Beautifully brutal

The secrets and lies behind a families story. A novel within a novel. This book with more layers than puff pastry slowly invites you to delve into what is inside. The ways in which sisters can love and hurt and what we choose to see or not to see in order to survive.

A few coincidences create a slight air of disbelief in what is otherwise an engaging and astonishingly descriptive book. Set against a backdrop of the wars that would make Canada a nation, it also provides great historical insight into a countries development alongside individual tragedy.

The perfectly pitched performance made it a pleasurable if uncomfortable listen.

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28 people found this helpful

Slow start, good finish

I found it hard to get into the story, and a little confusing as it jumped about in time. But the second half of the book came into its own. Very descriptive, interesting language as is usual from Margaret Atwood. An in depth reflective story of a woman and her life, with her younger sister, set around an unfulfilling marriage.

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1 person found this helpful

Limerence and sisterly-love

I read this aged 15 and the characters of Laura, Alex and Iris still linger more than 20 years on. The intricacies of the various plots interwoven and the many narrators build a rich and complex world. I have read and re-read this book so many times and each read there is another glimpse into the fraught existence of Iris and her strained but loving relationship with her sister, Laura. Their lifelong love of Alex is what pangs my heart. She picks up the phone, just to hear it purr.

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1 person found this helpful

Beautifully written but regrettably found it a bit boring

As expected, brilliantly and beautifully written but I must admit I did struggle to get through it. It’s a long slow story and now I’ve finished, I can see carefully and artfully constructed but like I said... a bit boring!

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Acute observation and wry humour

Atwood is a challenging author and asks no favours. You are “reeled in”, intrigued by the plot, and it’s your loss if you aren’t.... in a storyline of the Chase sisters against a backdrop of Canada from the early 1900’s. She observes acutely and w wry humour; and there is love, fantasy and cruel reality coupled with critical social commentary. I came to M Atwood late but am a convert.
If you have the chance, I’d also recommend watching her Interview in the BBC series, “IMAGINE”

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hooked, but felt long

I felt this was a very slow burn of a story. I was hooked by the character Laura from the outset, but found a lot of the descriptions and story to be just something to get through. I also could not stand the style of the reader. All in all, a very mixed bag yet with some haunting characters and storyline.

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Satisfying

If you could sum up The Blind Assassin in three words, what would they be?

Strong, original, rich.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Iris. i bought the book very cleverly illustrated in fine detail the life of someone who was written out of their own story in their own lifetime. A strong, thoughtful character.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, wise sounding, deep rooted and an even pace.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really, it made me thoughtful and a little wistful.

Any additional comments?

It's a long book, and slow at times, but so brilliant by the end that I was glad of the slow pace. It felt satisfying and nutritious.

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5 people found this helpful

Struggled to get into it.

I found it really hard to get into to start with. And Lorelei King's voice is so soothing I kept falling asleep.
I don't think I would have finished it if I had read the paperback.
But actually it's quite a good story once the parts begin to come together. Even so I guessed the twists before they were revealed.
Nothing like as good as some of Margaret Atwood's other books.

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4 people found this helpful

Absorbing

Beautifully performed, story sucked me in, characters believable and rounded. The greyness of moral stances covered masterfully, the times and settings all convinced me. I thoroughly recommend this book and this narrator

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1 person found this helpful

SUBLIME

An absolute thing of beauty. I was obsessive about listening. Highly recommended. I will listen again and again.

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