Reviews

Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood

philippakmoore's review against another edition

3.0

I love Atwood's writing so I knew I would enjoy it, but I found it frustrating in equal measure. Perhaps I identified too closely with the heroine in her weight struggles - this idea that there is only a thin or a fat body, nothing in between. I wanted to shake Joan when she went off on one of her self loathing tangents, and then realised with horror that maybe I'm like that sometimes....is that the mark of a good author, I wonder, that they tap into dark parts of ourselves that we won't admit to?

It got very interesting towards the end with all the plot twists and suspense. The unlikeable heroine (though I identified with her) made me give this 3 stars rather than 4 however.

abe389's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective medium-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

rumaho76's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious 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

2.0

h3dakota's review against another edition

1.0

Ugh. I don't know why I kept forging ahead with this story. I hated Joan. She was annoying & pissed me off constantly - and she doesn't have ONE redeeming quality, not one bit of character development or growth. What a colossal waste of time.

charlottekook's review against another edition

4.0

loved it, v margaret atwood.

roisin_prendergast's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this book!! It was not what I expected. It's incredibly funny and witty. I genuinely laughed out loud so many times but also wanted to cry in parts - such a fantastic blend of humour and loneliness. And so subtly strong and feminist. Definitely a book for women. The writing flows extremely well, it's like a film you've seen before in your head whilst reading - very vivid. I don't think I have ever liked a protagonist/narrator so much! Joan Foster - I love you!

madlymia's review against another edition

i’m on the Margaret Atwood train!!!! i get it now!!!!

krobart's review against another edition

3.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/10/15/review-1738-1976-club-lady-oracle/

samwreads's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this book a lot. Probably 3.5 stars overall. The only Atwood I've read previously was The Blind Assassin, which was also great, so when I was browsing the shelves at the library and saw this I picked it up on a whim. It is a lot less dark than TBA, but that was totally fine by me.

It seems, if not autobiographical, at least indulgent in an authorial way. The strongest parts were the individual relationships Joan forms. The way they are doled out and recur throughout the narrative was very enjoyable.

The main thing I struggled with was the end (beginning?) - I got frustrated with the path Joan took and a few of the decisions she made. That's a very personal reason to dislike the book; not an issue with the quality of the plot or writing at all.

nena_1's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-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

4.0