The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

[noracharles]

We'll be reading and discussing The Blind Assassin from June 24th to June 30th. Only the first chapter is required reading to participate in the discussion, but of course you're very welcome to read on for as long as you enjoy the book.

The Blind Assassin opens with these simple, resonant words: "Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge." They are spoken by Iris, whose terse account of her sister's death in 1945 is followed by an inquest report proclaiming the death accidental. But just as the reader expects to settle into Laura's story, Atwood introduces a novel-within-a-novel. Entitled The Blind Assassin, it is a science fiction story told by two unnamed lovers who meet in dingy backstreet rooms. When we return to Iris, it is through a 1947 newspaper article announcing the discovery of a sailboat carrying the dead body of her husband, a distinguished industrialist. Brilliantly weaving together such seemingly disparate elements, Atwood creates a world of astonishing vision and unforgettable impact.

Because the first chapter is five and a half pages long, I am committing to reading at least the second chapter.

Comments

Re: II - The Colonel Henry Parkman High School Home and School and Alumni Assocation Bulletin, 1998

[noracharles]

Okay, if Laura's authorship continues to be this celebrated, maybe her novel is not horrible all the way through. How is its morality?

I like how Atwood can write in so many styles, her clippings really are spot on in the language of their eras. Laura's book is also similar in style to many forties novels I have read (at least parts of).

That's the conclusion of chapter two! I think I'll give chapter three a try as well, and hope there aren't two many excerpts of The Blind Assassin. Do you suppose this is why the excerpts are not labeled in the index, so as not to put readers off in advance?

Re: II - The Colonel Henry Parkman High School Home and School and Alumni Assocation Bulletin, 1998

[blnchflr]

Yeah, I don't understand what's supposed to be so awesome about the fictional novel?

I think the newspaper clippings style is ok, but I'm not that impressed. But I'm speaking as someone who soured on the novel. Either way, as I point out in my comment messing up your system (sorry, posted comment before reading previous comments for Reasons), the other parts (narration + novel) read similarly to me.

Re: II - The Colonel Henry Parkman High School Home and School and Alumni Assocation Bulletin, 1998

[noracharles]

Don't worry about my system, I found it less intimidating to read a tiny section at a time, but people can respond in any way they feel comfortable.

I definitely see a family resemblance between Iris' narration and Laura's novel, and I assume it must be intentional, given that the clippings are so distinct.

Maybe the novel became famous because Iris uncovers it as a roman à clef? That's a guess, I haven't read beyond chapter two yet.