Bones and Murder - Margaret Atwood

Advantages: Funny and highly entertaining.
Disadvantages: Like all Atwood , is a bit wordy.

...The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood is based on Homers Odyssy. This however is not simply the idiots guide to Homer! Its an interesting exploration into the thoughts and feelings of Penelope (wife of Odysseus) written with her as the narrator after her murder. The voice is of a bitter woman who has not forgiven her husband for leaving her for years and years and then later having her killed - which seems understandable to me! Whats also interesting is Penelope's view on Helen (Helen of Troy) who is viewed as a sex symbol and steals men! A great story, very witty and sarcastic with a decent amount of sex and scandal thrown in for good measure! Another triumph by Atwood and well worth listening to. It comes highly recommended by me and all my friends who borrowed it afterwards.... Read review

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Advantages: the ideas it brings up are very interesting
Disadvantages: can be slow to read

...After studying this book for English Literature A level, i felt i could add a few points that haven't been mentioned. We were told to read the book before the start of our course through the summer and i did find it quite slow and the ending somewhat dissapointing. However, if you are willing to go into more depth to discover Atwoods messages through 'Alias Grace', the book becomes something very interesting and different. Atwood writes a story about a true event surrounding Grace Marks, who was convicted of murdering her master and his mistress. Throughout the story, readers encounter many different versions of events, including newspaper exerpts from the time of the murders and experts from books. Varying points of view are also presented to show different opinions. This contributes to a fragmented and confused feel. However... Read review

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Advantages: vivid, engaging, great story
Disadvantages: not in paperback yet

...genuinely funny concepts and a few dark laughs along the way. Atwood has used her careful prose to construst an entire world. She has taken the bones of what technology is capable of now, and used her poetic licence to accelerate that technology to dizzying heights, and then slams on the brakes to ask 'Could this happen? Whose hands are safe enough for such power?'. Certainly an enjoyable read, and more unusually, something that might make you think. 'Oryx and Crake' by Margaret Atwood Hardback RRP £16.99, but you can find it cheaper on amazon and similar sites, or wait 'til March for the paperback...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful