Atonement by Ian McEwan
Key Details
- Genre: fiction
- Sub-Genres: literary fiction, historical fiction
- Publication Date: 2001
- Pages: 351
- Themes: love, class, consequences, guilt, regret, atonement
- Accolades: bestseller; winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; shortlisted for the 2001 Booker Prize for fiction; one of Time‘s 100 greatest English-language novels since 1923; one of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century; a Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of the Century; and more
My Rating
The plot is ripe with emotion, but for me, the way it was told (while creative and surprising) diminished it rather than heightening it. That’s because a lot of the action occurs in the characters’ lives separately, rather than together. It does, though, have a powerful ending that reveals why this is the case. In many ways, Briony is the ultimate unreliable narrator.
Gilmore Girls Episodes
Learn where this book on the Gilmore Girls reading list was referenced:
| Season 4, Episode 3 (“The Hobbit, the Sofa, and Digger Stiles”) | Rory is seen reading it before class at Yale, and in her room. |
Best Quote
“A person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn and not easily mended.”
Book Review
Description
Briony Tallis, a naive young girl in 1930s England, falsely accuses her sister Cecilia’s lover of a crime he didn’t commit. This lie shatters their lives as Europe erupts into war. Years later, an older Briony becomes a writer and seeks redemption through her fiction.
Why It Matters on Gilmore Girls
Atonement was one of the most popular and award-winning novels at the time Rory started Yale. Her reading it shows that she remained invested in the current literary landscape even while she was beginning her studies in college.
Who It’s Best For
Atonement is a good choice for readers like Rory and those who want to compare the popular movie adaptation to the book.
Reading Tips
- Pair the book with the Academy Award winning 2007 movie adaptation starring Keira Knightley and her iconic green dress (the story behind it linked)– one of the most famous movie frocks ever.
- Read an oral history of Atonement.
Frequently Asked Questions
During Rory’s first week at Yale, class “shopping week,” she is seen reading Atonement by Ian McEwan, a popular book at the time, both before her class and in her room.
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