I really struggled with McEwan's latest novel, Saturday, but decided to give Atonement a go because I liked the cover image; stone steps of a grand family mansion, a strange girl sitting alone... Anyway, the novel itself more than lives up to the intrigue and complexity of that grainy image. It's 1935. Briony is an odd girl on the cusp of adolescence, spending her time making up and writing down stories, plays, dreams. When her adored elder sister Cecilia is seen cavorting in a fountain with a family friend, Robbie, Briony begins to conceive a new and interesting plot in which she is the puppet-master. Later that same day, Robbie, gives Briony a note to take to Cecilia, detailing his long-held love for her; unfortunately, he accidentally gives her an earlier draft full of obsecenity and it is this that Briony sneakily reads. When she then sees Cecilia apparently being assaulted by Robbie- in truth, the pair are nearly consummating their new relationship- Briony's hatred and need for revenge culminate in her claiming him as the rapist of her young cousin.

All this intense and frenzied action takes place in one single day- but the repercussions of the girl's actions pulsate throughout the decades. The innocent Robbie goes to prison, Cecelia never speaks to her family again, and Briony, haunted by her act, becomes a nurse, tending to war-ravaged soldiers. Eventually she decides the time has come to make amends, and it is this decision that gives the novel its title and its stunning last section. I won't say too much because if you haven't read it, there is a rather beautiful and tragic surprise here, but the writing is controlled, elegant, devastating in places. Some boredom set in during Robbie's stay in the trenches- too much description for me- but the web of the family and in particular, Briony's cousin, and her relationship with her attacker, is all fascinating.

Anna
I was quite a big fan of McEwan's right up until Saturday, which I LOATHED WITH A PASSION. I thought Atonement was excellent, but for me, the best was A Child in Time, which would have to be on my lits of favourite all time books. Have you read it?
Caroline

ooh, no, but will now you've recommended it! I really couldn't bear Saturday, seemed so self-referential, couldn't give a damn about the characters etc...gruesome.

Couldn't agree more. Horrible smug man and horrible smug family, and his musings were so tedious, I thought!
I must warn you, though, I read ACIT before I had children and it really got to me even then. It's about a child going missing and is very disturbing, not in any direct sense of being violent, just incredibly sad and awful. Not sure I could handle it now. Would love to hear what you think if you do read it.