It was beautifully written, but the plot is not only clever but also so cruel...
But somehow, BECAUSE of that cruel plot, the book did stick with me and I could not let it go. So I love to talk about it. I have been on the IMDB board for the film everyday since then, because - since hardly anyone has seen the film yet - the discussion going on there is mostly about the book.
Oh and there are some very childish members slashing Keira and Romola, while I think they were perfectly cast for this film

I can't wait to see James in it. I love him in his more grown-up roles.. (damn, we need a 'love' emo.. I still need to add some of my own, so that is the frist thing I will sort out next! )

I did think the plot was a bit too clever and cruel, but as I already said, the book would not have had the impact without it.
I also don't see where all this Keira dislike comes from. I LOVED her in P&P (which I rented especially for the director!) and I thought the combination of her and Joe Wright as a director was magic, so I donlt see any problems at all for her perfomance in Atonement.

You are not the only one who is not too crazy about Jane Austens by the way. Too civil and too much teadrinking for my taste! Hahaha. That is why I thought Wright did such a marvellous job op P&P to be able to focus on the feelings instead of on all the gardens and customs and tea parties.
And don't be afraid to be 'blasphemous' as you call it.. after all this board belongs to someone who thinks that Tolkien had a great imagination, but he was a crap writer...
*ducks for all the rotten tomatoes*

Which one was Mr. Wickham.. ?

And I have added some spoilerwarnings girls. What do you think? If you think they are in the wrong place in your own post, you can edit them again off course (if that works, because the edit feature seems to havs sustained some damage in today's update too). Anyway, I was just trying them out and making the thread spoilerfree at the same time. Hope you are not upset Ii went in your posts, but I didn't change a word of them really.. just made sure some words were hidden under the + signs.

About the premiere: for me it is not that hard to go to London for a few days, but I am doubtful. I never liked feeling like a 'fan' and things like that do tend to enhance that feeling.
I did have really good times in the past with these kind of things though, because it is really nice to meet up with a bunch of peeps that like the same thing you do and that understand your sort of erratic, slightly obsessed behaviour.

But in this case I don't know that many James lovers yet and it can be very double to go somewhere where you can see your 'crush', because as exciting as it can be to see them in real life, it can also be very confrontational. Once you see the real thing, it is very clear that he is the big star on the red carpet with his loved ones, and you are the lonely fan he doesn't even know that is standing there feeling silly and insignificant..

So.. I dunno.. it depends if 'normal' people can get tickets too, so you can at least go in and see the film, and not just stand in the cold or rain for a few hours to catch a glimpse of 'him'.

But then again, I am not sure I would want to be so far from home when I see the film for the first time. Because I am a bit nervous about it as well. You are not the only one for whom the book was traumatic. I know exactly what you mean by 'sense of doom' and 'killing to get through'. Not that his style is hard to read. I thought it was quite the contrary: stylewise, it read like a dream, I felt like I was flowing through some parts instead of reading them, but you can just feel the horrible destiny coming closer and every now and then I just had to put it away because I was afraid to keep on reading.
But it was BECAUSE of the fact that it is written so well and that the characters are so recognisable and human that it has the impact it does. (I am also still amazed how a man of his age can understand what goes on in the mind of 13 yo girl..)

I have a real hate-love relationship with this book. I think Ian McEwan is one of the most gifted writers I know, but I also hate him for what he did to me with this book.
Probably because of the impact it had, I am now almost obsessed with it though and it is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. But if I would have known what the impact was going to be up front, I would have opted NOT to read it.
The main reason why I did decide to read it was because of the film. I saw the trailer and that already had a high emotional impact. I immediatly saw this was the kind of film I usually avoid because I am not good with heavy stories like that. But because of James (and the beauty of the film that was apparent from the trailer) I knew I really did want to be able to see it.
So I figured the best thing I could do was read the book, so I would be better prepared for the film. I think I am, because I already know what will happen, so hopefully the impact will be less bad, but I still fear to be reminded of it. So I am very much looking forward to the film, but I am also scared to go see it at the same time.

So you haven't read the book Brainie? Can you tell me if this thread is to spoilerish? I hate spoilers myself, but I noticed it is just too damn hard too talk about it without at least giving away the tragedy bit...
Do you think I need to go edit all of that out?

On the other hand, the book had such a traumatic impact on some people , I don't think it does any harm to at least warn people about that a little bit in advance... They may end up with a cinema phobia if we don't!

Okay good to know! (I think I may put a little spoilerwarning in the beginning though.. )

Okay, FINALLY the right thread..
So the releasedate for Atonement for the Netherlands is officially november 1st now.. (grrrrr )

But does that mean that the trailer you saw in the cinema was for Atonement Brianie?? I WANNA SEE THAT TOOO!!!