4.5 stars for Ian McEwan’s Atonement, one of the most poignant books I have ever read.

The story itself receives a significant 5 stars from me. The sheer scale of the brutality of the tragedy echoes through McEwan’s prose, particularly towards the ending. Fans of classical literature will also be moved by the consistent literary references. The novel opens with an extract from Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, with which Atonement shares a very clear trait: both feature a female protagonist endowed with a very vivid imagination (influenced by literature) which adds a melodramatic romanticism to their perception of life...with dreadful consequences. (Not dissimilar to Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes either!)

The only difference between Briony and Catherine Morland is that the consequences of Catherine’s misinterpretations are not too drastic, allowing her to atone once only and then finding happiness in marriage... unlike Briony, who is forced to live with the much more serious consequences throughout her entire life.

In addition to the literary references, Cecilia and Robbie (two of our protagonists) are both very avid readers, referring to works such as Emma, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Lolita, and many others.

The book explores themes of lifelong guilt, the effect it has on people’s mentalities, how poorly thought through actions can sometimes ruin lives, taking responsibility for actions, and the difference between both personal atonement and atoning to other people. All these messages cultivate into what turns into an incredibly poignant and heartwrenching story which is well worth your time: you might think twice before making quick judgements in future.

The book’s one minor point of criticism is the tendency to slightly labour descriptions of fountains, gardens, or the routines of a war soldier or nurse. But if the reader can plough through those rather slow-moving sections, they will find an unforgettably emotional journey depicted in the 372 pages. Would highly recommend!