So this will be the second Atwood novel I've read in about a year
-- the first being The Edible Woman. While The Edible Woman is more
of a commentary on consumer culture (it almost reminds me of a
feminist version of DeLillo's White Noise), Alias Grace is at the
other end of the spectrum entirely as it is historical
fiction.
With Grace Marks, Atwood creates a memorable character -- not
unlike other protagonists she has created in the past. Alias Grace
is a bewildering gothic tale of gender ideology, murder, the
historical, and the fictitious. It definitely is a novel that will
stay with you long after you have finished it, and offers more
questions than answers.
Great read; I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Atwood,
Canadian fiction or historical fiction in general. A good novel for
discussion as well.