Book Review: Atonement

This novel begins in 1935, following the life of an inquisitive and self righteous 13 year old named Briony. Being the youngest in a household of occupied adults, a majority of Briony’s time was consumed by reading literature in solitude and writing her own stories. After years of reading stories with perfectly planned plots and predictable characters in lieu of having social interactions, she began to romanticize her own life and apply those unrealistic standards onto the people around her. So whenever a crime is committed in her social circle, she creates her own narrative of the situation and manipulates others into framing the wrong suspect. Plagued with feelings of guilt and satisfaction, Briony lives her life in a self-created purgatory with desires of atoning for her crime. The most interesting part about this book is that it puts the reader into a dilemma. Are Briony’s imagination and desire for order an assets or liabilities? Is she truly remorseful for what she has done? I would give this book a 9/10.