ManBookering discussion

Hello all! I'm very pleased to announce that the chosen novel for December is Margaret Atwood's 2000 winner The Blind Assassin. I'm particularly excited for this one, as I'm a massive Atwood fan.

As usual, we will be reading this through the whole month of December and holding discussions in this forum. Just remember to warn before spoiling. Otherwise enjoy, and have a great time reading and discussing. :]

Oh yesss - it's the only booker winner from the 00's which I haven't read! the book has been on my shelf since 2012 so i'm looking forward.

As for Line of Beauty - i don't mind reading it in January.

Cool. And only £1.99 on Amazon in UK at the moment for Kindle!

I would be very happy to go with Line of Beauty for January's choice. I could tell the two were very close in the votes and I was looking forward to a re-read of that.

Looking forward to that, hoping to get it from the library in due time.

Oh, great, I am looking forward to this! Happy reading everyone!

That sounds great, I'll pick up both books together and save on postage :)

Perfect - I started reading Blind Assassin in October, but put it down to catch up on other things. I'd be happy to read Line of Beauty in January.

I've been meaning to read this one for a while!

Line of Beauty sounds good for January. I just picked up a copy of The Blind Assassin from a charity shop a few weeks ago. This will be my first Atwood. Excited!

I got my copy of the Blind Assassin from a charity shop a few weeks ago too - a 50p bargain! My first Atwood too - it is one of the books in my 2016 "52 books in a year" reading challenge. I might have to read it slowly so that I finish it in January 2016 to qualify!

Just a reminder that our group read of The Blind Assassin begins tomorrow! I'm really looking forward to reading & discussing it with you all!

I got my copy yesterday! :) I'm really looking forward to this one because I feel kind of bad for abandoning Last month's read. I hope I receive this one well!

I am ready, looking forward to my first read with this group.

My usual library lost its copy/someone misplaced it, so I'll pick it up from another library tomorrow.
I'm excited to discuss this one with you all, it will also be my first Margaret Atwood and I'm really looking forward to start reading it!

Nearly ready - 120 pages of Against The Day to go. Looking forward to starting this later in the week and joining in with the discussion.

I'm really looking forward to reading and discussing this one with you all. I picked up a copy the other day for just £2! (Yay). Happy reading everyone :)

Just checked out a copy from the library and patiently waiting for it to arrive...really looking forward to my first readalong with a book club!! :-)

Due to a load of work that will be cropping up by mid December, I had to start the book early. I am now halfway through and I cannot stop reading it. I'm itching to discuss some plot aspects with all of you!

Definitely Atwood at her best.

I just started last night and I feel that it's a bit of a pity that I know so much about the novel already (especially about who tells which story). Still, Atwood's writing is lovely. And I do enjoy the scifi-parts, although I agree with some critics that they are quite long and detailed. Curious to hear what you all think about it.

I am off to a slow start, page 26, and a little confused. I like the fantasy-story, the rest is a blur at this time.

The writing is ace. In fact I was going to read the book in small 20 page bursts but i'm even trying to read a chapter during work! I just HAVE to know how things will tie up.

Aargh! You are all making me frustrated that I won't be starting this until Friday! Determined to finish Against The Day first (just 60 pages to go so plan to finish tonight!) and am away for work tomorrow with dinner out in the evening, so no reading at all tomorrow.

I read this book a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it - the weaving of the two (almost three) different stories kept the mystery going for most of the book for me in a really good way. Looking forward to see what other people think.

Just picked up my copy for the library today. Happy reading!

My copy just arrived in the post, can't wait to start reading :)

Just finished the first 50 pages, and I'm really intrigued. I have absolutely no idea what this book is about going in, which I think really helps contribute to its overall mysteriousness. The first 10 pages or so were rather confusing, but now that I'm situated in the story more, I'm feeling comfortable and excited to read more.

Iris's character reminds me of Elaine from Atwood's Cat's Eye in a way--that elderly woman reflecting on her state of being old as well as on her younger years. Can't wait to read on!

Might be some late night reading in my plans tonight

Having already read this Booker winner, I want to encourage you all in your own adventure with Atwood. Our last book was also a re-read for me. But I don't mind when the story is so good. I'm busy with many projects right now, but have made a good start. Looking forward to getting further into it. I remember enjoying it a great deal last time.

The opening paragraph tho! Love it!

The opening paragraph tho! Love it!

Monty wrote: "The opening paragraph tho! Love it!"

The 'hook' by the author should always prompt such a response by the reader!

