Atonement

This book was thoroughly enjoyable. I thought it was very well written. It effortlessly flowed between time periods and characters’ points of view. Briony was believable as a smart and sassy little girl and as an adult, her voice still rang true. Cecilia, Robbie and Mrs. Tallis are all vividly portrayed.

There were moments of hilarity early on in the book and it could have easily ventured into a period piece with quiet thoughtful conversations and brooding almost-friendship-turned-love in the style of Pride and Prejudice.

Instead, there was a rape of a child. This singular moment changes everyone’s lives. That is really what the novel is about. How a singular moment, one decision can change something drastically forever. Thirteen is a prudish age for many little girls, and Briony misunderstands. She means no malice but damns everyone around her, including herself. Fiona, the pathetic victim marries the criminal. Cecilia cuts her family off. Robbie goes to jail and then war instead of medical school.

Briony feels that she has crossed the road into adulthood. In truth, she has. She will never be the same. Though initially it seems there may be hope, Briony can never quite pay her penance.

The ending is so profoundly sad. In a very off-handed way, with little fanfare or detail, we find that Robbie and Cecilia lose their lives due to the rape and Briony’s foolishness. The unfairness that Briony, Fiona and the rapist outlive them all is almost too much to bear. There is no Hollywood ending in Britain.

I loved this book. I loved its encompassing of each scenarios from separate points of view. I  loved the tenderness of it. What I loved the most was the way it ran the spectrum of emotions from joy, to longing, to hope, to sorrow.