Rating: 
Summary: complex masterpiece
Review: No book was ever more deserving of the Booker Prize, but one must be willing to put up with the unfolding of the plot which is something of a Chinese puzzle box. It is also a bit better than the more recent "Oryx and Crake" though that, too, is very much worth reading. "Blind Assassin" is narrated by an elderly dowager Iris Chase Griffen and it is, most broadly, a reminiscence of her complicated life as the daughter of a Canadian industrialist--a button manufacturer. A great deal of time is devoted to her and her younger sister Laura's life as a child on the estate Avilion in Port Ticonderoga, Ontario. The real world is present in the form of World War I and attempted union strikes, in this earlier age when capitalism was largely unchallenged by unions or environmentalism. Many of these events, and others of a more familial nature, are encapsulated
in newspaper articles which are included in the text. But the bigger "intrusion" in the broad narrative is a science fiction story, in alternating chapters, which we are led to believe until the end was written by Iris' sister Laura. A great deal, intentionally or otherwise, is made of the sibling rivalry between Iris and Laura. Iris is presented as the more level-headed, she marries "well" (at least it seemed a good choice at the time); Laura is more impulsive, flighty, more given to go off on a wild tangent, more artistic (she learns how to tint or colorize photographs from a part-time job as a journalist) and she ultimately dies a tragic death early in the novel. Much of the novel is devoted to attempting to understand the reasons for Laura's tragic demise. So the time frame of this novel is a series of elaborate flashbacks interspersed with the science fiction story which, in notable contrast to Avilion, takes place
in seedy apartment building in the course of a "lover's tryst"--but we don't learn the lovers' identities until near the end. In fact, there is a great deal we don't learn until the novel's final 50 pages--but it all works very well in the end. And anyone who is paying attention will learn quite a lot of history, too.
Rating: 
Summary: social history of the early 20th Century
Review: "The Blind Assassin" is a social history of the early 20th Century from the viewpoint of Iris Chase, the daughter of a prominent Canadian industrialist. It is a portrait of a simpler capitalist age, before domination by unions or environmental regulation. Hence it is a "period piece" and also a long reminiscence by Iris, which largely focuses on the wealthier elements of society, sort of a literary "Titanic." It is an extremely detailed account of the upbringing of Iris and Laura Chase, and the impact of world events--World War I and II--on their lives, and of the attempted sympathetic response of their father to unionization. Much of the early action takes place on the Chase estate Avilion in Port Ticonderoga, Ontario, which is described in some detail. We are introduced to the Chase sisters' grandparents, their mother and father, housekeeper, and their instructors. All of these people have a significant role to play in the novel. Considerable attention is paid to sibling rivalry between Iris and Laura, and this rivalry contributes significantly to the plot and to the novel's outcome, which is somewhat unbelievable. The older Iris tends to dominate this rivalry.
The outsider in all this is Alex Thomas, a drifter and union organizer, who ultimately becomes one of the book's main characters. Again, the similarities to "Titanic" should be noted. Alex is the author of the somewhat confusing science fiction story whose chapters alternate with the other history.
He is the underdog whom both sisters protect from the rapacious capitalists' prosecution. They are both in love with him, equally. Iris' husband Richard Griffen, another industrialist, turns out to be the novel's main villain, just as Alex turns out to be its most unlikely hero.
Rating:
Summary: social history
Review: Unlike her newer "Oryx and Crake" a pure science fiction satire on modern Corporate America, "The Blind Assassin" is largely social history of a Canadian industrialist's family in Port Ticonderoga, Ontario, with a secondary science fiction theme that until the end seems peripheral to the main plot. The combination of science fiction and social history in alternating chapters, seemingly unrelated, works quite well until the two merge toward the novel's end. The narrator in Iris Chase Griffen, the elderly daughter of a Canadian button manufacturer. She has a younger sister Laura who invariably comes across as the less responsible of the two siblings. Early in her life Laura confronts complex personal demons that get her expelled from school. Laura has a tendency to act in a flighty manner, though we are led to believe until near the end that she is the noted authoress of the comic book-like science fiction novel "The Blind Assassin" for which she is posthumously honored. The larger part of the novel is social history and is very informative about World War I and the union movements of the '30's and the Chase family's response to them. Much of the action takes place at the Chase family's estate Avilion along the Jogues and Louveteau Rivers in Port Ticonderoga. This is in contrast to the numerous seedy apartment buildings where the science fiction novel is unveiled, as part of an unnamed lovers' tryst.
Much of the novel is an attempt to unravel the mystery of Laura's apparent suicide which we learn of in the novel's first sentence. When it comes time to marry, Iris marries "responsibly" to an industrialist, Richard Griffen, who is in a business similar to her family's. After her father's death from alcoholism, Iris and Richard take Laura in and become her protectors. It turns out that both Iris and Laura apparently had a lover's relationship with Alex Thomas, a drifter and union organizer who was accused in the '30's of setting fire to the button factory. Laura also (apparently) had an unwanted incestuous relationship with Richard, a relationship she tolerated because it protected Alex from further prosecution.
