Negative Positive
Title: Fine Novel On Guilt, Atonement and Absolution
Review: Quite simply this is the finest novel from Ian McEwan that I've read, replete with much of his eloquent, poetic prose. Although one may not be initially compelled by the characters, most notably the protagonist Briony Tallis, the author creates a captivating, mesmerizing look at English country life near the eve of World War II. And then he skips ahead a few years, immersing us in the bloody aftermath of the fall of France and the British retreat from Dunkirk, where he picks up anew the tangled web of intrigue surrounding the lives of Briony, her older sister Cecilia and their neighbor Robbie Turner. Some may question the novel's brief epitaph-like ending, towards the close of the 20th Century, but here the author dwells on the choices - or lack thereof - made by his protagonist. Without divulging more details of the plot, this splendid novel is a powerful contemporary exploration of guilt, atonement and absolution; one which shouldn't be overlooked.
Is the review positive or negative? 