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Title: Nabokov would have loved this work of art
Review: Vladimir Nabokov, in his lectures on literature at Cornell, told his students that "Style and structure are the essence of a book; great ideas are hogwash." I have no doubt VN would have greatly admired Ian McEwan's ATONEMENT. In short, the book is a luminous, finely crafted work of art, as exquisite - and fragile - as the vase which plays a crucial role in the plot.Don't compare it to McEwan's other novels. Forget BIRDSONG too. Read ATONEMENT for what it is, and like many readers you will discover a masterpiece, a beautiful artifice that at its heart is also about the act of writing itself.And here's another tip from VN to heighten your reading pleasure: draw yourself a diagram of the household and grounds, and watch how McEwan artfully stage manages the comings and goings of his characters in part one. What a delight.
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