Predictable story line
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This story of Victorian age women done wrong, although true, is much too often told. I won't reveal the twists and turns, but, at least in the book on tape version, there are few true surprises. That it is based on a true story makes it more interesting. But, reliance on dream symbolism and hypnosis are overwrought and overused techniques.
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An Absolutely Fantastic Book
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Alias Grace is an extremely well written, very entertaining tale of murder and deception. Although the story was hard to follow at times because of the changing time periods and narrators, the shifting only added to the wonderful sense of mystery and intrigue in this novel. I couldn't put the book down, the suspense was wonderfully executed. This book is not only entertaining and a source of unique Canadian history, but Atwood cleverly relates many themes of the period novel back to our modern society; reflecting on issues such as stereotypes and sex roles.
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retelling the........truth?
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Who was Grace Marks? A murderess who could easily hide her violent personality, an unwilling victim, or a split personality, nobody will ever know.
A true story, a woman who lived in Canada in the 1840s. In the novel we meet her mostly through the interviews she had, while in prison, with Dr. Simon Jordan a kind of psychiatrist of the times.
From what she told and from the way she presented herself and the facts of her life, she was either an angel or the most cunning of liars.
A horrible crime was committed in the household where Grace, a young girl of 15 or so, worked as a servant. The master of the house Mr. Kinnear and his servant-lover Nancy were slaughtered in a most brutal way by a male servant James McDermott, was Grace his accomplice? This is the enigma which goes unsolved.
Beautiful style, Margaret Atwood confirms once again her ability to confound and enchant the reader with intriguing stories.
She is, in my opinion, one of the best post-modern Canadian writers.
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Not Atwood's best
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This is not Atwood's best book by a long stretch. 'The Handmaids Tale', 'the Robber Bride', and the especially exquisite 'The Blind Assassin' are much more enjoyable. This book is slow, and does not have the wonderful turns of phrase that her other books have.
While she does a good job of leaving the reader guessing as to the guilt or innocence of Grace, the question, of course, cannot be answered (being a true story) and leaves you disappointed. The prelude to the crime (Grace's history) is the best part of the book.
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One of the best
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This is a book that I probably would not have picked up on my own; it was a selection from my book club. I was immediately [stunk] into the story--I could not put it down. The story of Grace Marks is so compelling, and Atwood is a master storyteller. This book has become not only my favorite of the books my book club has read, but one of my favorite books, period. Since then, I have read more of Atwood's work and enjoyed everything, but this is her best work that I have read.
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