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

II - The lipstick heart

[noracharles]

 

Re: II - The lipstick heart

[noracharles]

This is where I originally stopped reading, from where I found the bookmark. I don't know. It's gross, he's horrible, I don't understand why she keeps going to him, but at least it is being directly adressed. Nothing I hate more than creepiness that goes unacknowledged.

I haven't read it, but the guy reminds me of a story that's summaried in Quills, the movie about the Marquis de Sade. It's about a sadist who gets off on debasing a noble woman, and whenever she stops being horrified and disquieted by what he's done, he comes up with something even worse. And when she grows used to that, he dumps her because she's beneath him.

It's making me not particularly want to continue reading this book, but at the same time, since it's so popular, I have to hope something improves further along.

Re: II - The lipstick heart

[blnchflr]

Sounds like a lovely sadist.

Apart from him being creepy, I lose patience with characters who insist on speaking on riddles. Ok, suresen, enough negativity from you :)

I'm super-happy to have read the first chapter - it forced me to think about what I thought about it and put it down in words, and that's never a bad thing. But I'm unlikely to ever understand Atwood/become a fan.

Re: II - The lipstick heart

[noracharles]

I didn't notice him speaking in riddles, can you give an example?

I actually own several books by Atwood, bought because the were on sale and came highly recced and because I'd liked the one book by her I had read, and also because she's written some science fiction, right?

The book I've read by her also dealt intensely with the patriarchy and the complex way priviledge can intersect when a woman has class and race priviledge. It was extremely creepy, but it was also deliberately and elegantly creepy, if you know what I mean.

Re: II - The lipstick heart

[blnchflr]

Eh, I thought I could motivate myself to look up examples, but hockey ate my brain again, and now I'm over The Blind Assassin. It's also also quite possible I just don't get what he's trying to say, *handwaves*.

Have you managed to read on?

Re: II - The lipstick heart

[noracharles]

No, I'm over The Blind Assassin, too. After reading reviews I felt very discouraged, and then someone recced a book to me which is like candy and has even been easier to read in small chunks and keep my attention on than fic, so now I've mostly forgotten about Atwood.