Rating: 
Summary: Dragged on a little bit too much....
Review: The Blind Assassin is a good book, not excellent, just good. The plot is well done and the characters are well developed etc, etc, but those "Suprising Twists" which you go through six hundred and fifty pages to find out, are a little dissapointing.
Ms. Atwood drops hints althoughout the book and by the time page six hundred and fifty rolls around, the "twists" are not so "suprising" anymore. The sci-fi parts, to me were predictable, and dragged on sometimes that I found myself skipping over most of them because they were pretty boring. At the end I found this novel a bit of a dissapointment, I think I was expecting more than what came out of it. Basically I found that it was much too long a read for these little, obvious, "suprises" in the last fifty pages or so. Take note I use "suprises" very lightly.
Overall, The Blind Assassin isn't a bad book, and its not excellent either...but if your the type of person who is perhaps interested in sci-fi stuff, and likes painfully long books, start reading this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Yes, fantastic, and I rarely say that. I do not get into these old lady fictions too much, but this book was a page-turner, well-written, well-plotted and well-executed.I won't give anything away, although I am sure other reviewers have. It is indeed a story within a story within a story but as long as you have a brain in your head, you will have no trouble discerning them since one is Science Fiction, another takes place at the beginning of the 20th century, and the last is set at the end of the 20th century. I wish I could say, "Just trust me on this!" but you dont know me. Go to the bookstore, read the first 50 pages and if you don't like it, put it down. What else can I say?
Rating: 
Summary: Really worth the effort!
Review: I really enjoyed The Blind Assasin although I admit that at first it was tough! The story is evocative and I appreciated how nicely it covers the 20th century in Canada, a country I don't know much about. I agree with other reviewers that this is not an easy read. The story of Laura and Iris's life is very involving, but the sci-fi sections and the encounters between the couple sometimes drag a bit. But all in all everything adds up to an original and exciting read which I recommend to everyone. And I love Mrs. Atwood's style...
Rating:
Summary: Stunning
Review: I have never been a huge fan of Margaret Atwood, so I picked up The Blind Assassin with much trepidation. But I was pleasantly surprised when this novel turned out to be a fascinating read. Many have mentioned that the constant shift from first person to the third person narrative of the story within confusing, but it is that characteristic that kept the story moving along. It captivates and manipulates at the same time. Certainly this is not a quick beach read, but something that deserves much more attention than that.
Rating:
Summary: Paris Rival
Review: All I can say is I took Blind Assassin on a trip to Paris and the Dordogne and often found it more compelling than either. I found myself resenting the time away from Iris, Laura, and Alex the attractions required, and often found excuses to just sit and read while having "one more" espresso. Atwood's use of language is delightful, and her historical perspectives and observations rang true on every count. This was my first reading of Ms. Atwood and I regret it has taken me this long to discover her.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard to get into
Review: I hated this book. It was so hard to get into and when I did get into it, it would change perspectives or jump to a different subject. If you're looking for something easy and relaxing to read, this is not it.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable
Review: Predictable is my word for this overly hyped novel. To be sure, the story is cleverly crafted so as to force the reader to read, the story within the story within the story, all the way to the end, end, end. But when I finally got to the end, I found it, well, predictable.
Rating:
Summary: just a little under par...
Review: the reviews for this book were so great that I had to read it. I found though that it was choppy, i couldn't figure out what was going on, and it was terribly difficult to read. However, if you get through it you are dying to know who's who and whats what and why it all happened. Didn't really like the sci-fi stuff mixed in...personal opinion there.
all and all good, but not as good as everyone said.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Read
Review: The story of the lives of sister Iris and Laura Chase. Iris an embittered old women writes the story of her life in the early 20th century before she passes away. The novel "The Blind Assassin" written by her sister Laura and published posthumously to great acclaim is presented in piecemeal thorughtout the novel. As well as the occassional newspaper clipping about the characters. The end presents you with many shocking twists. This enchanting novel is defnitely worth a read. A combition of a deeply romantic novel, a sci-fi thriller and the down to earth story of a woman's life. A story that will touch your heart.
Rating:
Summary: complex sci-fi and historical novel
Review: This is a complex work of fiction composed of 3 sections woven together like the parts of an Oriental rug: 1)The first, and the main, section is a historic reminiscence narrated by Iris Chase Griffen, daughter of a Canadin button manufacturer.
Her upbringing in Port Ticonderoga, Ontario at the Avilion estate is portrayed in rich detail in a series of flashbacks, including her relationship with all members of her family and in particular, with her younger sister Laura. We are given a great deal of historic detail about this period, particularly about World War I and attempts at unionization of the button factory, and we are given details about several generations of Iris's family; in addition, both Iris and Laura's personalities are described in some detail and there are significant differences between them. 2)The second section is an elaborately detailed science fiction story which is woven between the chapters of the main narrative and is narrated by an unknown author to his unknown lover in a series of seedy apartment buildings, contrasting sharply with the opulence of Avilion. We do not understand the connection until the end. The science fiction story itself also contrasts for the most part significantly with the somewhat halcyon life at Avilion, since it includes a great deal of gratuitous violence and appears to be about some sci-fi tribe out of the Dark Ages. 3) The third section is a series of "newspaper articles" of familial or newsworthy interest which are interwoven between the other two stories. Through them, we learn more about World War I, about attempts at unionization of the button factory, about deaths in the family, and about social events significant to the family. Two of the most important deaths--Laura's and Iris's husband Richard's--are apparent suicides, and Iris's daughter Aimee also meets a violent end. All three strands are tied together in the last 50 pages with some surprising twists in the plot in the end; the whole narrative works quite well and there are no loose ends. Two of the other well- developed characters are Richard's rather assertive and colorfully-attired sister, who defends her brother at all costs, and the sculptress Callista Fitzimmons.
Still I am rather hesitant to call this great literature, since parts of it are quite "salty" and remind me a bit of Stephen King in their detail: for example, Iris describes and interprets, several times, the graffitti inscriptions on rest room walls at a local donut shop. In this and in other respects she is throwing "everything including the kitchen sink" into her narrative and one might not be totally off the mark to call the whole thing somewhat ridiculous despite its considerable historical detail.
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