Atonement is the first book of Ian McEwan that I have read (or rather, started to read, since I have not yet finished) and I have to say I am very impressed. I am enjoying this book so much and have spent many a night reading into the early hours just to find out what happens next. The way he has used the various points of view to tell the story – with all the inaccuracies and unreliable witness that involves – means the the story unfolds at the perfect rate: not too fast that you are given everything on a latter but also not so slowly that you lose interest. I have not seen the film but still I cannot stop imagining Keira Knightley as Cecelia – it seems like perfect casting from the descriptions in the book. I will definitely by checking the film out once I have finished reading. Part One is finished and I am a couple of pages into Part Two. It has been quite some time since I have read a book that has me excited to get to bed so I can read it! I am hooked!
I was just as impressed with the book as you are Kath, but be warned…. I went to see the film and was hugely disappointed — it’s not nearly as good as the book (as is usually the case)