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thepagesofmrsd'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tony, Roz and Charis are brought together in friendship through a mutual obsession with, but also dislike of, the elusive and manipulative Zenia. 5 years ago, they attended her memorial service and thought they may be free of her at last. However, Zenia has a way of sticking with you, and has just turned up very much alive...
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I honestly didn't really know where to begin reviewing this one at first. The Robber Bride is an unexpected and compelling character study into the lives of three very different women, brought together through shared experience.
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I loved the brutal, honest and engaging writing style which, along with the mysterious concept, helped to create a sense of intrigue from the very start. Who is Zenia? What did she do to have such a profound impact? How is she alive, and why are our three main characters seemingly so unsurprised by this?!
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For those looking for a plot-based novel, this is where you may be disappointed as the answers to those questions are far from forthcoming. Atwood has used an interesting structure here, switching between three points of view in a non-linear way (at first, in fact, retelling the same event from three perspectives). This makes the narrative surrounding Zenia's reappearance feel quite slow, but allows for more in depth exploration of the three friends and their complex histories.
.
For the most part, I was so completely and utterly engrossed in each of the women's lives that the pace didn't bother me much at all, aside from briefly towards the end. There is so much to unpick here, with themes ranging from family, childhood and relationships to womanhood and gender roles, to religion and the impact of war. ⚠️As a content warning, I should also mention that there are scenes involving mental ill health, suicide attempts, and child sexual abuse, that were very difficult to read.
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Overall, this was a great and unexpected read. It wasn't a quick or an easy choice, and in terms of the advertised plot, you could argue that not a lot actually happened... BUT it was utterly compelling. I would recommend it to fans of slow-paced, character driven reads.
.
I honestly didn't really know where to begin reviewing this one at first. The Robber Bride is an unexpected and compelling character study into the lives of three very different women, brought together through shared experience.
.
I loved the brutal, honest and engaging writing style which, along with the mysterious concept, helped to create a sense of intrigue from the very start. Who is Zenia? What did she do to have such a profound impact? How is she alive, and why are our three main characters seemingly so unsurprised by this?!
.
For those looking for a plot-based novel, this is where you may be disappointed as the answers to those questions are far from forthcoming. Atwood has used an interesting structure here, switching between three points of view in a non-linear way (at first, in fact, retelling the same event from three perspectives). This makes the narrative surrounding Zenia's reappearance feel quite slow, but allows for more in depth exploration of the three friends and their complex histories.
.
For the most part, I was so completely and utterly engrossed in each of the women's lives that the pace didn't bother me much at all, aside from briefly towards the end. There is so much to unpick here, with themes ranging from family, childhood and relationships to womanhood and gender roles, to religion and the impact of war. ⚠️As a content warning, I should also mention that there are scenes involving mental ill health, suicide attempts, and child sexual abuse, that were very difficult to read.
.
Overall, this was a great and unexpected read. It wasn't a quick or an easy choice, and in terms of the advertised plot, you could argue that not a lot actually happened... BUT it was utterly compelling. I would recommend it to fans of slow-paced, character driven reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
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