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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Interesting to read about how society expected women to behave in the 60s when it comes to work and marriage. It's one thing to read about it in a textbook and another to read about a woman going through it. The proposal completely distorts Marian's self image and ultimately she starts losing her grip on reality. The ending was one of my favourite parts of the book.
I also found Ainsley's contrasting approach to marriage & kids really interesting.She starts out so hyper independent and "feminist" in her approach but ultimately succumbs to the societal pressure of marrying a man in order to be able to have a family.
Ultimately this book had some pacing issues which made the middle part hard to get through, which is why the rating isn't higher. This is Margret Atwoods first novel, and her writing style is already great but I think her later works are more my cup of tea. Interestingly here all of the surrealist/fantastical elements of the story felt clearly in Marian's imagination, whereas in Atwood's later works the lines are often more blurred between imagination and reality.
I also found Ainsley's contrasting approach to marriage & kids really interesting.
Ultimately this book had some pacing issues which made the middle part hard to get through, which is why the rating isn't higher. This is Margret Atwoods first novel, and her writing style is already great but I think her later works are more my cup of tea. Interestingly here all of the surrealist/fantastical elements of the story felt clearly in Marian's imagination, whereas in Atwood's later works the lines are often more blurred between imagination and reality.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
dark
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I found it reassuring. I love Margaret Atwood, don't think I could ever have anything bad to say about her writing.
reflective
This book was on a must read of feminist fiction and as I am fan of Atwood, I had to read it. There are some elements of the book in particularly love: how the narrative splits into 3rd person after Marian gets engaged - it's like she is splitting apart as a person. A powerful device. The visual language is stunning - the descriptions and metaphors feel like it's being written by who is slightly untethered by reality - it's weird and wonderful - especially the ones with food as Marian's body gradually starts rejecting it. The characters are well drawn although it is hard to imagine such people in this day and age - Duncan and Ainsley are standouts. And the final metaphor of Marian baking a cake of herself is powerful. However I ultimately have this book a 3/5 because while the lesson of being true to yourself is done well here, Marian comes across as slightly hysterical so hard to completely empathise.
I normally love Margaret Atwood but what was this??? Maybe her early stuff isn’t for me
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
May 21, 5 stars
Updated review, because I’m still thinking about this book almost 6 months later. This book perfectly describes what it feels like to be a product for consumption, eaten away at, shrinking until going supernova, collapsing inward until inevitably exploding outward.
January 3rd, 3 stars
Uhhh. Hmm. Okay.
Updated review, because I’m still thinking about this book almost 6 months later. This book perfectly describes what it feels like to be a product for consumption, eaten away at, shrinking until going supernova, collapsing inward until inevitably exploding outward.
January 3rd, 3 stars
Uhhh. Hmm. Okay.
Margaret Atwood is a remarkable story teller. She can take the most average everyday common situations or people and make them so real and so full of depth that you can't put the book down until the end. You can relate to both her characters and the life situations they face with a familiarity that is almost frightening. A good easy read. RECOMMENDED!