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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my god, what a surprise this book was. Knowing Atwood as one of the most famous writers of our time, I don't exactly know what I expected, but it was not this. I assume I was searching for stability throughout this whole book, trying to hold onto what parts of the story felt realistic and which parts didn't. The setting felt unstable and at times dystopian. I am thoroughly perplexed as to what Duncan's purpose was, beyond the obvious distraction from Marian's bland relationship with Peter. Often he made absolutely zero sense, and I was stuck between a fascination of how deranged and meaningless his sentences were. Often I became bored. How strange it was to see Marian so obsessed with this less-than-mediocre man that didn't even like her, and just needed a distraction at times! For most of the book we follow Marian's bland life, and we slowly begin to grow connected with her, feeling like this book will take a naturally feministic twist to save her from her future marriage and housebound life, but I finished this book with a huge frown on my face, as I was struck with disbelief. The ending made absolutely no sense to me, and it felt poorly executed. I understand part of the extended metaphor to be that Marian is "indulged in" almost like an object or a food by Peter / society rather than treated as a woman with potential. However, it does not account for all of the seemingly meaningless side events... I guess I missed any real reasoning for it.
However, Atwood's writing style is obviously great and I would not say my time was wasted. Nor was it particularly well-spent. I look forward to reading her other works.
However, Atwood's writing style is obviously great and I would not say my time was wasted. Nor was it particularly well-spent. I look forward to reading her other works.
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
I loved Duncan, his funny hobbies, his weird friends... they are so real and so absurd at the same time.
Even though I feel like women have made huge stride towards being free from the sort of slots in society that Atwood describes, I still see and feel struggles for identity that she has captured beautifully in mid-twentieth century Toronto. I admire her ability to make me think of a deeply important idea and laugh enjoyably at the same time.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Based on the description without any literary review background, I thought I was getting a story about a woman who developed an eating disorder in the 1960s, before terms had been applied to such. I got bored halfway through and read a synopsis only to find this book is a big symbolic exploration on early feminism, and isn't the narrative I thought it was based on the back synopsis.