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camillejov's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Body shaming
astridrv's review against another edition
Picked this one up because the intensity of female friendships in childhood is a favourite theme of mine. I felt like it was a bit too long, with many flat portions, and the main character’s boomer observations made me roll my eyes a few times. That said, the middle section is extremely strong. I think this book so finely describes what social pressure and being socialized as a woman feels like. Everything about performing femininity, the impossibility of ever succeeding at it, the consequences for those who fail, the learned inner eye for any missteps, the harsh self harm and punishment for these failings, and the internalized misogyny that pushed us towards safe, free boys - everything is in here. Also the long descriptions, especially of childhood field trips, make this a very sensory book which I appreciate. “Ten plates” will stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Self harm
Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Infidelity
Minor: War
kou_'s review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Blood
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Extremely long winded, in the way Atwood sometimes can be. Horrifying depictions of bullying. Whole book felt like it should have been two or three separate ones, or that there should've been less jumping between past and present.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Self harm
kryskross's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Self harm, and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness
madelonpaige's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Abortion
turtleycool's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Body horror
eg_demps's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Violence, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Body shaming and Toxic relationship
strong emphasis on gender binary in this book, especially the sections reflecting on her adult lifeamberlen's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Margaret Atwood writes about the dynamics of human social interaction with such precision that it's always a joy to read.
I admit, I was skeptical at first, because the last novel I read of hers was The Robber Bride, and I did not like it. However, in Cat's Eye I found a lot to identify with. At times, the feminist issues seemed quite dated but that is to be expected in a novel set in post-war Toronto. Elaine's standpoint on feminism also sometimes annoyed me but I don't think she's necessarily supposed to be likeable.
I admit, I was skeptical at first, because the last novel I read of hers was The Robber Bride, and I did not like it. However, in Cat's Eye I found a lot to identify with. At times, the feminist issues seemed quite dated but that is to be expected in a novel set in post-war Toronto. Elaine's standpoint on feminism also sometimes annoyed me but I don't think she's necessarily supposed to be likeable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide attempt
caleighlynne's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Finishing a book like this, mostly any Atwood, gives me such a special feeling. Mostly of accomplishment but also wisdom. I feel like I just lived another life after finishing this book. It’s a nice spectacle to see this book finally without my bookmark placed inside the pages.
My favorite character was Stephen. He is very different from my own brother but something about the way Margaret wrote him felt so real and his story was so interesting to me. But the hero of this book was Elaine. Most of the time it was hard to know what she has doing, because although sometimes she described her surroundings or actions. We were mostly shown everything in this world through her thoughts.
This book is perfect for a woman to read. She made me relieve so many things about my childhood I never considered and the impressions they left on me.
The beginning was slow and I almost dnfed it but I kept coming back to her. It was like the whole time I wanted to put it down but I couldn’t. If you read this I really recommend taking your time and reading the words carefully because this is not a quick and easy read in any way.
Cats Eye is so impactful to me. I loved the themes on memory, trauma, relationships, and hometowns. I loved the hometown aspect of this, how the locations of her childhoods greatest and worst events cause her to remember even the things she tried so hard to forget. Cordelia was such an annoying character but she was so real. The bullying and little quartet of girls was just so real. The representation was so real. Everything was perfect.
Another thing was Elaine’s father. This was super minor but meant a lot to me. I found is so interesting that even forty years ago when this book was published Atwood was already warning us about our treatment of the planet and the creatures on it. I loved how because this book was set in the early-ish 1900s we saw a piece of the past that doesn’t get shown a lot. I love reading about characters from a time without cell phones to fill their spare moments, or even social media to compare themselves to. They only had one another and that was hard but made everyone quite different if that makes sense.
If anyone reads this sorry this review is splotchy. If you are a woman, or perhaps a man, this book will leave you feeling raw and exposed.
My favorite character was Stephen. He is very different from my own brother but something about the way Margaret wrote him felt so real and his story was so interesting to me. But the hero of this book was Elaine. Most of the time it was hard to know what she has doing, because although sometimes she described her surroundings or actions. We were mostly shown everything in this world through her thoughts.
This book is perfect for a woman to read. She made me relieve so many things about my childhood I never considered and the impressions they left on me.
The beginning was slow and I almost dnfed it but I kept coming back to her. It was like the whole time I wanted to put it down but I couldn’t. If you read this I really recommend taking your time and reading the words carefully because this is not a quick and easy read in any way.
Cats Eye is so impactful to me. I loved the themes on memory, trauma, relationships, and hometowns. I loved the hometown aspect of this, how the locations of her childhoods greatest and worst events cause her to remember even the things she tried so hard to forget. Cordelia was such an annoying character but she was so real. The bullying and little quartet of girls was just so real. The representation was so real. Everything was perfect.
Another thing was Elaine’s father. This was super minor but meant a lot to me. I found is so interesting that even forty years ago when this book was published Atwood was already warning us about our treatment of the planet and the creatures on it. I loved how because this book was set in the early-ish 1900s we saw a piece of the past that doesn’t get shown a lot. I love reading about characters from a time without cell phones to fill their spare moments, or even social media to compare themselves to. They only had one another and that was hard but made everyone quite different if that makes sense.
If anyone reads this sorry this review is splotchy. If you are a woman, or perhaps a man, this book will leave you feeling raw and exposed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, and Abortion
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Self harm