Books - Ian McEwan #1: Author of Atonement, On Chesil Beach, and more! - Page 2

**Gabriela** · 11-05-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rukia (View Post)

Hmmm, if you already don't like the movie, Gabriela, I'm not sure if you'll like the book, to be honest.

What did you not like about the movie? I'd still recommend you reading Atonement, but I liked both the book and the movie, so that's a bit biased, I think.

To be honest, I don't remember what I disliked about the movie - it was so long ago that I saw it

I still plan on reading the book because I have it and I don't judge books by their movies, but I definitely hope I like it better than the movie.

**Talkative One** · 11-05-2009, 01:33 PM

I'm horrible for judging movies by their books

aprilof06 · 11-07-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rukia (View Post)

Agreed, April, the movie was one of the best adaptations!

It's a hard book to adapt to screen, and I think Joe Wright translated it well.

April,

Spoiler:

I know what you mean about Florence. She's definitely frustrating, and that's what pains me. I enjoyed reading from Edward's perspective, too, but I just wished we had Florence's perspective at the end. I really wanted to know how she ended up in life.

You should definitely check out McEwan's other works! I have to warn you though, his earlier works are much, much different than Atonement and On Chesil Beach. They can be dark and downright disturbing, but I still enjoyed them.

when I saw the movie for the first time I had troubles keeping track with the changing POVs...or better I didn't even realise the POVs were changing

. I thought that the screenwriter wanted to add more 'thrill' to the story by doing that
but then after I read the book I realised that Joe Wright actually got that from the book.

Spoiler:

I would have loved to read from her perspective too at the end.
but I think I can remember something about her looking at that seat in the concert hall when she had her first performence...I like to think that she sorta pined for him even years after they'd broken up.

I'm definetly going to check out his other works. I wanted to buy Amsterdam today but our bookstore only had it in German but I want to read the original english version.

Rukia · 11-07-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talkative One (View Post)

I've wanted to read Atonement cause of the movie

I'm odd with liking to

books befor seeing their movie version

Have you seen Atonement yet? It's such a beautiful movie! But yeah, definitely read the book before seeing it!

I usually like reading books before seeing their movie adaptations, too. Just to compare and contrast. I feel like I'm cheating if I don't read the book beforehand!

Quote:

Originally Posted by aprilof06 (View Post)

when I saw the movie for the first time I had troubles keeping track with the changing POVs...or better I didn't even realise the POVs were changing

. I thought that the screenwriter wanted to add more 'thrill' to the story by doing that
but then after I read the book I realised that Joe Wright actually got that from the book.

He stayed pretty true to the book, which I love. When I was watching it, it was as if the book unfolded right before my eyes. It was wonderful.

Quote:

Spoiler:

I would have loved to read from her perspective too at the end.
but I think I can remember something about her looking at that seat in the concert hall when she had her first performence...I like to think that she sorta pined for him even years after they'd broken up.

Spoiler:

Ooh, that part was just so heartwrenching! I'm sure she still harbored feelings for him, poor thing. I just wished we knew how she ended up. I mean, we pretty much knew how Edward ended up -- he became a hippie in the 70's, had a variety of different lovers, had a wife for a short time, but ended up old and alone back in the country. I wished they would've contacted each other during those years after...

Quote:

I'm definetly going to check out his other works. I wanted to buy Amsterdam today but our bookstore only had it in German but I want to read the original english version.

I actually haven't read Amsterdam yet. Let me know how it goes for you!

aprilof06 · 11-10-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

I actually haven't read Amsterdam yet. Let me know how it goes for you!

I will!
were you talking about 'the cement garden' when you said his earlier work is kinda disturbing? I read a little bit about that book on wikipedia the other day and it does sound a little creepy but interesting nevertheless.

Rukia · 11-12-2009, 05:52 PM

Yup, I was talking about The Cement Garden.

It was pretty good though, and actually, one of my favorites from McEwan. The Comfort of Strangers was pretty disturbing as well, but I don't think these two can even be compared to his collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites and In Between the Sheets. I've heard these are even more disturbing. I haven't had the guts to read them yet.