The Blind Assassin

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood takes what could have ended up being a very long rambling story about a woman of some privilege who gets married off as a strategic financial alliance and thus ends up miserable, and masterfully -- and I do mean masterfully -- lures you in as if this woman's life is the most fascinating story you'd ever want to hear. The story is told in several narratives: there is the novel within the novel within the novel thing going on. Atwood of course has written a novel; Iris, the protaganist, in her old age, is writing down the story of her life (she's a crotchety, sarcastic delight); within her own "book," Iris includes the text of her "peculiar" sister Laura's novel, titled "The Blind Assassin," which we read in its entirety in alternating chapters. Atwood/Iris also uses newspaper clippings to tell parts of the story; they are interspersed throughout the book and help authenticate Iris' tale. If you think all of this sounds is confusing, it's not. The story skillfully unfolds and all of it works together, and ultimately comes together, just beautifully. I could offer up a full review, but I'd never do it justice. Easily the best book I've read this year.