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

[wishfulclicking]

I definitely noticed the style in the fake book and and Iris' part. The first sentence intrigued me and I actually wanted to know more about Iris and Laura, and I even kind of liked the Blind Assassin part with the photograph just because the imagery was so well done; but, having said that, I am not really enjoying The Blind Assassin parts and am wondering how the novel became so noted? Maybe it was a case of it getting popular attention even if the build of it may not be so spectacular?

I do remember liking The Handmaid's Tale more than this from the beginning. Penelopiad, which is shorter, is still my favorite of hers; but I haven't read a lot of her works. Still want to check out the Mad Adam trilogy.

[blnchflr]

It's a great first sentence!

I don't get why the novel is so noted, but then I don't get why most great novels are noted :)

I think I'm done with Atwood - until the next time I forget I don't like her writing ^___^

But again not unhappy at all to have read a few chapters of something not fanfiction, that is always good!

[calvinahobbes]

Urgh, I completely failed to join in on this convo, but I DID get part-way through III!

I agree that the problem with Atwood is that she writes unpleasant stuff - she's a great writer, but she uses it for creeping her reader out in this really unsettling way that she is very good at, but I just hate feel-bad-reads. *sigh* That said, I really am impressed with her range. This book's style and language is markedly different from Onyx and Crake, which I actually did manage to finish for a uni course.

I'm not actually turned completely off it yet. I like the way she weaves the different styles, and I actually want to know what happens next in The Blind Assassin. I'm actually a little bummed out that I don't really have time to stay with it, because we're on to the next book.