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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
reflective
medium-paced
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
The story shifts between people and perspectives (mainly Elizabeth, Nate, and Lesje) and the sympathies with the characters tend to shift with whose POV it is which was interesting. The events, such as they are, unfold over about two years and seem to at first be revolving around the death of Chris, Elizabeth's lover. However this novel is really so much more about the personalities (or lack of), and the feelings and interactions between the people. Elizabeth and Lesje as opposites in resolve and self-knowledge, Nate's self-centred, well-intentioned liberal, and his very interesting mother. Atwood is a great writer. (Although I still stand by my rule that you have to be in a certain mood to read Atwood, no good doing it if you're already sad...) [2013]
Is there an adjective 'atwoodian'? It's always what I feel after reading something of hers. Entering into any kind of relationship with another human seems like the height of folly after this. Though she always throws in a little hope... [2003]
Is there an adjective 'atwoodian'? It's always what I feel after reading something of hers. Entering into any kind of relationship with another human seems like the height of folly after this. Though she always throws in a little hope... [2003]
Margaret Atwood’s 4th novel is a bit different from her previous three. For starters, this is the first time there is the use of multiple narrators. The novel is also cleverer and the writing is definitely leagues ahead. Saying that, I didn’t quite gel with the book as much as I wanted to.
The plot focuses on three people: Elizabeth, Nate and Lesje. Elizabeth is depressed about the suicide of a former lover. Nate, who used to have an affair with a lady called Martha is going to embark on another affair with Lesje and Lesje, well she likes Nate and is dating a guy called William but her true obsession is with dinosaurs. This is apt as she works as a paleontologist in The Royal Ontario Museum, oh and Elizabeth works with her.
With this set up, Atwood manages to stuff in a lot of themes also this gives her the ability to drop little hints about these characters’ lives sporadically, until he get a full picture of these three people by the last third of the book.
As I said the themes come thick and fast : Through Elizabeth we get explorations on the true meaning of love, neglectful parenting, generation gaps, sexual assault, suicide and toxic masculinity. Nate is a metaphor of the male view of an affair and separation and through Lesje it’s immigration, sexual assault and individuality.
Life Before man tackles the big issues and it’s done fantastically. Atwood is bolder here than before. There are graphic details of sexual assault and some epic arguments. There are humorous moments but not many. In hindsight it is a powerful book.As I stated earlier the writing is superb, it is a huge leap from the past novels and Atwood has kept up this style for a lot of her books.
The problem is that I found quite a few sections… a bit boring. This is a book that has lulls. There are interesting bits like Elizabeth’s issues with her parents and relatives, and Lesje’s love for dinosaurs plus I like the way the affair builds up from one small movement to a full blown divorce but in between this there’s a lot of unnecessary brooding. At times I also felt that Nate was more of a vehicle than an actual character.
When I read Atwood’s last book, Lady Oracle I said that from now onward Margaret Atwood is edging towards becoming a good author to a great author. Although I was disappointed with Life Before Man, I still do think it’s not a misstep. I have come to the conclusion that Atwood is now not afraid to experiment. Considering that her first three novels were one person narratives, LBM is a different turn. It doesn’t always work out but it definitely shows that Atwood’s voice and themes are becoming bolder.
The plot focuses on three people: Elizabeth, Nate and Lesje. Elizabeth is depressed about the suicide of a former lover. Nate, who used to have an affair with a lady called Martha is going to embark on another affair with Lesje and Lesje, well she likes Nate and is dating a guy called William but her true obsession is with dinosaurs. This is apt as she works as a paleontologist in The Royal Ontario Museum, oh and Elizabeth works with her.
With this set up, Atwood manages to stuff in a lot of themes also this gives her the ability to drop little hints about these characters’ lives sporadically, until he get a full picture of these three people by the last third of the book.
As I said the themes come thick and fast : Through Elizabeth we get explorations on the true meaning of love, neglectful parenting, generation gaps, sexual assault, suicide and toxic masculinity. Nate is a metaphor of the male view of an affair and separation and through Lesje it’s immigration, sexual assault and individuality.
Life Before man tackles the big issues and it’s done fantastically. Atwood is bolder here than before. There are graphic details of sexual assault and some epic arguments. There are humorous moments but not many. In hindsight it is a powerful book.As I stated earlier the writing is superb, it is a huge leap from the past novels and Atwood has kept up this style for a lot of her books.
The problem is that I found quite a few sections… a bit boring. This is a book that has lulls. There are interesting bits like Elizabeth’s issues with her parents and relatives, and Lesje’s love for dinosaurs plus I like the way the affair builds up from one small movement to a full blown divorce but in between this there’s a lot of unnecessary brooding. At times I also felt that Nate was more of a vehicle than an actual character.
When I read Atwood’s last book, Lady Oracle I said that from now onward Margaret Atwood is edging towards becoming a good author to a great author. Although I was disappointed with Life Before Man, I still do think it’s not a misstep. I have come to the conclusion that Atwood is now not afraid to experiment. Considering that her first three novels were one person narratives, LBM is a different turn. It doesn’t always work out but it definitely shows that Atwood’s voice and themes are becoming bolder.
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
Essentially, this is a book about a dysfunctional marriage where the two people need to get a divorce and move on but for some reason they just won’t do it. They’ve both had affairs and outside relationships with each other’s full knowledge, they don’t love each other like they used to, and they both know it’s over. And still, their marriage limps along for three-hundred sixty-one pages.
I didn’t hate Life Before Man, but I also didn’t love it. Many of the ideas were probably edgy and fresh when it was published in 1979, but in 2024 they lack impact. None of the characters are particularly likable or sympathetic, which isn’t a dealbreaker in itself, but I also simply didn’t care about them or what they were going through. Their problems aren’t especially interesting. This could have been about a hundred pages shorter.
I didn’t hate Life Before Man, but I also didn’t love it. Many of the ideas were probably edgy and fresh when it was published in 1979, but in 2024 they lack impact. None of the characters are particularly likable or sympathetic, which isn’t a dealbreaker in itself, but I also simply didn’t care about them or what they were going through. Their problems aren’t especially interesting. This could have been about a hundred pages shorter.
"you give them food, money, anything to substitute for your love and blood, hope it will be enough, waiting for them to go away."
"If pushed she'll stop at nothing. Or, put another way: when she reaches nothing she will stop."
"If pushed she'll stop at nothing. Or, put another way: when she reaches nothing she will stop."
I really don't know how I feel about this book. On the one hand, there is Atwood's beautiful style and sentences, her wonderful human poetry, the novel is multi-perspective, which I always like. But I didn't actually care for any of the main characters, they seemed like vessels to me, vessels for human thought, but not really someone to connect to. Maybe that was the point, because human isolation and loneliness is a big theme of this book. But, regardless of the non-event plot and a weird, somewhat unfinished ending, it's still Atwood, and her books haunt you way after reading. I think this soft-burning one will as well.