Alex, it turns out, is the author of the science fiction story; Iris is his lover and the authoress of "The Blind Assassin", and Alex is the father of Iris' daughter Aimee. Winifred Griffin, Richard's sister, and the sculptress Callista Fitzimmons are two other finely drawn characters. Which leaves the question: why did Laura commit suicide, or was it an accident? Was it because she had recently learned of Alex's death in World War II? And why did Iris try to convince the world that her sister Laura was the authoress of "The Blind Assassin" when Iris was in fact its authoress?
Rating:
Summary: An amazing book!
Review: My first advice to the reader would be to finish this book, even though it's difficult and confusing at times. It's worth it to see how masterfully Margaret Atwood manages to weave together disparate elements of the story into a beautiful tapestry.
This book has four story elements going at one time and is amazingly complex. The first story is a narrative by Iris Chase, an ailing octagenarian who writes briefly about her current life but who concentrates on telling the history of her and her younger sister Laura. Then the story shifts to a book called "The Blind Assassin" in which a young woman meets secretly with her lover and he spins tales for her about imaginary planets and ancient kingdoms. This is a bit intimidating to the reader at times, but wading through this book is worth it to see how it all comes out at the end. Atwood writes with frank but beautiful prose and comes up with some startling lines such as "Time rises and rises, and when it reaches the level of your eyes you drown". If you want a bit of a stretch in your reading and you appreciate complex plots and characters, this may be the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: An Intricate, Complicated Masterpiece
Review: "The Blind Assassin" reminded me of those Russian nesting dolls. One big doll encloses a slightly smaller doll, which in turn encloses a slightly smaller doll, until you make it to the tiniest and most perfect doll.
This book is many things. It is part Gothic thriller, part science fiction fantasy (and I usually don't like scifi), part Romance, part family epic.
The book opens with the death of the narrator's sister in a car crash. The narrator is an older, elegant (or formerly elegant) Canadian woman. She details the childhood and young adulthood of herself and her sister, a novelist whose masterpiece was published posthumously. Interspersed with her narration are excerpts from "The Blind Assassin," a scifi story which involves two lovers who meet in sleazy hotel rooms.
Sounds complicated? It is.
But Atwood ties everything together near the end. There are two huge plot twists toward the end-and when you come to them, you say "Wow." I would recommend to everyone to hang in there-it is so worth it.
I would recommend this book to individuals who enjoy contemporary fiction, particularly female themed. While I found this book an amazing experience, I also know it is not for everyone. I wouldn't recommend it to individuals who are looking for straightforward narrativs or complex narrative devices.
However, for the rest of us, it is a great time.
Rating:
Summary: A solid read, beautiful language
Review: Unlike for other readers, this book grabbed me from the first few chapters. If anything, I felt it slowed a bit towards the final quarter, although never so much that I wanted to toss the book. And the ending worked quite nicely.It is hard to talk about this book without giving away plot points, especially given that many of the themes don't come through to the very end. I do have a few comments for some of the critics:
1) 'Iris is unlikeable, and you don't get to know her': I think that is part of the point. At one point she describes herself as a hole, surrounded by substance, with nothing in the middle.
2) 'Iris is a victim': Yeah, at times you want to scream at her to stand up and stop whining. But the reasons are so clear by the books end, eh?
3) 'This book bashes men': huh? The most sympathetic character is Alex [IMHO], and Winifred is as much a demon [and much more fleshed out] than her brother.
4) 'I saw the ending coming from a mile away': No kidding. Ms. Atwood drops hints left and right, and I thought it was a pleasure to suddenly realize the truth behind a secret *before* the author spells it out for the reader. And she admits this, as she sets it out for you, with a "you've probably guessed this by now . . . " And for the record, I loved the pulp fiction interludes.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, my first atwood, it was great!
Review: Wow, this book was great. There were crossing and overlapping
threads that eventually tied together. i found it engaging, arresting, and altogether addictive. I am
going to read her other books now. Theme-wise, I think this is about the classic other-woman
problem. If he cheats on her, won't he cheat on you? A great read.
Rating: 
Summary: I love Atwood
Review: But this is not my favorite. Worth reading if you are a fan of hers. And an interesting story. Really quite beautiful. But so detailed and complex that it was hard to stay focused on it at times. I liked this book, but I didnt love it.
Rating:
Summary: Be patient, it's well worth the read!
Review: I began this book on three separate occasions, but this time really pushed myself to stick with it. At some point in the middle of the book, I stopped pushing and started rolling. The end didn't leave me hanging, nor was it vague or convoluted. Everything fit together and left me with a great sense of satisfaction and enjoyment. I am an Atwood fan, and although this novel was dark and a bit thick, I think it was well worth the patience.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful novel for patient readers
Review: I have read some reviews that recommend that you stop reading this book if you don't feel you're enjoying it after two chapters. I felt like giving up on it a few times early on, but there is a turning point in the book where all of a sudden I just couldn't put it down anymore. Atwood weaves a series of tales separately, and yet together. It is obvious that these stories will become one in the end, just like any other novel. However, Atwood does this brilliantly, using poetic prose, imaginative metaphors and splendid comparisons. One reader complained about the informality of using the second person singular to address the reader. I think this reader didn't get the point that he wasn't the reader being referred to, but another character in the book that was meant to read the details of the lives of Iris and Laura Chase. I have often been disappointed with Atwood's novels in the past, but this one was as enjoyable to me as The Handmaid's Tale. Read it, and stick with it. You won't regret it.
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