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What Members Thought
I finished this book because I can't stand not finishing one. The point where I was tempted to end was only about 2 chapters to go- the twist that happens at the point was just too unbelievable and much too over the top. It took away from the powerful subtlety of what Atwood had accomplished thus far. The things that saved it from being one star: Atwood does write some beautiful, multilayered phrases and I think that part of the book just doesn't translate well 30 years after it was written. I g
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Atwood’s first published novel sees her get off to a good start with this eerie tale of a woman returning to her childhood home in the Canadian wilderness in search of her lost father.
There’s a foreboding right from the very start of the novel as the prose keeps you very much captive inside the thoughts of the protagonist. And she’s a broody sort who becomes increasingly paranoid as the novel progresses. It does not end well for her. Or, perhaps it does. Hard to say.
What you can be sure of is th ...more
There’s a foreboding right from the very start of the novel as the prose keeps you very much captive inside the thoughts of the protagonist. And she’s a broody sort who becomes increasingly paranoid as the novel progresses. It does not end well for her. Or, perhaps it does. Hard to say.
What you can be sure of is th ...more
I'm still thinking about this one. It's Margaret Atwood, in a 1970s way, and I do love Atwood. And it's an "interior" story, which I usually like. We don't really know that much about the main character, we don't even learn her name. We do know that she is Canadian and she does not like Americans. It's not clear why she is with the married couple and her boyfriend, as she does not seem to like any of them much. What happens to her at the end is confusing, but kind of cool.
Definitely not to be re ...more
Definitely not to be re ...more
Man I hated this book. The college professor who assigned it was completely obsessed with Margaret Atwood. Every class she taught, regardless of whether or not it dealt with Atwood, she would make us watch a slideshow of her visiting with the author. Over and over and over. It took years before I got over the "scars" from that crazy professor and gave Atwood another chance. I am glad I did, but you couldn't pay me to read this book again.
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2.5 stars - Not my favorite of Margaret Atwood.
Dark, mystery, internal inquiry.
There were times it went one direction. It then changed suddenly to the narrator sharing her memories. Memories or thoughts that had no resolve.
Not sure I understood the end. Wouldn't mind someone else giving me their perspective of this book. ...more
Dark, mystery, internal inquiry.
There were times it went one direction. It then changed suddenly to the narrator sharing her memories. Memories or thoughts that had no resolve.
Not sure I understood the end. Wouldn't mind someone else giving me their perspective of this book. ...more
Dec 14, 2007
Jennie
marked it as to-read
Jan 13, 2008
Lindsay
marked it as to-read
Aug 10, 2009
Erin
marked it as to-read
Jun 03, 2011
Haley
marked it as to-read
Aug 28, 2011
Chas
marked it as to-read
Jan 25, 2013
Robin
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2016
laurie
marked it as to-read
May 29, 2022
Giovanna
marked it as to-read
Nov 02, 2023
Maeve
marked it as to-read-1001-book
Sep 27, 2025
Chloe
marked it as to-read
