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Your thoughts on the first nine chapters?

Yuck! I hated this book... Way too drawn out for me, but interested to see how everyone else responds to it!

I liked this book. My local book group read it about four or five years ago. I agree that it is extremely wordy/descriptive. The middle section set on the battle field was tedious for me, but I thought the first and final sections were powerful.

Britany wrote: "Yuck! I hated this book... Way too drawn out for me, but interested to see how everyone else responds to it!"

I'm with you. I didn't care for it either.

Thank goodness, I'm not the only one Kim :)

It's a shame really because it's clear that McEwan is a good writer. (view spoiler)[I understand the concept of the book and that the story is told in Briony's words. So the opacity and dissonance in the way it's written is deliberate. (hide spoiler)] But I guess it didn't speak to me; I just got more and more impatient and distracted by the tediousness of the story.

Britany and Kim, I agree with you. I read the book and didn't like it. I don't like Briony at all. I gave the book two stars but the more I talk about it, the more I don't like it. I'm leaning for an 1 star now. I'm happy I'm not the only one that doesn't like it. It seems like everyone loves the book. The more I read the book the worst it gets.

Irene, that's interesting you say that because I found the first and final section to be the worst parts of the book.

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "The more I read the book the worst it gets.

DITTO!!

I just finished 2nd chapter and I am liking it so far. Even though Briony seems so artificial for her age. But i have met some kids who are exactly like Briony (they are like 1 in 1000's).

I am liking the narration more and more. Its bit draggy but bearable compared to Lord of Rings!!!

See, I was only halfway upset when this one won, because I only got through 30 pages of it before bailing the last time, and I thought perhaps that this would be a good opportunity to give it a second chance. Now I'm certainly not jumping at it... :(

I am liking it so far...
The narration is not actually by Briony or any other characters but the author himself.
The words are beautiful, the narration is good... a bit too explaining in some parts but effective ones.

The relationships between people, and how it effects each other unconsciously, is shown very well...

I tried this one a couple of years ago, once via audiobook and also in DTB, and only got a little ways. I ended up watching the movie, and it took over halfway through before it finally felt like there was a plot. I liked the concept by the end, but felt like it took a long time to get there.

I'm trying it again this time and just got through the first 9 chapters. In places I find it interesting, but after Robbie's first section, it's just SO tedious and pointless. What IS McEwan talking about? I keep wondering how it would all effect me if I hadn't seen the movie and didn't know what was coming. Some of the things seem more ominous than they would, since I know what it's all leading up to, but no wonder I gave up on it last time! I'm hoping section two is less tedious, but I have a feeling that's not going to be the case....