Atonement, by Ian McIwan, is one of the best-selling books in the country. It takes place in the summer of 1935. The time period is a critical factor, as World War II is instigating chaos into the characters' lives. The main character, Briony Tallis, is 13 years old, and she fails to grasp the adult world and becomes too involved with her older sister's affairs. She commits a serious crime that will forever change all of their lives.
Atonement means to make up for a sin or a crime, and that will definitely be a conflict in the book. Since Briony is destined to commit a serious mistake or sin during the story, I predict that her inner conflict of seeking redemption and atonement will be greatly observed. And because of her innocence, Briony has carried out a serious offense. That has led me to believe that Atonement will be a coming of age story. It will analyze the maturing of the young girl's mind in her struggle for atonement. Due to the setting of the era of World War II, I think that the theme of "peace" will be emphasized, both through the war and Briony's redemption. The war will also bring about a huge deal of death and suffering. I think that this novel will be closely connected to a book that I have formerly read, Les Miserables. The main character in both novels seek forgiveness and peace of the soul. Because of this connection, I predict that in the end, Briony will finally be able to achieve serenity of the conscience, but for a serious price.
Directly below the website title is a calendar of Atonement's reading schedule. Take a look to follow my progress and check for upcoming updates.
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