I prefered 'Atala' to 'Rene' but both were nicely written, at least in the translation I read. I would like to read it in French. While the author is very Catholic, I found it compelling for the most part, presented as a very human religion. The figure of Father Aubry is very compassionate while at the same time advocating a serious attempt to overcome or restrain the "passions". I saw a lot of similarity with Bhuddism in this. I can also see why Chateaubriand is considered an important source of Romanticism. I felt comfortable with this, in the aspect of his spiritual leanings and his way of treating nature. I also enjoyed the tormented dilemmas.