Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

[JitterbugPerfume]

I read the first 36 pages last night before I was just to tired to go on. So far it feels like Atwood at her best,

which is saying a lot because she is phenomenal.

Who else has read it?

[ceile]

1. Is it new?

I've never heard of it....

[JitterbugPerfume]

5. I found Cats Eye and Alias Grace

at a goodwill store last week end, along with the Foundation Trilogy (hardback)Prelude to Foundation by Asimov,Small Wonders by Barbara Kingsolver , Two of the three volumes of The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire and The Good War by Studs Terkel.

and oh yeah--Under the Tuscan Sun . Has anyone read that one? is it good?

[ropi]

2. read it-love it

love how the use of the quilt is like the story--pieces being sewn together. alias grace is one of my favorites.

to answer second question: published 1996

[LisaM]

3. Read it - didn't care for it

I don't particularly like her style of writing. The characters all seem numb.

[tanglefoot]

4. I absolutely adored this book.

I loved it so much I read it a second time - reading it to my SO as we drove to and from several destinations over a period of a few weeks.

Atwood's creativity and ability to weave so many subplots and theme into one story climaxing in such a disturbing ending is stunning.

Definitely a book to own!

[JitterbugPerfume]

6. Welcome to DU tanglefoot!

:thumbsup: :hi:

[MasonJar]

7. I read it. I did not find it phenomenal. However, I am luke warm on

Atwood. Let us know how you feel when you finish it.

[Bullwinkle925]

8. I thought it was an amazing book.

I also found it along with "Cat's Eye" in a used book store. Read "Cat's Eye" first and enjoyed it very much. I like her writing style. I would put her in the top echelon of the feminist writers. Now I'm snapping up all of her books and look forward to reading them. I don't know what took me so long to get around to reading this author. I hope you let us know your thoughts. I kept imagining "Alias Grace" in a movie format - would make a terrific film. Hopefully the plot would remain intact and not be slaughtered by Hollywood should they ever decide to transition this book onto the big screen.

[JitterbugPerfume]

9. I absolutely loved Alias Grace

Was she innocent ? Who exactly was Mary? Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite authors .

Read A Handmaids Tale ! It will make your hair stand on end , I promise.

The Blind Assassin is really good too.

[Bullwinkle925]

10. I'm hoping that it will be made into a movie.

For some reason, I kept seeing Julia Roberts in this role. I think she's guilty, but I also think she is repressing that from herself. What did you think of the psychiatrist? The little episode with his landlady was something, wasn't it? I also wondered what happened to the 'junkman' - he kind of dropped off after his last encounter with Grace. He seemed to be a bit of a chameleon, didn't he? I thought that perhaps he was the person to whom Grace was being sent in the end. That was a bit of a surprise, wasn't it?
I have both "Handmaid's Tale" and "Blind Assassin" in my stacks of 'to be read'.

[JitterbugPerfume]

11. the psychiatrist committed the ultimate sin

he fell in love with his patient.

That episode with his land lady was strange. She portrayed herself as weak and needy , but personally I think she drove her husband to drink:evilgrin:


after she married, I assumed the "stranger" she saw on the street was the junkman.I had kind of hoped she would end up with him , because I think he had the most"pure " love for her . Everyone else had other ulterior motives.

I felt like the guy she married was attoning for his sin , and he DID seem to "get off" on hearing her tell a tale of woe.

Julia Roberts would be a perfect Grace!

I think she's guilty too

[Bullwinkle925]

12. I think I'll have to give it a second read.

It was interesting when the 'junkman' (darn - I can't remember his name) said to her that she was 'one of them'. I would have liked to understood that relevation a bit better. You're correct - he was the one who really loved her for herself. I felt that the character of Mary/Margaret was a true character for her in the book - her one and only friend. It certainly gave one a look into the world of the immigrant house servant, didn't it?
Powerful book. It's good to be able to hear another's thoughts on this one.

[JitterbugPerfume]

13. yes , I wondered about that too

maybe he just meant that she was not like other people.I have felt "different " all of my life , but I guess that is just the human condition . We all like to believe that we are unique.

I think her exceptional beauty worked both for her and against her. A beautiful person can get by with more. I don't think she consciously used her beauty , but it was certainly there.

Immigrants still have a hard way to go. It makes me so sad to hear people act like they are somehow unworthy.