| Genre: Drama Main characters: Briony Tallis, Cecilia Tallis, Robbie Turner Summary: The story begins in the summer of 1939 at the estate of the Tallis family. Briony is a girl of 13, dreaming of one day becoming a writer. She witnesses a scene between her sister Cecilia, 23, and the charlady’s son Robbie that, even though innocent enough, makes her suspicious towards the latter because she didn’t actually understand what happened. Since then her suspicions grow as she is to young to actually make sense of the things happening around her. She becomes convinced that Cecilia needs to be protected of Robbie and when the occasion arises (their cousin is raped) she doesn’t hesitate to pinpoint Robbie as the evil-doer, sending him to jail, even if it had been way to dark for her to actually see anything. |
Briony is a precocious child at an age where she thinks she holds the keys to all things. She doesn’t though and there are plenty of things that elude her. On the whole though I think she means well (not entirely so though). I intensely disliked her at the end of the first part for what had seemed to me like a monstrous injustice (like no doubt it was). Robbie is a very good young man, dreaming of becoming a doctor and in love with Cecilia. He has a lot of sheer bad luck that make him first fall into the bad graces of Briony and then be accused of something he never committed. As for Cecilia, I did like her too, especially for her stubbornness to believe in Robbie’s innocence when everyone was turned against him, and for the fact that she never left his side (figuratively of course).
I just cannot decide whether I liked this book or not. The first part seemed a bit too long, the second part was about war (I’m not fond of books describing bloody battles). I did like the third part and the first part of the fourth but I passionately disliked the ending.
What I liked most: The third part. Briony as a nurse, Robbie and Cecilia together and the possibility of them both sort of forgiving Briony. I already envisioned a future together for the three.
What I liked least: The ending. The very last page.
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The fact that Robbie and Cecilia were never actually reunited again. I really liked the thought of them sharing a little cottage somewhere. :(
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Recommend it? Yes. Ian McEwan is quite an appreciated writer.
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I am sorry you were disappointed in this one, Kay. I felt almost the opposite. I loved the ending and the war story. I agree that the first part was slow, however. I almost gave up on the book, but the author’s beautiful writing convinced me to hold out and I am so glad I did. Do you plan to see the movie when it comes out?
I’m not disappointed in the whole book at all :) I was a tad disappointed by the ending, though disappointed isn’t the word. Shocked and sad, more likely. But in a “Romeo and Juliet” kind of way :) (you know, the way you’re sad they died but that is the very detail that makes the book worth while).
I now realized that I did actually like the book. And, of course, I’m planning to go see the movie when I’ll get the chance :) :)
Thank you for your comment :)
It is one of those books that kind of hits you at the end and gives you pause, isn’t it?
Yes, that is exactly what it is :)
Only I was sort of happy with what the book was before that hence my reaction to it :)