From the Bookshelf of Gentle SPECTRUMS…

Surfacing

Margaret Atwood

Start date: February 23, 2018

Finish date: February 25, 2018

Discussion: Gentle Spectrums 2018!

Why we're reading this: This is a mystery and Canadian. I'll use it for Gentle Spectrums "Natural Environment".…more
[close] This is a mystery and Canadian. I'll use it for Gentle Spectrums "Natural Environment".

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 2 topics — 9 comments total

Gentle Spectrums 2018!

Gentle Spectrums - General
By C. (Comment,… · 8 posts · 9 views

last updated Dec 07, 2018 10:12AM

Carolyn's Gentle Spectrums
By C. (Comment,… · 1 post · 6 views

last updated Feb 12, 2018 03:33PM

What Members Thought

Feb 25, 2018 C. (Comment, never msg). rated it did not like it

Shelves: riedel-titles-2018, canadian

“Surfacing”, 1972 is my rare recipient of one star. Margaret Atwood is eloquent. If you don't mind imagined ravings comprising more pages than story action, you might get what was intended out of this. I appreciate books outside my preference, if I like the subject and writing. No dice: the first two strikes. Stating “said” after a question mark annoys me and I have never encountered literature in first person, present tense, that did not read awkwardly. It removes us. We aren't “I”, the protago “Surfacing”, 1972 is my rare recipient of one star. Margaret Atwood is eloquent. If you don't mind imagined ravings comprising more pages than story action, you might get what was intended out of this. I appreciate books outside my preference, if I like the subject and writing. No dice: the first two strikes. Stating “said” after a question mark annoys me and I have never encountered literature in first person, present tense, that did not read awkwardly. It removes us. We aren't “I”, the protagonist but this eliminates being the audience, thus this novel is told at us. Past-tense, in first person or not, at least makes us the audience we ought to be.

The distancing style, droning tone, and grammar do not bespeak one star. These were compounded by moral, character, and plot incongruities that glared, traits not derived from personal preference. However, I was incapable of digging the contents either. Consider the topics you abhor: animal deaths, by accident or on purpose. Attempted sexual assault, even if we call it pushy persuading by a partner, abortion. Imagine a book trundling out all of the subjects you hate! If only I could like the characters or be swept into action. Mystery and adventure do appear and I turned those pages more easily. However the husband of the second couple was the type we would not meet for lunch, never mind have in a rugged cottage. He is a disloyal ass to his wife and cackles like Woody-The-Woodpecker, asking why his jokes aren't funny!

I should have enjoyed the search for Aboriginal markings her Dad had been recording. However the end is screwy. She snaps and thinks that to commune with her relatives' spirits and remove anguish; she should function as an animal, even forsaking their garden because it is fenced. I would even grant Margaret this, if a meltdown ending were her point. After destroying human items, even her Mother's photo album, she decides she was empowered with what she needed and resigns to living as a person. Without family mementoes, goods, and dishes? A spirit quest does not entail destruction! Maybe stylistically, there is a literary fund of “double meanings” and “societal criticism” that wins awards. Regardless, this novel was screwed up. ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2020 S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: w-atwood, l-canada

6 likes · Like

Group Home Bookshelf Discussions

Photos Videos

Send invite Members Polls