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yleavy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This novel has Atwood’s signature beautiful prose and lovely recurring imagery. Like many of her other books, the protagonist is angry at a lot of things, mostly other women. Probably 250 pages too long.
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Abortion
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War
pagesfromhome's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Oof. This one just did not do it for me.
While Atwood’s writing is, as usual, gorgeous, I just couldn’t get past such a deeply character-driven novel based around characters that I just didn’t enjoy spending time with. I found myself spending more time trying to figure out what it was Atwood was trying to do/show me and couldn’t get lost in the story the way that I wanted to.
There were absolutely points I enjoyed, especially Elaine’s relationship to her art and how she contended what she thought with what others thought (not unlike a writer and her readers), but I just couldn’t get lost in the story the way I wanted to.
While Atwood’s writing is, as usual, gorgeous, I just couldn’t get past such a deeply character-driven novel based around characters that I just didn’t enjoy spending time with. I found myself spending more time trying to figure out what it was Atwood was trying to do/show me and couldn’t get lost in the story the way that I wanted to.
There were absolutely points I enjoyed, especially Elaine’s relationship to her art and how she contended what she thought with what others thought (not unlike a writer and her readers), but I just couldn’t get lost in the story the way I wanted to.
Graphic: Bullying, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Murder
lay_kone's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and War
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