Lady Oracle

I thought I might have read this one by Margaret Atwood before, but I think instead I might have started it and put it down. The reason I put it down at the time was probably because this was a little lighter fare than her usual. And yet I found it quite enjoyable this time around. Generally I think of Margaret Atwood as a woman\’s writer, who tackles issues both political and personal that matter to women. She also writes a lot of science fiction, and I read and enjoyed (and I don\’t usually read science fiction) her recent Crake and Oryx trilogy. But this novel is something else. The heroine, Joan, is a woman who has staged her own death–for various reasons. The idea is an appealing one to a lot of women–maybe not to stage their own death, but to just disappear and start all over in some exotic place. Unfortunately, the exotic place is not all glamour for Joan and she spends a lot of time reviewing her past, trying to save money, and working on writing a Gothic romance novel, which is her usual source of income. Joan has kept many secrets over the years, and there are layers to her personality that are unusual, but may also represent the layers of any woman\’s personality. She is rebellious and compliant; frivolous and practical; sentimental and cynical. She creates cages for herself and then tries to break out of them, figuratively. I have to admit when I first read the book I was turned off by the pages of her Gothic novel. I lacked the sense of humor needed to realize the inherent spoof. The stories Joan writes are silly bodice-rippers, but when seen as satire, they really are funny. The best part of this book for me was the middle part, in which Joan recalls events in her life from a young child through adulthood and up to the present. Seeing how she progressed, who mattered to her, and what types of events shaped her personality was intriguing and Atwood writes so fluidly, with dialogue that seems real, it is a pleasure to read. I recommend this book. There may be more layers to it than it seems on the surface. And it really is humorous at times. But don\’t expect a wow ending. I have to admit I found the ending a little anti-climatic. It was just a wrap-up and maybe not as satisfactory as what I wished it would be. However, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone, especially if you have enjoyed Margaret Atwood\’s other works.

This is the first non-Handmaids series book I have read by Margaret Atwood and I am pleasantly surprised. She is a captivating author and her words feel natural yet lyrical. I highly recommend checking out this riveting story!

Atwood is funny! Her authorial voice, through Joan, is that of a stand-up comedian with impeccable timing. With humor and exquisite writing, the subtext of Lady Oracle poignantly exposes flaws and dissonance undermining feminine identity, and how these impact relationships with ourselves and others. I would have given Lady Oracle all five stars if the ending hadn\’t seemed a bit contrived.

Good read

I have been a Margaret Atwell fan for years. She never fails to amaze me with the creativity of her stories. Lady Oracle didn\’t grab me at first. But, after a couple of chapters I was hooked. Then, the end came and I felt let down. The conclusion felt hurried, as if the publisher said, \”Hey wrap it up. We got a deadline.\” That is the only reason for 4 stars rather than 5. I still recommend it and would read it again!

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