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isabezza's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
2.75
I love Margaret Atwood's writing - this book contains her signature imagination and characterisation, as well as a moral question founded in American history. However, this book requires an active brain so I found it useful to research some of the themes whilst reading (e.g. themes of money, women's roles, the great depression, war, social context.) This is a heavy book with huge twists only revealed at the end, and changes to how readers may interpret the characters. This novel takes a lot of energy to comprehend, involving multiple narratives which take a while to understand and stitch together (Laura Chase's novel, Iris' narrative in the present, and Iris' narrative in the past.) Certainly a slow read and not one I may recommend for enjoyment but I certainly learnt a lot from this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, War, Abortion, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Rape, and Pedophilia
telcontar2901's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.75
This book is a multi-layered story of a family: the bonds between spouses, parents + their children, and especially sisters—and how these bonds can twist, bend, and break. It took me about 100 pages to get the hang of this one, due to the structure and pace: the narrator takes her time describing things, and the story-within-a-story-within-a-story format will leave you with many questions. However, as I read on, I found my initial assumptions challenged as I was drawn into this moving story of regret and the passage of time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: War, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Suicide
Minor: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Pedophilia
yooniereads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? Yes
4.25
This book leaves a pit in your stomach in the best possible way. Atwood proved herself to be a chameleon in storytelling; the seamless shifting between mediums, the distinct voices, and the individuality of the characters- all of these made the story so visceral. I loved Iris because she was so flawed, and the conflicts she endured was so palpable.
It takes a lot for me to feel the emotions an author intends with their work (part of the reason why I didn't cry over A Little Life), but the sense of languishing, regret, nostalgia, and exhaustion felt quite real in this one. The only reason I won't be giving it five stars is because it dragged on for quite a bit. But other than that, it's the kind of novel I'll be thinking about for some time.
It takes a lot for me to feel the emotions an author intends with their work (part of the reason why I didn't cry over A Little Life), but the sense of languishing, regret, nostalgia, and exhaustion felt quite real in this one. The only reason I won't be giving it five stars is because it dragged on for quite a bit. But other than that, it's the kind of novel I'll be thinking about for some time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Suicide
Moderate: Gaslighting, War, Violence, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
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