The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge discussion

Feel free to discuss thoughts, expectations, if you've read before, etc.!

Is there anyone willing to lead discussion on this one?

Hi all,
I'm Samantha and I'll be the discussion leader for this book :) I have found discussion questions which I will be posting shortly if that's what people want? :) Feel free to comment on how you're getting on so far and what you think :)

The questions for Atonement are as follows
1. how is Briony similar to Ian McEvan, the author of the novel? how would the book be different if Briony were a boy(and later a man) rather than a girl(and later a woman)?
2. Is Atonement a war novel? why or why not? Does the book suggest that war is "the enemy of creative activity " as Briony's editor writes?
3. How does the last section of the novel "London,1999" change your understanding of the earlier parts of the book? Is the last section more true than the rest of the novel? and what would it mean to say it was "more true"?
4. Ian McEvan has sometimes been nicknamed Ian Macabre- Macabre meaning horrifying, disturbing, or weird. McEvan dislikes the nickname but are there parts of Atonement that are macabre? What are they, and do you think they're necessary to the novel?
5. Towards the end of the novel, Briony talks about the satisfaction of realistic details in novels. Why is realism important to Atonement? Would the novel work if it included, say, superheroes or vampires?
6. Atonement shows you the world from many different characters' point of view. How would the novel be different if it was all from Cecilia's perspective? Robbie's? Briony's? Lola's?
I hope these questions spark a good discussion and everyone enjoys the book :)

My mom went to library to borrow for me my copy, because I'm ill. I think I will start reading it tomorrow. Can't wait to read it!

I've just borrowed it from library today and I'm planning to start it right after finishing 'Great Expectations'. Can't wait to read it though ;)

This has been on my to read list for so long! I can't wait to read it!

My library hasn't got copy of that. Life is brutal ;(

Starting this today (hi ladies I tend to lurk but am wanting to expand my love of reading to include discussing what I read since I don't really have friends that read so this have no one to discuss with)

I just picked this up at my library today!

I have finished the first part today and started the second and I'm sad to say that the second part is not such interesting than the previous one.
Of course I've not finished whole book, but I've expected something more.

I will try to answer these questions after reading!

It was accident. I have watched a film trailer. I'm scary I wouldn't like that book because it wouldn't be surprising for me. I read a half of first part and I love it so I'm hopeing it wouldn't change now.

I stopped reading it! It was due back to the library and I was halfway through and didn't care what was going to happen. I might cheat and watch the movie.

This book is worth the struggle in the beginning! Been there, done that. It is one of the best books I read the past years.

Atonement is the 2019 Q3 re-read. Holly will be leading the discussion this time round - so watch out for her posts below.

So this book has been on my to-read list for a long time so I'm excited to finally cross it off.

Who's reading Atonement for the first time? Who's re-reading? Who's read it and just joining for discussion?

Hi Holly. First-timer here. I'm going into this one with zero expectations. Really looking forward to it!

Hi everyone! I've read Atonement twice now and am just joining the discussion. I actually featured Atonement on my blog last month and focused on Briony and the writer's journey. It's so fascination to me to see how the subject and style of her writing changes because of the events happening in her life.

This has been on my to read list a long time as I was trying to catch up on the books this group had already read. I have my own copy that I bought at a thrift store last year so I wont have to wait on it from the library for once. Although Im behind on my other book clubs July pick.

I'm about half way through this book and I'm having SUCH a hard time with Briony! I don't know if it's just me, but I dont think I was ever as confident in my own perceptions of the world to take my assumptions as truth at her age. Her youthful arrogance and need for everything to be all sorts of dramatic are making me crazy.

Finished. Not my favorite. The writing was terrific and I appreciated the attention to detail, but the plot was unbearably slow.

Those last three paragraphs!!!! I agree that the plot was slow, but that ending. Phew.