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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
good lord i love miss atwood so much. this was a little weird at first because it reads a lot like a memoir for a person who isn’t real (which, on reflection, is a very meta take). but as joan starts losing her marbles, knowing her and her voice so intimately makes her descent and breakdown have even more pay off.
i just love women with a screw loose. so many brilliant, poignant points were made. this was funny like a tragedy and tragic like a comedy. absolutely worth the read and slightly slow draw in the beginning
i just love women with a screw loose. so many brilliant, poignant points were made. this was funny like a tragedy and tragic like a comedy. absolutely worth the read and slightly slow draw in the beginning
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-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
There are better Atwood's out there, but I remember being interested as I read this book!
Gone girl minus whatever trauma Gillian Flynn experienced
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You're going to enjoy the 1st half of this book way more than the 2nd half!
The beginning, offered as a flashback, revisits the childhood of the main character. There is exploration of the kind of harm perpetrated on young children with larger bodies by their parents, other children, and themselves.
The middle part mainly explores the place of women in society and especially the roles that they play in marriage, or they at least played in the 1960s.
The last part gets very convoluted as it not only covers political activism and it's pitfalls but also finally reveals the reason as to why the main character is faking her death (not a spoiler...you find this out in the 1st paragraph of the book!).
Overall, a story with a really good beginning and middle and a rather flat ending.
The beginning, offered as a flashback, revisits the childhood of the main character. There is exploration of the kind of harm perpetrated on young children with larger bodies by their parents, other children, and themselves.
The middle part mainly explores the place of women in society and especially the roles that they play in marriage, or they at least played in the 1960s.
The last part gets very convoluted as it not only covers political activism and it's pitfalls but also finally reveals the reason as to why the main character is faking her death (not a spoiler...you find this out in the 1st paragraph of the book!).
Overall, a story with a really good beginning and middle and a rather flat ending.
A tale of a 1960s woman struggle to find her place in the world and deal with issues made by herself and loved ones. The book is good as in it grabs your attention and delivers the author's message; about gender issues and parents long lasting effect on their children. While the characters are interesting, there isn't much of a plot. It's a lot about the message. It's written really well with great details that bring a strong sense of realism. (Although, there are a lot of either run-on sentences or sentences that need commas.) I enjoyed the book for the ideology, but be prepared for a very slow story line.
This book might have hit a bit too close to home for me. It was brilliant for that but perhaps less enjoyable for the same reason. If you're someone who gets lost in your head and fantasizes about drama and significance in your life, this might be the book for you. Joan gives herself the fantasy and intrigue we all dream of--she reacts to trouble with passionate exaggerated responses--the kind we imagine but never follow through with. Unfortunately, her self-indulgence isn't ever very satisfying. All she really ever gets is a complicated, messy life that just keeps spiraling out of control.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes