They say never judge a book by its cover – but us readers know that’s rarely true.
When I first saw Atonement by Ian McEwan at my local library many years ago, I found the image on the cover – a young girl sitting on a stone staircase in a garden – very arresting.
And it turned out to be one of my all-time favourite books.
Atonement’s story begins in an English country house in the thirties. Young Briony Tallis, her elder sister Cecilia, and their family friend Robby share a strange interaction. Observed by 13-year-old Briony from a distance, Cecilia steps into a large stone fountain as Robby looks on. What follows is a disturbing incident, complicated by a child’s misunderstanding, that will irreparably change the futures of everyone staying at the house that night.
After I read Atonement, I immediately became a fan of McEwan’s writing, hunting up his earlier, much darker, short fiction anthologies and his debut novel The Cement Garden.
Atonement is quite different from much of his earlier work; the story is both larger in scope, length, and more intimate. McEwan is a master at explaining his characters’ thought processes, effortlessly taking the reader into their minds. At this point I think I’ve read almost all of his books, and Atonement remains my absolute favourite for its sensitivity, excellent characterisation, and fascinating human drama.
The film is also excellent, so read and then watch.
Cherie lives, works, and reads in beautiful Tasmania – the green island gem below Australia known for its gorgeous landscape and beautiful wildlife. She holds multiple academic qualifications in English, journalism, and fine art theory, and has worked in writing, editing, and communications roles for more than a decade. Most importantly, she has a deep love for books that began as soon as she learned how to read.
Old, new, any genre – for Cherie, reading is about as vital as breathing. She is interested in sharing books that move, excite, and compel, so others can share the joy of a truly great read. While she reads across most genres, her favourite is literary fiction. Particularly anything by Margaret Atwood, Ottessa Moshfegh, Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler.
Cherie frequents Tasmania’s beautiful boutique book shops as well as scouring secondhand shops for books to add to her extensive home library. Catch up with her on LinkedIn and on Instagram.
