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thejellybeany's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Blind Assassin is a story about Iris Chase, a woman haunted by her past, who, in the final years of her life, decides to at last lay it all to paper, and therefore hopefully to rest; if not for her sake, then for that of her last remaining kin, her granddaughter Sabrina.
The book consists of parts alternating between her retelling of her family history, upbringing, and married life, and chapters of 'The Blind Assassin', a beautiful and moving novel of love and longing between a married woman and a communist rebel on the run, and one with a huge cult following, written by Iris' late younger sister, Laura, who drove off a bridge to her death before it was even published. To say much more about the plot would not truly do it justice, but it is ultimately a story of two sisters, and the deep regret Iris feels around not having looked out for Laura, as she had long ago promised her mother and father she would.
With intelligent writing and eloquent prose, we learn about this woman who is finally claiming the narrative of her life for her own, unfortunately knowing all too well that it has come 60 years too late for all of the characters in it. Similar in many ways to the novel that appears alongside it, Iris' is a story of love, loss, and longing, and a reminder that the ghosts of the dead are powerful, but we must be more so.
The book consists of parts alternating between her retelling of her family history, upbringing, and married life, and chapters of 'The Blind Assassin', a beautiful and moving novel of love and longing between a married woman and a communist rebel on the run, and one with a huge cult following, written by Iris' late younger sister, Laura, who drove off a bridge to her death before it was even published. To say much more about the plot would not truly do it justice, but it is ultimately a story of two sisters, and the deep regret Iris feels around not having looked out for Laura, as she had long ago promised her mother and father she would.
With intelligent writing and eloquent prose, we learn about this woman who is finally claiming the narrative of her life for her own, unfortunately knowing all too well that it has come 60 years too late for all of the characters in it. Similar in many ways to the novel that appears alongside it, Iris' is a story of love, loss, and longing, and a reminder that the ghosts of the dead are powerful, but we must be more so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Forced institutionalization
aritrigupta's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Atwood - the book being highly rated, and critically acclaimed, I really did have high hopes for it.
If the book would have been of, say, 400 pages, my verdict would have been 4 stars.
However, [a:Margaret Atwood|3472|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282859073p2/3472.jpg] has stretched the plot to an odd 650 pages, and that made me lose interest in it by the time the book was approaching its climax.
Parts of it just emphasizes on the amount of research she must have put in, and parts an ode to her writing style and narration. I don't mean to sound bored of what can be called a marvelous narration, but sadly, halfway through, I was.
I loved the story, of course, but the characters were starting to lose their charm on me, and some, didn't even make an impression on me enough to care about what was happening.
It was overall good, but not great.
If the book would have been of, say, 400 pages, my verdict would have been 4 stars.
However, [a:Margaret Atwood|3472|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282859073p2/3472.jpg] has stretched the plot to an odd 650 pages, and that made me lose interest in it by the time the book was approaching its climax.
Parts of it just emphasizes on the amount of research she must have put in, and parts an ode to her writing style and narration. I don't mean to sound bored of what can be called a marvelous narration, but sadly, halfway through, I was.
I loved the story, of course, but the characters were starting to lose their charm on me, and some, didn't even make an impression on me enough to care about what was happening.
It was overall good, but not great.
claire_dobson's review against another edition
5.0
Hard to define but this novel is to me a mysterious thriller which I hungrily devoured.
hadeanstars's review against another edition
4.0
I took a long time to read this. Not because it was badly written, I have to say it's extremely well written. Atwood can write. But, it was a bit of a labour at times. I think the novel is overly long, at times it's too dense and stodgy. At other times it's light and beautiful. Most of the time it's prosaic. What can you say? To my mind this piece of work could have been amazing, but it too often hit a bum note. Perhaps it's the staid and rather conventional antagonist, who, despite having some surprises up her sleeve, is nevertheless altogether too square for my liking. Too sane. And aren't the sanest people the most insufferable? Maybe, surrounded as she is by utterly toxic users and abusers it's inevitable that she would be browbeaten, but a woman without a spark of feistiness is a dull prospect at best.
So another notch in the bedpost of the Booker list. A worthy read, but I'm not entirely sure how it made the top podium. Was it a poor year for literature? Three and a half stars, elevated by some glimpses of magic.
So another notch in the bedpost of the Booker list. A worthy read, but I'm not entirely sure how it made the top podium. Was it a poor year for literature? Three and a half stars, elevated by some glimpses of magic.
alexalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I've been interested in picking up at least one Atwood novel; given that this one was personally recommended to me by Macky, The Blind Assassin was going to be the obvious choice. Still, I was intimidated by the idea of this book (and this author's work) so I put off reading it for ages. But when I finally started reading it, I was surprised to discover how easy it was to get swept up in the story.
I've always been the type of reader who enjoys well-written narratives that feel like puzzles for the brain where you have to try to put things together; that's the case with this book (though I figured things out a little before the confirmations are made on page). It doesn't have likable characters and it has plenty of messy, intense situations depicted (absolutely check out the content warnings); while that so often can be a deterrent, I was just too interested in how things were going to unfold. Definitely a solid pick for my first Atwood reading experience.
I've always been the type of reader who enjoys well-written narratives that feel like puzzles for the brain where you have to try to put things together; that's the case with this book (though I figured things out a little before the confirmations are made on page). It doesn't have likable characters and it has plenty of messy, intense situations depicted (absolutely check out the content warnings); while that so often can be a deterrent, I was just too interested in how things were going to unfold. Definitely a solid pick for my first Atwood reading experience.
emilyf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion and War
hjswinford's review against another edition
5.0
Pre-review: Why is so much writing talent bestowed upon one individual?
handerson26's review
5.0
I can't say enough about how much I love this book. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book smarter than your average page turner.
megzmarie5's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautifully written prose that threads decades of events into a linear and reflective perspective from Iris. Iris married a money mogul in an effort to save her family, but it ends up hurting her sister Laura in ways she can’t imagine. At the end of her life, iris invites the reader into glimpses of her life, past and present, to provide her perspective of the human heart and our fixation on wanting to live on in memories. A bit morbid, reflective and inspiring.