Maxwell wrote: "Just finished the first 50 pages, and I'm really intrigued. I have absolutely no idea what this book is about going in, which I think really helps contribute to its overall mysteriousness. The firs..."

yeah it's something Atwood does a lot. I feel that The Blind Assassin is where all the 'Atwoodian' elements of her past novels reach a culmination point.

I just had time to read the first, I think, 13 pages last night. What an intriguing start! Intriguing in that I am already wondering about the stories of the characters I've met. And intriguing in that the structure look fascinating. Is some of the cleverness of the writing/structure going to remind me of Ali Smith? This is my first experience of Atwood.

Maxwell wrote: "Just finished the first 50 pages, and I'm really intrigued. I have absolutely no idea what this book is about going in, which I think really helps contribute to its overall mysteriousness. The firs..."

Yes, absolutely! I am really sad that I cant enjoy the mysteriousness because I've heard so much about the book already. They should ban spoilers from official reviews :-)

Aother 25 pages last night. And I was chuckling all the time, Atwood has such a great humor...

I read about 25 pages and I have to say I'm quite confused by the plot line. Anyway, I find it incredibly intriguing and i can't wait to read more.

just finished it - what a STUNNING novel. There's a lot to discuss. Can't wait!!

Am about a quarter into the book, and the pacing is rather slow now, after a whirlwind start. Am a bit doubtful whether its necessary to give quite so much background information about Iris' family. But I enjoy the casual writing- style and getting to know Laura and Iris. What to think of the scifi-part and its purpose? Not sure yet... But I am looking foward to finding out more about the people of Zycron.

I have had it on my shelf for quite a while and started reading it last night. Looking forward to it.

Ya know, I'm not sure what it is about these books (first God of Small Things, now this one), but I'm having a really hard time getting through them! I usually love Man Booker winners--hence, why I created this group. But both have been a real struggle for me. I just am really bored by this one, which I didn't expect as Atwood is one of my favorite writers. The disconnect between the two storylines is making it difficult to stay interested. I tend to get frustrated switching back and forth like that. Because I'd rather focus on one storyline that I'm really enjoying. But hopefully it improves. If anyone has read it or is farther along than I am (30% through), let me know when things start to connect more or the pace picks up some. Thanks!

Maxwell wrote: "Ya know, I'm not sure what it is about these books (first God of Small Things, now this one), but I'm having a really hard time getting through them! I usually love Man Booker winners--hence, why I..."

Had the same problems… But I stuck with it and the pace does pick up in the second half. Although I still keep struggeling a bit with the elaborate descriptions of Iris' 1930ies life, I like the 2nd half much better. So: dont give up just yet!

This is encouraging! I was really intrigued by the first few chapters, but then it settled down into a load a family history and I started to wonder how long it was going to plod on for. For me, I love the mixing of stories, although I know it's not everyone's taste. Maybe I will discover a point to all the family stuff.

Good to know Britta :-)

Britta wrote: "Maxwell wrote: "Ya know, I'm not sure what it is about these books (first God of Small Things, now this one), but I'm having a really hard time getting through them! I usually love Man Booker winne..."

Yes, thanks Britta, that is encouraging! I will push through it.

*possible spoilers* you've been warned:


I just read about 100 pages in a sitting, and I will say I'm starting to enjoy it more. I much prefer the parts where Iris is reflecting on her youth, more than the blind assassin chapters. But I'm curious now to see how I feel about those after such a long stretch spent with Iris talking about Alex, the Depression and her getting married off.

One thing that I had a problem with for the first 150 pages or so was how Iris seemed to have no personality, and all of her major concerns were with Laura. But as we learn more about their childhood, family life and general plight, I am starting to sympathize more with Iris. She seems to be lifeless because she was always tasked with being the golden child, to be the 'son' that her father never had. Also she has a lot more personality as an elderly woman, which makes me think something is going to happen that lights a fire in her. I'm interested to see where the story goes now.

I finished the book yesterday, and started reading it again last night. And its worth it! Especially the Blind Assassin-novel within & the scifi parts within that make much more sense the 2nd time around. The first time I read too fast & missed a lot of the references / parallels to the 'real story' and the 'real world' made in the scifi part.

hashtag Booker rereads! ;)

hashtag Booker rereads! ;)

Britta wrote: "I finished the book yesterday, and started reading it again last night. And its worth it! Especially the Blind Assassin-novel within & the scifi parts within that make much more sense the 2nd time ..."


As I have read this book before, I was going to encourage you all to keep reading - all the stories will connect at the end. But Britta just made my point when you immediately started rereading it :)

I just laughed out loud at the line, "The French are connoisseurs of sadness, they know all the kinds. This is why they have bidets." Atwood is hilarious.