an end in itself | Atonement

So I cheated. 

I started reading Atonement & got almost to the end but it became late & one of those situations in which you know you'll still be reading to see who makes it by 5am. I skipped through a good chunk of Briony's nursing career, only to slow down once her encounter with Cecilia began & from then, finished it. 

So now I need to go back & re-cap. 

Brilliant though. 

 A friend said recently she found McEwan too wordy, too descriptive. I think for me, that's part of the power of his writing & the allure: how he can create suspense & keep the reader guessing, waiting to see & wanting to know how the resolution will be reached. And even with Atonement, he undercuts the more comfortable ending as it all gets a bit meta & rather tragic.