Reviews

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

zuliaaaahere's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

slibourel's review against another edition

4.0

Great read! This story drew me in quickly and kept me enthralled for the whole book. I still want to know the answer to the primary question posed by the book, but the lack of a definitive answer is also compelling. Highly recommend!

pasc96's review against another edition

3.0

Atwood certainly keeps the reader guessing in this unusual mystery (and unconventional love story, too).

mandrea's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. I liked it! The doctor at first appears to be respectable and smart, if a little clueless about housework and what women actually go through - completely understandable. But as the story goes on and gets closer and closer to all the sensational bits, things start to unravel. We see him get scuzzier over time, eventually revealing himself to be a complete asshole. Similarly, Grace's story is so forthright at the beginning and completely believable, but then small phrases here and there make you start to doubt if she's telling the straight up truth, embellishing a little, or is completely lying. And what about Jeremiah! What was his role? So mysterious!

I really liked that not everything was spelled out completely and that it's ambiguous enough that there are several plausible explanations as to what happened. I myself do not believe any of the nonsense about the spirit of Mary Whitney inhabiting Grace, but I'm glad it was put in for color.

dkirby37's review against another edition

4.0

I love Margaret Atwood's writing style in each book I've read of hers, this one is no exception. The twist was well done and lead to a very gratifying conclusion.

tylermcgaughey's review against another edition

3.0

Like the other Atwood novel I've read, [b: The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1489652243s/38447.jpg|1119185], I was impressed by this book on a technical level but, for the most part, it failed to engage me on a more emotional level. The writing here reminds me of Kazuo Ishiguro, who also employs very mannered, detached prose where most of the character's motives are buried in subtext. Unlike with Ishiguro, though, I still felt distant from the characters in [b: Alias Grace|58027|Alias Grace|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472960163s/58027.jpg|2069530] at the end of the novel. The last 50 pages take a strange turn, with Atwood seemingly falling into the conventions of the 19th century "sentimental novels" referred to at various points in the book. Still, her collage of historical documents and fictive techniques is compelling and worth analyzing. (If that's your thing; I read this for a class, so I have no choice.)

tex2flo's review against another edition

3.0

I hated giving Atwood only 3 stars, but it was only because I was hoping for her take on the actual evnt and my non-release at the end. Otherwise, the fictionalized story of convicted murderess Grace Marks in Toronto in the mid-1800s was an interesting view on women in prison and in a life of service.

kmccloskey765's review against another edition

3.0

Overall I like this book. The pace was a little slow for me in places, but the story was intriguing. I loved the historical information. She gives the reader a great feel for what daily life was like back then. Our book club had a lot to say about this one.

velociashtor's review against another edition

4.0

Atwood's style of writing is not something I would typically enjoy, but her characters are so gripping and her stories so intense that I was able to look past this. She is now one of my favorite authors. "Alias Grace" is not my favorite of her works, but I was impressed.

haunted_librarian's review against another edition

5.0

Thoroughly enjoyed. Read before you see the mini-series.