| | What does it mean to atone for something? Is atonement punishment? Is it a righting of wrongs? An internal acceptance of events?
In his recently-cinematized novel, Ian McEwan raises these questions and more, laying out a situation rife with moral conundrums and extrapolating outward through time, letting the reader see clearly the ramifications of actions through time.
The book also questions the nature of fiction and writing as tools for dealing with reality. What power do fictional representations have in a real, harsh world? Can we atone with words? Are intentions as viable as actions?
This is a beautiful work of prose, rife with McEwan’s characteristic unsettlings. Deeply affective, these disturbing threads mar the thorough enjoyment of the work, yet are necessary to its overall purpose.
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| | Posted 1/1/2008 2:37 PM - 20 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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