Cecily’s Comments (group member since Dec 14, 2012)

Cecily’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

Leah wrote: "I have never read Stephen King or seen a horror movie. I have a copy from the library. This will be interesting."

I'd never read Stephen King until reading this a few months ago, and never seen a strong horror film. My biggest surprise with the book was how unscary it was!

Just looking back at my review, I found this gem:

“A black dress, simply cut but voraciously elegant.”

(But I didn't not any specifically about Winifred and clothes.)

Jeane wrote: " I feel as though the fashion represented where an individual was on the monetary social ladder."

And where you wanted to be seen to be on the social ladder (Winifred).

Emma, I don't think that's simplistic at all! And I hadn't even considered the importance of buttons - seemingly so insignificant, as you say, but this being Atwood, almost certainly symbolic.

Interesting. I didn't notice the fashion a great deal (except Winifred), but fashion's not really my thing. I did, however, notice many specific mentions of green: mostly, but not entirely, relating to clothes. It’s usually related to coldness, rather than jealousy, but other than that, I couldn't interpret the significance.

The recurring trope I noticed even more, was the way Iris' contemporary sections invariably opened with vivid descriptions of the seasons and weather.

Emma wrote: "The SF strand is enjoyable but, for me, too separate from the rest of the book. There are probably all sorts of analogies between the SF and real-life sections..."

I know what you mean. I was so keen to get back to Iris, I didn't study those sections as carefully as I probably will on a reread (and yes, there are lots of parallels with the main novel).

Sandra wrote: "What I don't like about it already is being yanked back and forth into and out of story lines. We'll see..."

It does that all the way through, so if you want to finish it, you'll have to make your peace with its structure. Good luck.

Robin wrote: "I just joined this group yesterday, so only have 1,5 week left to start and finish the book..."

The discussions don't get locked. You can still keep posting, and people can still reply.

It might be quicker to list the characters who are NOT blind assassins in any sense. ;)

My favourite was the framing story of curmudgeonly Iris pottering about, fighting the signs of old age, and describing the natural world so eloquently. So many of those chapters started with beautiful descriptions of nature or the weather.

I quite like sci-fi, and Atwood's own speculative fiction, but the pap sci-fi in Zycron was my least favourite level. I think that was because it (seemed to) take me away from Iris. I'm sure I'll reread this one day, and then I'll try to pay more attention to it, as I'm sure there's lots I missed.

Oh, I see you have. :)

Of course you can!

I loved it. Atwood is a wonderfully varied author, and here she mixes several genres in one book. Absolutely gripping.

Which of the five levels of story did people like the best - and least?

My favourite was the framing story of curmudgeonly Iris pottering about, fighting the signs of old age, and describing the natural world so eloquently. Somewhat to my surprise, my least favourite was sci-fi in Zycron. But it was all excellent.

My detailed review is here (no spoilers): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Colleen wrote: "I've had this book on my shelf for years, and have also only read The Handmaid's Tale..."

I love this and Handmaid - but don't expect much similarity.

Yes, I'm excited. I read it last month, and even though I was already a confirmed Atwood fan, it exceeded my expectations. A complex, multi-layered, but highly-readable book. I look forward to the discussions.

By the way, in addition to the events spanning the twentieth century, one of the five nested stories is a pap sci-fi story (a fiction within a fiction)!

A key quote is surely, "Anything can happen to anyone. It's best to be prepared."

The other is perhaps:
"They all broke the rules. They all crossed into forbidden territory. They all tampered with the laws that lay down who should be loved and how. And how much." And by whom.

Another that stood out for me was:
"Sophie Mol became a Memory, while The Loss of Sophie Mol grew robust and alive. Like a fruit in season. Every season." Those left behind experience "Not death. Just the end of living."


(I've also included a lot of quotes at the end of my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Although moths feature, rather than butterflies, in some ways, it's about the butterfly effect: how small things can have multiple and major consequences, meaning that everything can change in a single day. "Anything can happen to anyone. It's best to be prepared."

There are many other Small Things:
* "The God of Loss. The God of Small Things."
* Ammu telling Rahel "When you hurt people they begin to love you less", a throwaway line that grows, festers and twists within until it changes the lives of everyone.
* Ammu is "Someone Small who has been bullied all their lives by Someone Big".
* At big moments "only the Small Things are ever said".
* A couple who know they have no future, so "instinctively they stick to the Small Things"
* Filth and decay, of which there is much 23 years later, is an accumulation of small things.

Bookshelf, bookshelf, bookshelf.

It's one of the best books I've read in ages (it was actually a couple of months' ago, but it's fairly fresh in my memory).

I've written a detailed review here.

It starts:
"A lyrical, mysterious tale of misunderstanding and pain, echoing through the years. At its dark heart, it demonstrates how small things can have multiple and major consequences, meaning that everything can change in a single day. "Anything can happen to anyone. It's best to be prepared." - and these fears trigger tragedy..."

(There's only one slight spoiler, and it's hidden with spoiler tags.)

Michelle wrote: "Nearly every marriage in this book is bad. Not just so-so, but really bad..."

Conversely, the only enduring affectionate bond of any kind between two people is that of twins - and that doesn't spare them unhappy lives.

I think it's more that the background of the novel is pain and loss, and that is reflected in marriages, parent/child relationships and everything else.

Alana wrote: "Does this classify as sci-fi? Or maybe it did in it's day but just doesn't really feel that way now, because a huge portion of the technology either already exists or is very nearly attainable?"

I don't think you stop classifying something as sci-fi just because technology has caught up. Where would it end and what would such books become, such as one written in the 1950s but set on a space station not unlike the ISS?

I'm happy to keep this as sci-fi, and also as dystopian.