Atonement

Have you either read the book or seen the movie? A few weeks ago, I saw a preview for the movie, "Atonement" and I became giddy with excitement, certain this was a movie for me. But, being a bit snobbish when it comes to movie adaptations, I needed to read the book first. I promptly called up my husband and said, "if you're in need of a stocking stuffer idea, (and I know that you are,) I'd like the book Atonement."
Low and behold, there it was Christmas morn. I finished it this weekend, and the story has been vexing me ever since. I called my girlfriend Melissa on Monday to see if she'd like to go see the movie, thinking perhaps that seeing the screen version would help me digest the content, but alas, she has already seen it, and was not a fan. Bryan is resisting the film as well. While I was reading (he's a non-reader, so I knew it wasn't like I was ruining it for him or anything,) every once in a while, I just had to discuss what was happening, so I would give him a play by play of the story. When I finished, I was most distressed and told him how it ends, to which he replied, "um, yeah, no thanks."
Now I can't decide how I feel about it, and am in need of debriefing. It was a very gripping story, and there is one scene that was quite steamy, (and when I say steamy, I mean, whoa nelly, steamy, steamy, but I digress.) So I come to you, dear friends. Surely someone out there has read the book or seen the movie. What did you think?