Yes, I read it about six months ago, and it's been one of the best books I've read this year. I checked out the library's copy when I read it, and a couple of months ago when someone donated a trade paperback copy in perfect condition to the library to sell, I almost knocked everyone else at the table onto the floor in an effort to snap it up...for a quarter, no less. I fully intend to reread it soon.

Booker Prize Winner, 2000

I've read it twice (though not for a couple of years), and loved it - a book within a book within a book...

Yes, have read it and loved it - rest assured that Iris is difficult to like and mysterious for a reason, not because of poor characterisation!

It's one of Atwood's finest, and that is saying something.

Another fan of both Atwood and this book. In fact, its probably my fav of hers.

>I'm not sure I care enough about the main character Iris however.

I have found that for me it doesn't matter if I don't like or care about a character, as long as the character is complex enough to be interesting and to drive the story. This idea has helped me get through many books.

Keep on reading and let us know what you think!

No I haven't , but I bought it months ago after having read good reviews written by readers in a Italian online bookshop, and Martin, Cindy, Colormeconfused and Anyanka seem to agree with them.
But since it is quite a meaty book I am waiting for a proper time to read it. Since my wife and I are fiscal account, and in Italy it's just finished the tax period, and now due to the incoming summer holliday we have work to settle, so I've got to squeeze my time for reading a little and at the moment I prefer quicker and lighter reading

grelobe

I bought it and read it when it first came out-have been an Atwood fan for a long time.
I have plans to read it again one of these days and only have a vague recollection of the storyline-since I read it 6 years ago.

Pat

Interesting that you say, in regard to Atwood, that you prefer quicker and lighter reading, grelobe. Atwood, for me, is a writer that is quick and easy to read. It is after I have read her that I am haunted by the work, that reflection explodes the story and themes to something bigger and when the real work of reading Atwood begins. Remarkable the way she does that.

The Blind Assassin is ultimately a very satisfying book, btw.

Not to hijack Yoyobon's thread or anything -- I was reading ... nope, I'll start a new thread.

I have the hardcover version of this book somewhere in this house because I read it when it first came out. I'll buy anything new that Atwood writes because I am fairly certain that it will be well worth the money. She's an excellent intelligent, writer and I agree with Chris that her work is both stimulating and haunting.

Atwood is also one writer who has got better and stronger with time. All her less memorable works are fairly early ones; in my opinion she has not written a weak book in the last twenty years or so (Two I did not enjoy: Bodily Harm, 1981 and Surfacing, 1972).

Yvonne, I read this when it first came out and although I think of Atwood as a good/clever writer I find it difficult to warm to any of her characters.
Had the same reaction with Alias Grace, and OK I realise a murderer is not likely to have many saving qualities, and again with Cat's Eyes. Have any of you read that? The 'catty' behaviour of a small group of girls towards a fellow pupil. Nasty; and based on MA's own young life.

Vee, just chiming in here to say that "Cat's Eye" is my very favorite book of Atwood. I thought it quite realistic and found it a compelling read, years ago. I admire Atwood, in general, as a great current author and really like her poetry, which no one has mentioned here.

Yes, I've read it and enjoyed it--but it was some time ago and all I can remember is the opening scene at the bridge. Read "Cat's Eye" also but again, it was a while ago... I guess one benefit to time passing by is that I can reread more enjoyably. My favorite Atwood is "Alias Grace" though it does not seem to be as popular as some other of her books. It is hard to warm to her characters but she is one of my favorite authors--easy to read but plenty to think about and go over again. A great book club author to be sure.

Cat's Eye is my favourite, probably. I found the characters very very believable; there were also some fun snipes at the contemporary art scenes, such as the character who uses tumble dryer fluff as her medium, and another who works entirely in roadkill...

This is turning into a Margaret Atwood thread. Cat's Eye and Alias Grace are on my TBR list, as they were both short-listed for the Booker. I'm glad to see that they've had good reviews above! I've read The Handmaid's Tale and loved it (though as people know, I didn't like the last chapter), and I enjoyed Oryx and Crake. Also read Surfacing but I didn't like that at all.

Well, my brother has a copy of The Blind Assassin which I borrowed but I couldn't get into it. I think I was just not up for reading much at the time or something, but I definately will try it again at some point because I am a Margaret Atwood fan. My two favourites of hers are Oryx and Crake and The Handmaid's Tale. Both of which were utter page turners for me. I also enjoyed Alias Grace but didn't like Cat's Eye so much, it's not bad, just not what I was expecting out of her.