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A review by goblinhearted
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
4.0
Cat’s Eye is a coming-of-age story that deals with female friendships, bullying, trauma, and the experience of being haunted by these events, all set against the backdrop of gentrification and a changing world. It is a deeply introspective novel that follows the life of Elaine, a woman reflecting on her journey from childhood to adulthood.
Elaine, who grows up with an unconventional childhood, desperately wants to become friends with other girls. She gets her wish, and becomes sucked into the volatile feminine politics of ‘friendship’. We follow her throughout life as she grapples with the trauma of these early experiences, while navigating the rapidly gentrifying landscape of Toronto.
While reading, I paused a few times to marvel at how Atwood constructed such a detailed and real fictional life. Experiencing the world through Elaine’s eyes felt compelling and familiar, capturing the universal struggle of clumsily and painfully finding one’s place in the world after trauma.
This was my first Atwood read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s one of those slow-paced, introspective novels that I love. Though the narrative shifts between Elaine’s childhood and her present life, I was content to let the story wash over me and enjoy the journey. Atwood’s writing style is crisp, cutting, and truly inspiring– especially from the perspective of an aspiring writer.
Elaine, who grows up with an unconventional childhood, desperately wants to become friends with other girls. She gets her wish, and becomes sucked into the volatile feminine politics of ‘friendship’. We follow her throughout life as she grapples with the trauma of these early experiences, while navigating the rapidly gentrifying landscape of Toronto.
While reading, I paused a few times to marvel at how Atwood constructed such a detailed and real fictional life. Experiencing the world through Elaine’s eyes felt compelling and familiar, capturing the universal struggle of clumsily and painfully finding one’s place in the world after trauma.
This was my first Atwood read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s one of those slow-paced, introspective novels that I love. Though the narrative shifts between Elaine’s childhood and her present life, I was content to let the story wash over me and enjoy the journey. Atwood’s writing style is crisp, cutting, and truly inspiring– especially from the perspective of an aspiring writer.