The Robber Bride

Margaret Atwood

The most interesting about this book, is how the friendship of 3 women is based on nothing but...more

The most interesting about this book, is how the friendship of 3 women is based on nothing but mutual hate for the central character Zenia. this is greate depiciton of how as women, we are more prone to blaming other women for our romantic problems, than our male partners. The women in the book all seem to blame their misfortunes in love and life on Zenia, when in reality it is their own mistakes and low self esteem that causes them to chose the wrong men. Zenia is the epitemy of the "other" woman, mysterious and overblown in the minds of these women, into almost a mythical character, capable of doing anything and eating every man she desires... when in reality she is a single, beautiful and lonely woman who has learned that utilizing her looks she can take advantage of the men who view her as nothing but a sexual object. Zenia is not so much a Robber Bride, but an avanger of women who are used by their partners, for emotional / financial support.    hide

Not the most compelling Atwood novel ever (Blind Assassin and Handmaid's Tale compete for that slot...more

Not the most compelling Atwood novel ever (Blind Assassin and Handmaid's Tale compete for that slot IMHO), but not the worst (Edible Woman). Usually her novels take about 40 pgs to show their strength and draw me into the characters intimately enough, and this was no exception. The plot never really took off or joined up in a fully satisfying way, but that could be a narrative echo of the outcome for the main characters (Tony, Roz and Charis) - they don't get fully satisfying explanations for the thefts they've endured, either, and the p.o.v. is limited to their thoughts and experiences. I did become fully immersed the characterisations of T, R and C. though, so it still rates as an average/good read.    hide

Not the best Atwood, but the premise is so intruiging. Obviously, it's the kind of subject I am...more

Not the best Atwood, but the premise is so intruiging. Obviously, it's the kind of subject I am attracted to. Namely: Beautiful, possibly crazy woman, uses every trick in her bag to survive, and meanwhile steal everyone's husband/boyfriend. As told by her former friends who lost their respective male companions to her. I always like to imagine what kind of book my friends would write about me. I want to be someone's tragic muse. :P I need to get over myself. And for the record, I recovered from my boyfriend stealing phase AGES ago.   hide

Margaret Atwood makes you feel for the women in this book. It really is all about the value of...more

Margaret Atwood makes you feel for the women in this book. It really is all about the value of sisterhood and advocates women believing in themselves and being independent. It's a while since I've read this one but Atwood's style is masterfully simple and inciteful, with just enough emotional intensity for her characters not to verge on melodrama and self-ingulgence. Every woman who has ever had self esteem issues should read Margarate Atwood. The scales fall from your eyes.    hide

There's something about this book that left a bad taste in my mouth, and that's the fact that the...more

There's something about this book that left a bad taste in my mouth, and that's the fact that the women and gay men in this book are saints, while the straight men are the evil-doers. We get it, Atwood, you're into the whole feminist thing. Congrats. But, I really love Atwood's writing, and she's crafted a really engrossing and well-told story here about three women united by one woman's trail of deceit and yadda-yadda-she's evil-yadda-yadda. Worth a read (plus, it's a quick read... it's over before you know it, even at 500+ pages).   hide