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milavis's review
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brennasherrill's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.25
liliflynn's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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 is truly an incredible author, whose writing is without fault.
This exploration of a woman’s role was incredibly complex and interesting; especially alongside a look into a character whose “fatness” came before she was acknowledged as a woman or any other personal trait, and how this impacted her.
At times I got a little lost as the book jumped forwards and backwards in her life. The story also dragged a little bit in the middle.
Overall, a good read!
This exploration of a woman’s role was incredibly complex and interesting; especially alongside a look into a character whose “fatness” came before she was acknowledged as a woman or any other personal trait, and how this impacted her.
At times I got a little lost as the book jumped forwards and backwards in her life. The story also dragged a little bit in the middle.
Overall, a good read!
mxjoebest's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
2.75
wyemu's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to get around to reading this one and I'm not sure why as it's as amazing as all of Atwood's other books that I've enjoyed immensely. Atwood is again providing thought provoking narrative with wit and scathing satire at society's need to control the individual. Joan Foster is a feminist writer who makes more money writing romance novels as Louisa Delacourt. Having faked her death to escape her boring marriage, and life, Joan is now staying in Italy and hoping no one there remembers her from when she holidayed there with her husband. This part of the narrative is interspersed with Joan's recollections of childhood, a not entirely happy one as a chubby child who battled with her mother over her weight. As in 'The Edible Woman' Atwood examines the role society plays in putting pressure on people to conform to certain stereotypes or body images. Joan's mother is the voice for society with her desire to have the perfect daughter, instead of the chubby girl who doesn't quite fit in that she is left with. Meanwhile, the romance novel that Joan is currently writing under her pseudonym also makes sporadic appearances, fulfilling all the cliches that you'd expect from that type of romance novel. Atwood is once again at her satirical best, so glads I finally got around to reading it and wish I had done so sooner.
misslezlee's review against another edition
4.0
In 1970/80s Britain Virago Press was the source for women’s writing. Stridently feminist and truly eye opening, it brought many books to this reader’s attention. Some were republished neglected novels but Margaret Atwood was a contemporary author who rapidly became a favorite. Somehow, I missed Lady Oracle, so it was a treat to return to her early work.
I honestly thought I was the only person who, as a child, had danced around a paper mâché toadstool in a church basement while singing rhymes about being a Sprite. But here is evidence that I didn’t dream it up! And how did my Brown Owl and Tawny Owl manage to be in Canada when they were really in the East Midlands of England?
I honestly thought I was the only person who, as a child, had danced around a paper mâché toadstool in a church basement while singing rhymes about being a Sprite. But here is evidence that I didn’t dream it up! And how did my Brown Owl and Tawny Owl manage to be in Canada when they were really in the East Midlands of England?
fairybotmother's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Stalking
emccardel's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75