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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
jsingh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Margaret Atwood could make reading a phone book interesting. She is meant to be a writer, no doubt. This was quite a well-written book with interesting characters. Cordelia is a hoot lmao. I'm stealing the name "Haggus McBaggus" btw. (forgive me if I spelled that wrong; I listened to the audiobook).
I wasn't entirely sure what all the symbolism meant and the plot left something to be desired - but it was interesting. Certainly not my favorite Atwood book but I'm not sorry I read it. Her writing is so funny and intelligent.
Here are my favorite quotes I think. No spoilers here. If you can figure out the plot from these, I'd be amazed lol.
"Too much beta-carotene turns you orange. Too much calcium gives you kidney stones. Health kills." (1:30:03).
"Now there's a huge building in its place - what they call a shopping complex, as if shopping were a psychic disease." (4:15:20).
"Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one other, they are not cute - they are life-sized." (4:34:07).
"Carol tries a crash once or twice but gets scoffed at. [Cordelia says] 'That wasn't a crash!'" (6:43:50).
"I think about Grace asking God to forgive her. But for what? God only forgives you if you're sorry, and she never gives a sign of being sorry. She never thinks she's done anything wrong." (7:02:00).
"I'm afraid of being Cordelia. Because, in some way, we changed places - and I've forgotten when." (8:47:00).
"My love for them [men] is visual. That is the part of them I would like to possess. Don't move, I think. Stay like that! Let me have that. What power they have over me is held through the eyes." (9:21:29).
"She's never learned the intricacies, the nuances of male silence." (9:31:10).
"I look at him with the nostalgic affection men are said to feel for their wars, their fellow veterans" (10:18:35).
"I like this word 'besotted' - suggestive as it is of sogginess, soppiness, flies drunk on syrup." (11:08:55).
"'I have no country,' says Joseph mournfully. He touches my cheek tenderly, gazing into my eyes. 'You are my country now.' I eat another tinned, inauthentic snail. It strikes me with no warning, but I am miserable." (11:43:30).
I wasn't entirely sure what all the symbolism meant and the plot left something to be desired - but it was interesting. Certainly not my favorite Atwood book but I'm not sorry I read it. Her writing is so funny and intelligent.
Here are my favorite quotes I think. No spoilers here. If you can figure out the plot from these, I'd be amazed lol.
"Too much beta-carotene turns you orange. Too much calcium gives you kidney stones. Health kills." (1:30:03).
"Now there's a huge building in its place - what they call a shopping complex, as if shopping were a psychic disease." (4:15:20).
"Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one other, they are not cute - they are life-sized." (4:34:07).
"Carol tries a crash once or twice but gets scoffed at. [Cordelia says] 'That wasn't a crash!'" (6:43:50).
"I think about Grace asking God to forgive her. But for what? God only forgives you if you're sorry, and she never gives a sign of being sorry. She never thinks she's done anything wrong." (7:02:00).
"I'm afraid of being Cordelia. Because, in some way, we changed places - and I've forgotten when." (8:47:00).
"My love for them [men] is visual. That is the part of them I would like to possess. Don't move, I think. Stay like that! Let me have that. What power they have over me is held through the eyes." (9:21:29).
"She's never learned the intricacies, the nuances of male silence." (9:31:10).
"I look at him with the nostalgic affection men are said to feel for their wars, their fellow veterans" (10:18:35).
"I like this word 'besotted' - suggestive as it is of sogginess, soppiness, flies drunk on syrup." (11:08:55).
"'I have no country,' says Joseph mournfully. He touches my cheek tenderly, gazing into my eyes. 'You are my country now.' I eat another tinned, inauthentic snail. It strikes me with no warning, but I am miserable." (11:43:30).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
daria_reading's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content
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