Books I Want To Talk About discussion

You can discuss anything about Atonement here. This thread is for people who have finished the book. If you haven't finished it, stop reading or you'll be spoiled!

Okay, so I didn't rate this book very high because story-wise I hated it. Well, hate is pretty strong. Strongly disliked. But the writing was superb and I understood why it is so highly regarded.

Unlike Cold Mountain, which I hated reading but enjoyed thinking about afterwards, I have yet to really come to many positive conclusions about this story. I don't necessarily think I need a happy ending to like a book, but the whole concept was just too depressing for me.

Robbie died in the war. I think his part was accurate up to the point that he got the infection, and then he died from it instead of the other stuff.

Yes, Robbie died of septicemia (probably from the shrapnel in his stomach) and Cecelia died in the bombing of Balham tube station.

Did you guys like the movie? I thought James McAvoy's performance was brilliant, especially in the scene when Briony goes to Cee's apartment.

No, what was in her mind was the scene in part 3 where she goes to make amends to Robbie and Cecelia at Cecelia's apartment after Paul & Lola's wedding. In reality, that never happened. Robbie died at Dunkirk and Cecelia died shortly thereafter. Briony wrote the apartment scene because she wanted to give Robbie and Cecelia a chance to be together, even if it was only in fiction.

I thought the movie was excellent, actually. I liked it better than the book, which is rare. I loved the score also, and the sound of typewriter keys to punctuate the music. It's so effective, especially when you have the knowledge that the whole story is a novel written by Briony. Brilliant.

I think Briony was trying to forgive herself, and I *hope* that she did. I enjoyed the movie, but I think it made Briony a less sympathetic character than I found her to be in the book. (As I recall it.)

Not in my actuality, although Briony seemed to entertain the thought. I would have liked it if her attempt could somehow have been known by Robbie & Cecilia.

My impression was that there wasn't much to be had. Cecilia never reconciled with her family over Robbie. And because Briony never came forward, she never got it (directly) from either of them.

My question is whether or not she "should" get any? Not to be heartless, but other than writing a book, she didn't do much in the "asking for forgiveness" arena. And while you can give it all you want, someone has to ask for it for it to be complete. I never got the impression that Briony could ever really be strong enough to do so.

I didnt understand the end, it was rather rushed and was the house she went back to at the end the house she grew up in? or a completely different one?
and why were they all there?
and what was she doing at the library?
how did she get robbie and cecelia's letters?
ahh confusing!

Emily - I hear ya. I thought the ending was so different from the rest of the book and found it distracting.

Did you watch the movie version? I heard it was good, but that was from people who liked the book.