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What Members Thought

Apr 03, 2012
Cecily
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
usa-and-canada,
miscellaneous-fiction
What it's about
"We are survivors of each other. We have been shark to one another, but also lifeboat. That counts for something."
The power of abusive friendships and relationships is the theme of this book, though not all the relationships are tainted, so it's not depressing and at times it's quite amusing (e.g. discerning the mysteries of puberty).
There is also a fair bit about art and artists, with a dash of early feminism.
Plot structure
Elaine is an artist in her late fifties/early sixties ...more
"We are survivors of each other. We have been shark to one another, but also lifeboat. That counts for something."
The power of abusive friendships and relationships is the theme of this book, though not all the relationships are tainted, so it's not depressing and at times it's quite amusing (e.g. discerning the mysteries of puberty).
There is also a fair bit about art and artists, with a dash of early feminism.
Plot structure
Elaine is an artist in her late fifties/early sixties ...more

Every book is unique, some more so than others. This is one of my favorite things about Mararet Atwood. As a reader you do not receive the same formula over and over again, as can happen with some authors.
Her characters and plotlines are not nice and neat little boxes wrapped with bows. They are realistically forgetful, and selfish, and emotionally disconnected. Elaine, her family, and her friends are all complete wrecks at various points in the novel, which more frequently than not occurs in r ...more
Her characters and plotlines are not nice and neat little boxes wrapped with bows. They are realistically forgetful, and selfish, and emotionally disconnected. Elaine, her family, and her friends are all complete wrecks at various points in the novel, which more frequently than not occurs in r ...more

Jul 01, 2007
Yesha
marked it as to-read

Feb 08, 2010
Heather (DeathByBook)
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Jan 15, 2014
Beth Given
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Mar 15, 2014
Wendy
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Jun 26, 2015
Lindsay
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Jul 24, 2015
Y_M_A
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May 25, 2017
Felisa
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Jan 20, 2019
Mary Anne
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Dec 24, 2021
Katherine
marked it as to-read