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debsd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jatridle's review against another edition
1.0
Though I've really liked other Atwood books in the past (Alias Grace, The Handmaid's Tale) I wasn't a fan of this book at all. As I read, I felt like I was trapped inside a cheesy romance novel while a much better novel was going on all around it.
In the book, the protagonist, Remmie Wilford, retreats to a Caribbean Island. She's there to write a light travel piece and to emotionally regroup after undergoing a partial mastectomy and also losing her lover. But, as it turns out, all the "good islands" have been taken, so she gets sent off-the-beaten-path to a less than picturesque island which has crappy hotels, crappy restaurants, crappy beaches and no real interest in attracting tourists-- and which also happens to be in the midst of a political upheaval.
All sounds interesting enough, does it not? And it would have been if we hadn't been forced to experience it all through the lens of a self-absorbed, unpleasant woman who seems to have no interests whatsoever other than finding a man to love her. I kept wondering throughout if I was meant to hate her as much as I did, or if I was supposed to actually find her witty and sympathetic. I didn't.
I'll admit, the book does offer some pay-off in the end (in the last 50 pages or so,) but to get to it you have to wade through page after page of tedious whining about "men, men, men and why they don't love me." If you like reading about women whining constantly about men, this may be the book for you. Otherwise, I'd skip it.
In the book, the protagonist, Remmie Wilford, retreats to a Caribbean Island. She's there to write a light travel piece and to emotionally regroup after undergoing a partial mastectomy and also losing her lover. But, as it turns out, all the "good islands" have been taken, so she gets sent off-the-beaten-path to a less than picturesque island which has crappy hotels, crappy restaurants, crappy beaches and no real interest in attracting tourists-- and which also happens to be in the midst of a political upheaval.
All sounds interesting enough, does it not? And it would have been if we hadn't been forced to experience it all through the lens of a self-absorbed, unpleasant woman who seems to have no interests whatsoever other than finding a man to love her. I kept wondering throughout if I was meant to hate her as much as I did, or if I was supposed to actually find her witty and sympathetic. I didn't.
I'll admit, the book does offer some pay-off in the end (in the last 50 pages or so,) but to get to it you have to wade through page after page of tedious whining about "men, men, men and why they don't love me." If you like reading about women whining constantly about men, this may be the book for you. Otherwise, I'd skip it.
taetris's review against another edition
2.0
Rennie is a journalist and a cancer survivor. After her boyfriend moves out, she travels to a remote island to do a travel piece. Sue ends up involved with local politics.
Rennie was a really annoying main character. She seemed completely detached from her sourroundings and her musings just seemed surreal at times.
Mostly, the book was just boring. Most of the characters seemed to pass me by. Also, the whole cancer storyline just seemed shoehorned in and served no real purpose other than providing the main character with a justification to mope around.
Rennie was a really annoying main character. She seemed completely detached from her sourroundings and her musings just seemed surreal at times.
Mostly, the book was just boring. Most of the characters seemed to pass me by. Also, the whole cancer storyline just seemed shoehorned in and served no real purpose other than providing the main character with a justification to mope around.
mrblackbean11's review against another edition
3.0
This is not my favorite Magaret Atwood book, but it is still somewhere between a 3.2 - 3.4 on my rating scale. In reflection, I feel that a large part of my disinterest in this book is that I could not relate to the main character in any way, shape, or form except for the fact that she's female.
Rennie, our 'heroine', is a post breast cancer patient, who dissociates from her own life entirely after coming close to losing it. She finds herself writing a travel article on a politically instable island somewhere near Barbardos. The main reason I couldn't fathom Rennie is her obsession with the fact that she is dying (when she is not)> We're all dying in Rennie's perspective, but that is no way to live. She'll occassionally try to restore herself and regain her perspective, but Atwood gives us some nonchalant or disappointed remark afterwards from Rennie commenting on her frustrations.
Atwood loves to write in a more cryptic style, but I think she might have overshot a little bit on Bodily Harm (or, honestly, I might have to go back and read more carefully). I feel like I missed the point to this book, but I am honestly not sure if there was one to begin with.
So, this has been a pretty harsh review, but I set high expectations for Margaret Atwood now. I would recommend this book to someone who is a little more cynical or maybe someone who has had a near terminal disease. The writing itself is intelligent and enjoyable, it is the storyline and character development that are lacking a bit. If you are looking for a first Atwood to read, I'd recommend Blind Assassin instead or Cat's Eye, which is still one of the most profound books I have read.
Rennie, our 'heroine', is a post breast cancer patient, who dissociates from her own life entirely after coming close to losing it. She finds herself writing a travel article on a politically instable island somewhere near Barbardos. The main reason I couldn't fathom Rennie is her obsession with the fact that she is dying (when she is not)> We're all dying in Rennie's perspective, but that is no way to live. She'll occassionally try to restore herself and regain her perspective, but Atwood gives us some nonchalant or disappointed remark afterwards from Rennie commenting on her frustrations.
Atwood loves to write in a more cryptic style, but I think she might have overshot a little bit on Bodily Harm (or, honestly, I might have to go back and read more carefully). I feel like I missed the point to this book, but I am honestly not sure if there was one to begin with.
So, this has been a pretty harsh review, but I set high expectations for Margaret Atwood now. I would recommend this book to someone who is a little more cynical or maybe someone who has had a near terminal disease. The writing itself is intelligent and enjoyable, it is the storyline and character development that are lacking a bit. If you are looking for a first Atwood to read, I'd recommend Blind Assassin instead or Cat's Eye, which is still one of the most profound books I have read.
iamvertical's review against another edition
well...... it was a book........ with words.......
myishi's review against another edition
2.0
Bleak in comparison to the other six books of hers I have read.
extemporalli's review against another edition
2.0
Mmmm naw I did NOT enjoy this Atwood (which is a pity as I usually love them). In contrast to Isabel Allende's "Maya's Notebook", which I just reviewed, I feel this was a not particularly successful attempt at subverting the traditionally masculine genre of political / crime thrillers. Rennie is a woman journalist who travels to the Caribbean for respite when her life starts unravelling - except that strange things keep happening to her and she's swept up into a tornado of political intrigue. So far, so promising - however, Rennie is perhaps altogether *too* passive, her backstory not compelling enough for me to be invested in her, and the political context not thrown into sharp enough relief for the turns the plot takes to make sense or make one care.
In conclusion: I would recommend "Lady Oracle" instead, if you're looking for "books by Margaret Atwood about women who run away".
In conclusion: I would recommend "Lady Oracle" instead, if you're looking for "books by Margaret Atwood about women who run away".
sofipitch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I didn't like much about this book, the plot was slow to develop, or happen, a lot of focus on what felt like inconsequential things, and the characters are hard to like.
The only thing that kept me going is Atwood's prose. Honestly she could write the backs of shampoo bottles and I'd read them. She's a talented writer, but this book was not for me.
The only thing that kept me going is Atwood's prose. Honestly she could write the backs of shampoo bottles and I'd read them. She's a talented writer, but this book was not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Misogyny, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Sexual violence
amyc00per's review against another edition
1.0
Hated it. Would have stopped reading it if it hadn't been by Margaret Atwood.