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Summary: Crime and punishment in old Toronto...
Review: Grace was a woman who lived long ago.
Her crime was murder in old Toronto.
Was she guilty?
Was she not?
Kidnap, murder, prisons of old.
Atwood's writing as always is bold.
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Summary: An excellent book
Review: I've never read anything by Atwood before, but I was thoroughly engrossed by this compelling and richly-textured story. Atwood really made the characters and 19th century Canada come fully alive. Though I thought the book got off to a slow start-- the narrative didn't really begin for 100 pages-- it was well worth the wait
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Summary: A wonderful journey into the history of forensic psychology
Review: I was unfamiliar with Margaret Atwood's writing when I purchased this novel. Being interested in mysteries, historical novels and forensic science, it was a perfect read for me. I would highly recommend Alias Grace to anyone who is interested in the mind of the common person of the 19th century, the consequences of the hardships of being an immigrant, domestic servant, when being accused of a notorious crime in the late 1800's
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Summary: The Chill Behind The Story
Review: "Alias Grace" was a gift to me in many ways, not the least
of which was a chilling understanding of what women
have endured -- and to some probably still endure --
over the ages. As I have occasioned a fantasy about
living in a more genteel era, this book brings to light a
horror that lay behind the mask of Victorian splendor.
Frightening. -- Meg
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful cover, horrible plot.
Review: I am a huge fan of Margaret Atwood's. "Alias Grace," however, is a large disappointment. The psychiatrist is boring, Grace is undefined and underdeveloped, and the ending is completely unsatisfying. The only reason I haven't sold it at a garage sale is because the cover is gorgeous. This novel is not worthy of the Atwood name. Read "Handmaid's Tale" or "Cat's Eye" instead
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Summary: Plot secondary to emotional evaluation in "Alias Grace"
Review: Atwood's brillant novel "Alias Grace" has flaws in plot and character but ultimately these things succumb to the devastating self-critique Atwood forces her readers to undertake. Is Grace innocent? Insane? A devious liar? No matter what position one takes, Atwood challenges it and forces the reader to examine what preconceived notions, what biases and opinions hasd led the reader there. Believing Grace is innocent reveals, perhaps, one's belief in the image of woman as gentle, domestic, incapable of murder and deceit. The opposite view shows one's propensity to see women as Eve, the female temptress, constantly and deviously searching for ways to bring about ruin and mayhem. A personality disorder points back to the idea that no woman is capable of what Grace did if she is truly within her sane, sound mind. Atwood brillantly exposes an entire dynamic of thought and emotion and leaves the reader in an almost paranoid state about his or her own beliefs in what possible explanation there can be for poor(!) Grace Marks
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Summary: A story worth the telling...
Review: Atwood's unique storytelling capabilities shine with her rendition of the story of Grace Marks, Murderess, with a capital M, in "Alias Grace." Atwood digs into the mind of Grace Marks and creates a sympathetic character whose childish insensibilities and lack of awareness are her own personal doom.
Grace's relationship with Mary is reminiscent of Jane Eyre and Helen Burns in Bronte's classic novel. Grace's repression of events and emotions lends some confusion to the reader's interpretation, but Atwood continues to implore the reader to continue and finish the novel--a truly rewarding experience.
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Summary: Good, but not her best.
Review: Up until the last 100 pages, this is a brilliant novel. But then Atwood makes a huge plot mistake and essentially undoes all the groundwork she's so painstakingly laid
Rating:
Summary: An absorbing, well-written novel
Review: Margaret Atwood gets inside the mind of an accused murderess in Victorian era Canada and spares no detail in recounting the events surrounding the murder through the eyes of the accused (Grace Marks) and her psychiatrist (Simon Jordan). Mostly told as flashbacks, it is based on a true story. The story is told slowly, letting the reader get bits of information at a time, and leads to an ending that is more than surprising. I am not a big mystery genre fan, but this reads like literature, beautifully written and detailed. I recommend it highly
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Summary: Alice and Simon the conundrum of their lives.
Review: As the story of Alice and Simon unfolds, I was drawn to a conundrum of whose lot was more dire. Alice, held in the confines of the penitentiary or Simon, confined by the conventions of society. Each created a life that met the expectations of others, they never seemed totally independent but more dependent on their ajoining ensembles, and the paths these characters chose. Or was this the real story? As I read the novel new layers appeared, sudden revelations made me question who faced greater difficulties Alice or Simon
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