Friday, May 4, 2018

Book review - Atlas Grace

As much as I was enamored by The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, I was a bit beat down by Alias Grace.  I can't fault the writing. Ms.Atwood has a tremendous way with words and a rich style. Perhaps it was the characters. I was interested in Grace and her story, but bogged down by the doctor who was interviewing her. The book seemed to drag on and I found myself skimming. Yet, I did want to know what happened to Grace.

She was convicted for her involvement in vicious murders of her employer. Was she a misguided innocent, caught up by the older co-worker? Or was she a scheming cold blooded killer? She did not seem to remember a thing from the murders. Now Dr. Simon Jordan, an expert in the new field of mental illness, has been hired to explore her mental condition and seek a pardon. In the back and forth of the circumstances leading up to the murders, Atwood builds quite a foundation of hardship for an orphan girl in Gilead.

I also tried to watch the series based on Alias Grace and was not pulled into the show either. So, perhaps this was just not my cup of tea all around.


12 comments:

  1. Sometimes tea blends differ even when from the same blender. Maybe the next cup will be better...I take one cube in mine...it helps to sweeten the pot.

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    1. wise words. I just posted two book reviews in a row on books I did not like. Unusual

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  2. When they drag it can sure put one off a bit.

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  3. Is this book set in the same world as the Handmaid's Tale? I liked that book but it was a bit confusing at the end.

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    1. yes - and I really liked Handmaid's Tale. Hence I got this book, but wasn't as awesome. Had redeeming values on half the story - the girl Grace.

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  4. Well, as hard as writers try, they can't always hit them out of the park. And it could be, as you say, that this one is different enough that it doesn't work for you.

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    1. indeed. I mean no disrespect to Margaret Atwood.

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  5. A good review Joanne. I sometimes envy people who can write novels and such.

    Yvonne.

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  6. This sounds like this might have been a better book if it had been edited more since it bogged down even though you wanted to know more. Pacing can be difficult to master sometimes. I liked your review. Sorry to hear this one wasn't the best.

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  7. Sorry this one wasn't up to par. I recently (finally!) read "The Handmaid's Tale," and was blown away by her writing.

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