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buffalo666's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
4.25
Extremely slow paced, major plot events don't really take place until the last 1/3 of the book, but still definitely worth reading. Unreliable narrator but not really focused on, as much as it's always just in the back of the reader's mind. The book itself never comes to a clear conclusion about the guilt or innnocence of most of the characters as some people might want, but explores how all of the pieces of the real story may have played out.
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
alexandramrtin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.75
atwood had a big task of turning a fact into fiction, and she nailed it. she added just enough fictitious elements to embellish the history, while still keeping the ambiguity as to the truth of the matter.
the imagery is beautiful. i don’t know if i’m primed to pick up on motifs and ideas in atwood’s work as we went very in depth in handmaid’s tale for IB, but i’m getting it. everything makes sense, everything is so well crafted.
story itself is good. the premise/skeleton of the story is fascinating, especially giving the fact that it really happened! as for the added fictitious details, they felt so real and were so well embedded that the book felt both like accurate reality, or a brilliant work of fiction.
i would definitely read it again, as i’m sure i missed some details!
only reason i removed 0.25 is because grace marks does not end up with who i was rooting for the whole while but alas
the imagery is beautiful. i don’t know if i’m primed to pick up on motifs and ideas in atwood’s work as we went very in depth in handmaid’s tale for IB, but i’m getting it. everything makes sense, everything is so well crafted.
story itself is good. the premise/skeleton of the story is fascinating, especially giving the fact that it really happened! as for the added fictitious details, they felt so real and were so well embedded that the book felt both like accurate reality, or a brilliant work of fiction.
i would definitely read it again, as i’m sure i missed some details!
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Alcohol, and Classism