Comments (30)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 30 items
Jan 27, 2023Pat_romans rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I did not finish this wandering tale of dystopian societies overlaid with the strict societal conventions imposed on upper class women in the late 19th to early 20th century. Non-chronological story line and overly detailed descriptive…
Jan 06, 2023
A woman in present day Canada is telling the story of her and her sister's life from their privileged upbringing, the family's slow decline and her marriage to a rich industrialist. Interspersed with that are her observations on her…
Dec 11, 2022ScottFeil rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
There is a certain brutality about Atwood’s story telling - painting a historical period tale of sexism, control and survival for the main character Iris. The unabashed female on female controlling behaviors - laid bare against more open…
Jan 12, 2022
RETURNED 2-1-22 DUE 2-8-22, CHECKED OUT 1-18-22 ON HOLD 1-12-22
Sep 03, 2020
(Really, I'm listening to the audiobook but that wasn't an option.)
May 08, 2020dgiard rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
"Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge. The bridge was being repaired: she went right through the Danger sign. The car fell a hundred feet into the ravine, smashing through the treetops feathery with new…
Jan 13, 2020
A story inside a story inside a story... Laura Chase drove her car off a bridge. But why? Her older sister Iris is still grappling with this, years later as an elderly woman. Laura's only published book, "The Blind Assassin" which tells…
JCLS_Ashland_Kristin
Oct 14, 2019JCLS_Ashland_Kristin rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I'm circling back around and reading Margaret Atwood titles I didn't read when they were first published. This one is excellent! I loved the story-within-a-story-within-a-story format.
Jun 28, 2019StrangelyExuberant rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I have always loved stories where you go back to another time. Like checking out those abandoned houses and wondering what stories lie within. Through this story you become immersed in Iris Chase Griffen's life. The characters of her…
Oct 07, 2018
Ugh. I rarely finish a book I don't enjoy, but Atwood strung me along all the way through with the pulp fantasy aspects. Kept hoping 'The Blind Assassin' narrative would take over the dreary biopic details of Iris and Laura. Can someone…
May 20, 2018
This is the book for those who appreciate descriptive writing and unpredictable plots. Word choice is flawless. Questions linger until the absolute end.
Mar 02, 2018LadyDi52 rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I was disappointed in the plodding pace of this book, it reminded me a lot of Alice Hoffman's family tree style of writing. Set in small town Ontario, maybe if you're from a place like that you might enjoy it, but it didn't live up to the…
Nov 07, 2017
I found it confusing a first but once I figured out that the story was flipping back and forth in time I got into it! It really is a novel within a novel! I skipped the parts about the country Zycron as I hate Science-Fiction!
Jul 12, 2017darcyhudjik rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Awesome characters and an intriguing plot by Atwood.
Dec 28, 2016SarahDormat rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
It's a slow burn, but it's really worth sticking with this book to the end. I ended up loving it.
Jun 20, 2016
Absolutely my favorite book by Ms. Atwood.
Jun 30, 2015
Book Club 8/26/15
Jun 05, 2014Eosos rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Somehow I always find my favorite books the hardest to write reviews on. I don’t want to gush but there are no negatives to discuss. The story isn’t fast or action packed, it lets one woman tell the story of her life in a calm and…
May 31, 2013finn75 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Loved this book of a woman looking back at her past and her relationship with her much more glamorous sister. Great twist.
Nov 02, 2012pridi_o rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Exquisite!
Jul 28, 2012thoughtspf rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed the writing style, but the story line went from all-over-the-place could turn out interesting to boring somewhere about halfway through the book.
Jul 01, 2012Jessi52 rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Very slow, I can usually read a book in a day or two, this one took 2 weeks, I kept falling asleep. did finish it. Not near as good as Kate Morton's book, could not put those down.
Oct 01, 2011vcc rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
I usually adore Ms. Atwood's writing, and eagerly consume each of her words, however, this novel of a story within a story was rather tedious and dry. It lacked her usual wittiness, or rather, it lacked much of Atwood's charm.
Sep 15, 2011teatreetiffany rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I am a self-confessing Margaret Atwood fan. Her development of the characters in this novel is the best I've read in her works. They are vivid and she gives them time to unfold through the sometimes confusing (aren't they always?)…
Jun 02, 2011
The first selection for an online book club sponsored by Atlantic Magazine. 1book140 is "an international book club inspired by the One Book, One City programs. Every month we all choose a book to read. The following month we read it. The…