The Blind Assassin
by Margaret Atwood
2000, 521 pp.
Booker Prize
Rating: 3.5
I was disappointed in this book. I expected great things after loving The Handmaid’s Tale earlier in the year. I was especially disappointed as it was over 500 pages; it could have easily lost about 100 pages of detail. I guess that’s my main gripe about it. It just seemed too detailed for me. Also I correctly predicted almost all that happened. Long, too detailed, and too predictable. But still, Atwood does know how to turn a phrase, and that is why it still gets a 3.5 star rating.
Interesting. I’m reading this right now. Only about 200 pages in at the moment and am loving it so far. But I am thinking it really doesn’t seem like an award winner.
This is the only Atwood book I have read that I don’t remember very much about the plot, other than the basics. I’ll be re-reading it very soon for BookAwards, as soon as I finish Cat’s Eye, another Atwood book.
I am looking forward to reading this. I have read 3 of her books so far and loved them all. I am sorry it didn’t live up to your expectations, but don’t let that put you off reading her other books…
I’m glad I’m not the only one who felt that way. I also loved Handmaid’s Tale but I wouldn’t recommend this one either.
exactly. My paperback had 654 pages! I know it’s the same amount of words, but it seemed sooo long. And yes, even though I didn’t like it, she was a good writer. Maybe needed an editor?
I remember liking Alias Grace when I read it a few years ago, but I think I felt the same detached way about Cat’s Eye.
I think I will add “The Handmaid’s Tale” to my TBR list and skip this one. I’m so disappointed when I read a LARGE book that turns out less than wonderful. It seems like sugh a wastes.
[...] (1999, 248 pp.) 53. The Higher Power of Lucky**** by Susan Patron (2006, 134 pp, Newbery) 54. The Blind Assassin ***1/2 by Margaret Atwood (2000, 521 pp, Booker) 55. The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books [...]
[...] The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Booker 2000) 2. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (Booker 1997) 3. The [...]
[...] Knees – MacDonald 8. The Handmaid’s Tale – Atwood Rating: 4.5 9. The Blind Assassin – Atwood Rating: 3.5 *(moved to 2008) 9. Possession – Byatt 10. Phantastes – MacDonald Rating: 4 11. The Book Thief by [...]
[...] Kate Seredy 52. Stardust**** by Neil Gaiman 53. The Higher Power of Lucky**** by Susan Patron 54. The Blind Assassin ***1/2 by Margaret Atwood 55. The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books***1/2 by Peder Zane [...]
[...] Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (England) The Sea by John Banville (Ireland) The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Canada) The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy [...]
[...] 27. Eat, Pray, Love**** by Elizabeth Gilbert 28. The Handmaid’s Tale ****1/2 by Margaret Atwood; The Blind Assassin ***1/2 29. The Stone Diaries****1/2 by Carol Shields 30. Amos Fortune, Free Man**** by Elizabeth [...]
[...] Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (British author) FINISHED The Sea by John Banville (Ireland) FINISHED The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Canada) FINISHED The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (India) FINISHED [...]
[...] The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Booker 2000) 2. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (Booker 1997) 3. The [...]
[...] Anne Enright 2006 – The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai 2005 – The Sea by John Banville 2000 – The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood 1997 – The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 1985 – The Bone People by [...]
[...] Anne Enright 2006 – The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai 2005 – The Sea by John Banville 2000 – The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood 1997 – The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 1985 – The Bone People by [...]