by Ian McEwan
I'm really interested in what others have to say about this book. I HATED reading it. There was far too much detail and so very little action or plot. Worse yet, though, after wading through it for three weeks (yes, it took me forever to get through it!) it wouldn't let me go when I finally did reach the end.
The story line is one of those book within a book types. Part one of the book is through the eyes of a 13 year old girl, who is also the author who is telling the story in her old age. Later on in the story, she submits the transcript of the story (part I of the book) to a magazine for publication, and although they turn it down, they rave about her ability to write and bring detail to life. Now this is where I wonder if it's the author's intention (McEwan, not the fictionalized author) to write with so much detail that boredom overtakes the reader and the search for a story line becomes the readers' obsession. I never saw enough of a story in part I for the fictional author to write about to submit for publication.
There is a crime, a punishment and an attempt at atonement. The crime is not the event the punishment is levelled for and the atonement is far from satisfactory. The plot was far too thin for the length of the novel.
My daughter did see the movie version in theatres now
and loved it. Should I tell you every movie is "the best movie ever!" to her? I think I will give the movie a shot, though, simply because of the fact the ending of the book wouldn't release me. If I don't like it at least it's only a couple of hours rather than three weeks!