The first part was a bit long and at the end of it I was really indignant because of the injustice that had just happened. I intensely disliked Briony back then. The second part was also a bit too descriptive especially as it described the horrors of war. Such a terrible thing, war is. I'm not particularly fond of stories of blood and battle but that's just me. At least I did like the third part, what with Briony's atonement - her work as a nurse and her courage to confess. I actually begun liking her. I didn't quite understand how exactly it had happened that night at the lake, but I'm thinking it was probably consensually agreed and later Lola took advantage of the situation to hide "her dishonor". When I reached the fourth part I was actually happy with the overall feeling of the book. I viewed Briony's illness as perhaps another form of atonement.

However the very last page really saddened me. I really liked the version where the two were reunited and happy together (it has been a bit brusque seeing Robbie in Cecilia's bathroom after leaving him wounded somewhere however I figured out that probably a lot of time has passed between the two, I so much wanted for it all to be right again). The "true" version, with the two never reunited, is perhaps more realistic and/or more shocking, but I am absolutely not fond of it

I agree with you Kay. I also couldn't work out exactly what happened at the lake. I wondered if Lola had consented and tried to cover it up, and so would've been mortified at being found. No wonder she kept quiet and went along with Briony's story.

I also assumed quite a bit of time had passed when we saw Robbie in Cecilia's flat. But then when I look back, soldiers from the retreat had just arrived at the hospitals so Robbie would've been with them. Clever writing/story telling though because I really believed the story yet I didn't feel a huge sense of relief. Then when we find out they never were reunited (or probably weren't), that scene makes the loss more poignant.