Reviews

Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood

msjoanna's review against another edition

3.0

This is a hard book to like. The protagonist is depressing and has terrible things happening to her and around her. But the writing sparkles. In the hands of a less skilled writer, this would be a completely awful read. Even in Atwood's exceptionally skilled hands, it's a hard novel. If you haven't read much Atwood, go read [b:Oryx and Crake|46756|Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam, #1)|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494109986l/46756._SY75_.jpg|3143431] if you're inclined toward dystopia, or [b:The Robber Bride|17650|The Robber Bride|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388263287l/17650._SY75_.jpg|1119196] for relations between women, or [b:Cat's Eye|51019|Cat's Eye|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385207977l/51019._SY75_.jpg|1019987] for a truly brilliant remembrance of childhood with all its nasty undersides.

I'm not sorry to have read this since I'll probably eventually read all of Atwood's books, but I can't exactly bring myself to recommend it.

shelving's review against another edition

3.0

(3.3): came looking for a Margaret Atwood, not sure what i got.

pbandgee's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jawjuhh's review against another edition

4.0

a review i found in my notes from 2016 that i never put on goodreads

A book that's not afraid to plunge its protagonist in a passive kind of despair. At its core it is a simple book about the body and the pain Rennies body has endured, has caused her. I often feel like I'll never really grasp Atwood's earliest works, which are deceptive in their simplicity. But even as I struggle, I find her writing so utterly compelling, so unabashedly feminist and critical and wry.

libt11's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Cancer, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse

zcarver's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bmahaffy's review against another edition

3.0

This story started out great - a miserable jerk who leaves her when she's down, an interesting docter, a mystery person with a rope, a hasty vacation. There were lots of stories to tell there. There were lots of stories to tell about the vacation island she ends up on. But they don't feel like they go anywhere.

I suspect there's some big meaning that I'm missing. But I didn't get it.

Clearly Atwood has grown as an author since this was written. She seemed to be just finding her legs with this book (although, I admit, The Edible Woman, which predates this one, was fantastic)

agnestyley's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

got through it quickly and it was gripping but was it a very good plot no why was she so in deep in this revolution when she'd been on holiday there for literally 5 days what

marathonreader's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

2.75

I did not have the intelligence or knowledge to fully appreciate this dark, disturbing book. Coetzee-esque themes, but at times more like Welsh levels of unsettling, graphic detail.

marsolino's review against another edition

4.0

This book deals with concepts of paranoia, conspiracy, and women’s issues. At first I didn’t like the ending because it was unclear. However, after much thought, I think the ending was good because it goes with the theme of uncertainty and tragedy.