidere di scrivere la tesi su di lui), "The Comfort of Strangers" e "The Child in Time" sembrano opere di uno scrittore di cui il McEwan attuale non è in grado di proiettare nemmeno l'ombra.

[@TheBookchemist]

Molto interessante, non lo sapevo affatto! Ora sono molto curioso di leggere i primi romanzi :) grazie mille per il commento!

[@HipHop226]

Halfway through this book. Good so far

[@lallagracedonato6702]

can someone explain to me how there is an intersection between the character and the narrator?

[@GabyG48]

I have that book yet haven't read it yet but seen the movie :)

[@GabyG48]

Idk if you read girl on the train but it's great book and movie :)

[@zacharyertengrass892]

I think I watched the movie and I think I listened to the book but I don't remember the plot at all. What does that say about me? About the book?

[@BardSonic]

Your are among life's most precious beings

[@bjwnashe5589]

I think it is a mistake to treat literary fiction as just another genre. Why? Because literary fiction is not bound by rules and formula. The best literary fiction breaks rules and disrupts conventions and blows up formula. Thus literary fiction is incredibly diverse, offering the kind of surprises that most genre fiction is not allowed. Consider how different the following novels are: War and Peace, Ulysses, Native Son, Naked Lunch, Slaughterhouse Five. How can these books be considered part of the same "genre?" Literary fiction is also able to incorporate various genre elements (as well as other cultural materials) without being bound by the conventions. Pure genre fiction is unable to do this.

[@TheBookchemist]

I understand your position (and respect it, obviously: it's shared by many people whose opinion I cherish), but, say, Slaughterhouse Five and Naked Lunch read like science fiction to me. I agree that very often the most interesting and stimulating works of fiction break the mold, but you can do that by starting from whatever genre (like those two novels above, which break the conventions of sci-fi or fantasist/dystopian fiction respectively).

[@BardSonic]

Your literary rhetoric is unequalled, except for the great bombastity of Don Quixote when waxing sublime on Knight errantry. I am concerned your voracious reading habits have made you mad dear sir.

[@TheBookchemist]

:D

[@djamesfrancis]

First part was great, second part not so good. Questions over plagiarism. I like Ian McEwan but something doesn't quite work with him.

[@stantonsullivan-readdelillo]

Mattia I want to know so badly how much sex and the city you’ve seen lol

[@stantonsullivan-readdelillo]

Or is that some other book with similar title? Can’t tell anymore. Anyway, been meaning to read more McEwan, have only read a bit of Sweet Tooth which was fine, but maybe a bit derivative.

[@TheBookchemist]

It's the DVD - and it's not mine (which doesn't mean I've never watched it!)

[@stantonsullivan-readdelillo]

The_Bookchemist Of course. Perfectly fine thing to watch. Not my favorite HBO show, but it has its supporters. Thanks for letting me know lol.