Blind Assassin

Margaret Atwood

I admired this book in many ways -- it's undeniably well-crafted, it has a title that works on...more

I admired this book in many ways -- it's undeniably well-crafted, it has a title that works on multiple levels, and its characters have stayed with me, even when I'd rather they not -- but I could not enjoy it. The only really interesting part was the first fantasy section with the mute girl and the killer...everything else took a heaping helping of discipline to get through. Had I not been reading it for a class, I don't know if I would have finished it.   hide

Besides being a pretty substantial size, it was a very slow read. I often find Atwood slow going,...more

Besides being a pretty substantial size, it was a very slow read. I often find Atwood slow going, but her writing is just so wonderful that I don't seem to mind . I enjoyed this book, but it took me awhile to figure out what was the novel and what was the novel within the novel. There were parts where I wanted more background, and parts where I thought there was too much background given, but overall it was a good story. I enjoyed getting to know these characters, though I didn't really like any of them by the end of the book. They weren't the kind of people I would want as part of my life, but it was interesting to read about them (and frustrating at times too, when they would do things that just seemed so totally stupid, to me). I should have expected the plot twist at the end of the book, but it took me totally by surprise. It almost made me want to go back and reread parts of the story, because I think my perspective would have changed if I had known or at least guessed certain things about the characters. Overall, this wasn't my favourite Atwood, but it was a very enjoyable read.   hide

Blind Assasin is written by an extremely imaginative intricate versatile writer, Margaret Atwood....more

Blind Assasin is written by an extremely imaginative intricate versatile writer, Margaret Atwood. There is a reason why she won the booker prize. She carefully weaves 3 - 4 plots at the same time. Confusing the line of metaphor and reality. It was as if one was watching a movie in one's brain. She chose her words carefully to depict the paint the sentiment, mood and ambience vividly. Thoughts of the protagonist were very uncanny. Something I feel rather hard to write as one has to be totally honest and unabashed in the expression of thoughts. It opened up my mind on with her strength in providing different perspective through her metaphors of the same incident. Illustrating that in life, you can never be sure if what you see, is really the reality. Extremely melancholically enchanting.   hide

Frankly, if a novel is well-written, epic in scope, and ultimately heartbreaking, i will adore it...more

Frankly, if a novel is well-written, epic in scope, and ultimately heartbreaking, i will adore it to pieces. This book definitely counts as all three. The plot is arresting from the very beginning (in the first sentence, the narrator announces her sister's dramatic suicide). It's one of those story within a story within a story shenanigans, and all the more glorious for it. Anything by Margaret Atwood is fantastic, but this is probably my favorite and absolutely one of her best.    hide

Parallel plots serve to bemuse the reader of "The Blind Assassin" as the intention is clearly to...more

Parallel plots serve to bemuse the reader of "The Blind Assassin" as the intention is clearly to leave one in the dark about which sister is having the illicit affair with the storyteller of the title tale. It's an epic book that moves quickly, written with insight and flare. I was inspired by the delicately woven details, highlighted by unexpectedly charming and intelligent metaphor. What a fantastic literary game of ping pong as one is shuffled between present, past and the tale of "The Blind Assassin", which is the story within the story. Complex as a symphony, yet one is never waylaid. I am utterly taken with it.    hide