Classics Without All the Class discussion

Welcome to the discussion folder for The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.

"The Blind Assassin is a novel by the Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. Set in Canada, it is narrated from the present day, referring back to events that span the twentieth century.

The work was awarded the Man Booker Prize in 2000 and the Hammett Prize in 2001. It was also nominated for Governor General's Award in 2000, Orange Prize for Fiction, and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2002.[1] Time magazine named it the best novel of 2000 and included it in its list of the 100 greatest English-language novels since 1923"

I am excited to read this book. I have only read one other book by Margaret Atwood and that was The Handmaid's Tale (which was one of our very first books that we read when we started the group way back in 2012).

Are you excited too? Have you read any other Margaret Atwood books?

Yes, I'm excited. I read it last month, and even though I was already a confirmed Atwood fan, it exceeded my expectations. A complex, multi-layered, but highly-readable book. I look forward to the discussions.

By the way, in addition to the events spanning the twentieth century, one of the five nested stories is a pap sci-fi story (a fiction within a fiction)!

I've had this book on my shelf for years, and have also only read The Handmaid's Tale. I'm really overextended this month, so hopefully if I get to it, even late, I'll be able to discuss. Looking forward to reading some comments though!

This will be my seventh book by Atwood that I've read. I've been meaning to get around to it, but I keep on being distracted. That's the problem with lists, sometimes you just burn out.

I'm getting this one from my library hopefully I will get it in time to participate in the discussions. :-)

Colleen wrote: "I've had this book on my shelf for years, and have also only read The Handmaid's Tale..."

I love this and Handmaid - but don't expect much similarity.

Good! I don't think I could handle it, lol.

This book is stunning. One of her best.
I've read several Atwoods. She's a national treasure both in Canada, and its capital, Ottawa, where she went to university and still often stops by to lecture.

I read Blind Assassin last year, so still somewhat fresh in my memory. It was my 4th Atwood novel, so count me as a fan. It won the Mann-Booker prize for best book of the yr by a writer from a British Commonwealth country. I put it in a tie with Handmaids Tale for my favorite (my other two were Surfacing and Alias Grace). It has several stories combined in it, and that keeps you interested and maybe a little off-balance. Great characters and every once in a while a sentence that makes you go "wow". I think I'll read her "Cat's Eye" in the future, a Booker prize nominee and listed in "100 best books by women writers"(Feminista list).

If you're a fan, I recommend The Edible Woman, her first novel.
It's a fantastic precursor to have her career would become, full of feminist lore, strong story lines and compelling narratives.

Just finished it! I have to say, I was impressed. This was my first novel by Atwood, though my mother is a fan of her books. She's had "The Blind Assassin" since it came out, but I never picked it up; I think I never did because I had tried the Handmaid's Tale but did not get into it very far (too young, perhaps). Excited to get into a discussion with everyone and see your thoughts!

I started this book a few years ago and got half way through before putting it down. I can't remember why I stopped, but I look forward to finishing it this time. I really enjoy Margaret Atwood.

I remember blazing through The Handmaid's Tale but I wasn't sure how this one would compare. I haven't read much of it yet but I'm enjoying it very much. I like her writing style. It is chock full of information and she forces you to think by not revealing too much, but it is also easy to read.

Samantha wrote: "I remember blazing through The Handmaid's Tale but I wasn't sure how this one would compare. I haven't read much of it yet but I'm enjoying it very much. I like her writing style. It is chock full ..."

Yeah, I really like how far back the story goes into Iris's history. It gives a real sense of history.

I just joined this group yesterday, so only have 1,5 week left to start and finish the book. I borrowed it from a friend and will start reading today, so if the book is as good as you tell me it is, it shouldn't be a problem. It is my first book by Margaret Atwood, so I don't know what to expect.

I downed it in three sittings.
Good luck, mate!

I just started this the other day. What I don't like about it already is being yanked back and forth into and out of story lines. We'll see. Hopefully I'll get the hang of it. I do enjoy Iris and find her story line the easiest to settle in to.

Robin wrote: "I just joined this group yesterday, so only have 1,5 week left to start and finish the book..."

The discussions don't get locked. You can still keep posting, and people can still reply.

Sandra wrote: "What I don't like about it already is being yanked back and forth into and out of story lines. We'll see..."

It does that all the way through, so if you want to finish it, you'll have to make your peace with its structure. Good luck.

I know, but since it's the June book, I do want to finish it in June :) I do like the fact that the storyline is going back and forth, but it took a while to get used to the absence of quotation marks.

I am definitely an Atwood fan, I have read The Handmaid's Tale and plan to re-read it. I've also read her recent dystopian trilogy, which is right up my alley. I have had this and a couple of her other works on my shelves for a while now thanks to used book sales. I missed a chance to see her speak last year due to a work assignment. This is my first group read, even though there isn't a day that passes that I'm not on GR. I don't think I can finish it this week though.

I feel the same way about Atwood, Maurine! I think The Handmaid's Tale will always be my favorite. I won't be able to finish the group read this week either.

Robin wrote: "I just joined this group yesterday, so only have 1,5 week left to start and finish the book. I borrowed it from a friend and will start reading today, so if the book is as good as you tell me it is..."

Wow! Good luck, but if you don't finish it, it's ok, we keep the forums open forever so you can still go back an add to the discussions.

Thanks! But I already finished it, I spend a whole weekend reading :)

I read this over a year ago and don't remember a lot of the details, but I did quite enjoy it. Worth reading anything by Atwood, for sure!

Robin wrote: "Thanks! But I already finished it, I spend a whole weekend reading :)"

Woo woo! Good job!

Alana wrote: "I read this over a year ago and don't remember a lot of the details, but I did quite enjoy it. Worth reading anything by Atwood, for sure!"

Well there was so much detail, I read it just this month and still have trouble remembering so much of it!