Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

Val Penny ♦ October 9, 2018 ♦ Leave a comment

Margaret Atwood is a very well-respected Canadian author, but I had never read any of her books so I was pleased when this novel was book of the month at our book group, even if it was 545 pages.

The novel is based on the true story of Grace who emigrates with her family from Ireland to Canada and is subsequently convicted of murder. This part of the story I found interesting and credible. However, with the introduction of a medical practitioner who had an affair with his landlady and then disappeared followed by another purported medical expert who seemed more like a circus performer, I began to lose interest.

However, the novel does deal with attitudes towards women and the way women were treated in the nineteenth century. This reflects the writers feminist views as to how women are still viewed in society.

It was a novel that divided our book group with equal numbers loving it and loathing it. So Alias Grace is definitely a book that you will need to read to make your own opinion. For me, on the basis of this, I will not seek out other novels by Margaret Atwood.

Val Penny