Mar 302011
On the advice of an interesting man who has been chatting me up over the past several weeks I have purchased two books with which to amuse myself on travel to and from Momentum. After running across men without number who don’t read, or who only read the funny pages (or Field and Stream) I’m so appreciative of the ones who always have a book open somewhere and who are willing to talk about it.
I just hope there isn’t a quiz when I get home.
Have you read these books? Will you give me the Cliff’s Notes version if I end up too busy to finish them on the trip?
Please advise.
I disliked Atonement rather fiercely. Any of Virginia Woolf’s novels does a better job of what McEwan is trying to do, without the stupid twist at the end. All the same, I enjoyed the first 2/3 of it. I’d pick Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks, or Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway or Jacob’s Room, if you’re looking for WWI England–maybe the End of the Affair if WWI floats your boat. Or LP Hartley’s The Go Between or or or or . . .
If you like True Grit do tell!
I started True Grit last night and like it so far. Little worried about Atonement now. :)
Agreed on Atonement.
Not worth the paper.
Well… maybe not that extreme. It was absolutely overrated and nothing at all special.
Loved ‘em both in different ways. I thought Atonement was a wonderful book both from an historical perspective and just as a great emotion driven novel. True Grit .. well I’m from Texas and I loved the authenticity of the language and the regional descriptions. It’s funny and touching and yet very basic. I hope you like them!
I saw the movies.. does that count?
Ummm, not really if my experience is any indicator, sorry. As a comparison- of the books I’ve read and then seen the movie ’cause I enjoyed the book so…it was as different as seeing a picture of a special event versus actually being at the event, start to finish, awkward situations, redeeming moments and all. Now I have to get those books!
Books! Excellent! Let’s take a look…
Oh…they’re novels.
You know, I’ve read some of those fiction books.
They just make stuff up!
Ha!
Really liked Atonement – much better than his newer book, Solar. The movie made from Atonement is at best, mediocre. Just finished Rose Tremain’s newest – Trespass — very engaging. Happy Reading!
Haven’t read True Grit. I hated Atonement. However, I know a LOT of people that absolutely loved it. I’d like to see the movie to see if I like that better. Every once in a while they make a movie of a book I really disliked, and then I find I DO like the movie. Misery and The Reader come to mind.
I think Atonement is just one of those books that have a very wide spectrum of reactions to it. If you do finish it, let us know where you fall on that spectrum!
If you get in a crunch and can’t find the time to read the books, both of them are movies, Atonement from 2007 and True Grit from 2010 and may still be in theaters.
Heresy. :)
McEwan is one of my favorite authors thanks to Enduring Love, which is one of my top five books. Saturday & Amsterdam were good, just not as good as Enduring Love. Atonement isn’t as good as Saturday or Amsterdam, but still a good read.
Heya. Found you thanks to Susie Bright’s FB comment today.
I have nothing to add about these books specifically, but I’m with ya on appreciating book-reading-men. Have you seen Hot Guys Reading Books? Inspiring! http://hotguysreadingbooks.tumblr.com/
I would echo Mike’s comment but haven’t read Enduring Love which I will put on my list. Agree completely on Saturday and Amsterdam. On Chesil Beach, more of a novella, is also worth a read.