Cat's Eye

by Margaret Atwood | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0553282476 Global Overview for this book
Registered by ASKmama of Newton, Massachusetts USA on 1/28/2006
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by ASKmama from Newton, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, January 28, 2006
When Elaine Risley returns to her hometown, Toronto, for a retrospective show of her paintings, she finds more than critical acclaim. Local streets, long-gone landmarks, and elements in the paintings themselves trigger memories of her transient childhood traveling across Canada with her entomologist father; of adolescence marred by the cruel teasing of three friends; and of love affairs with her first art teacher and mentor, and with Jon, her first husband. In addition, Elaine is haunted by thoughts of her chief tormentor/best friend, Cordelia, whom she last saw years ago in a mental institution.

Journal Entry 2 by ASKmama from Newton, Massachusetts USA on Monday, February 6, 2006
Bookray Order:

1. catpersonn - USA *
2. dospescados - USA *
3. pashmack - USA *
4. AzurePurpleCat - AUS *

Done!

Hope everyone enjoyed the book!

Journal Entry 3 by wingAnonymousFinderwing on Friday, February 17, 2006
I found it rather boring. Being sent to dospescados next.

CAUGHT IN RONALD WA USA

Journal Entry 4 by dospescados on Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Thanks, I'm looking forward to this!

Journal Entry 5 by dospescados on Saturday, April 1, 2006
This book will be keeping me company on a long drive to Indiana this week. Tranq1 has already asked to be skipped so I'm PMing pashmack.

Journal Entry 6 by dospescados on Thursday, April 27, 2006
I can't believe this book actually took me nearly a month to read. It was my first by Atwood so I'll definitely "schedule" myself more time for her books in the future. I did enjoy it. Her writing style took some getting used to in the beginning and I still find her a bit pretentious -- too much symbology and literary conventions that I hated in high school English -- but I really enjoyed her ability to change the characters' voices over time, make them mature and such. I did find Elaine to be somewhat of an odd little girl but believable nonetheless. I think Atwood's ability to keep Elaine believable and age-appropriate through her life makes it a very readable book for just about any age, there's something in Elaine for just about anyone to relate to.

Thanks for the chance to read this and it will be in the mail to pashmack by Monday at the latest.

Journal Entry 7 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Thursday, May 4, 2006
The book arrived in today's mail. I'm looking forward to reading this one, and will get started right away. Thanks ASKmama for sharing, and dospescados for sending it my way.

Journal Entry 8 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Sunday, May 28, 2006
What an absorbing tale! I do enjoy Margaret Atwood's writing. (I loved these lines in which the main character is describing her relationship with her ex-husband: "We are survivors, of each other. We have been shark to one another, but also lifeboat. That counts for something.")
I totally agree with dospescados' observations about Atwood's ability to keep the characters believable over time. Oh, and I loved the descriptions of Elaine's paintings! They seem emblazoned in my mind as if I've actually seen them. This is the second Atwood book I've read, and I am definitely hooked. Thanks, ASKmama, for sharing this compelling book. It will be in the mail on Tuesday morning to AzurePurpleCat.


Mailed 5/30/06

Journal Entry 9 by AzurePurpleCat from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Arrived yesterday - thanks pashmack. Poor bookie looks like its suffered in the wars! I will get onto reading it as soon as I have finished my current book. Thanks ASKmama for circulating this book!

Journal Entry 10 by AzurePurpleCat from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, July 23, 2006
I really enjoyed this book. I like Atwood's writing style - moody and dream-like. I felt like Elaine was being moved along her life path by a invisible force and she almost seemed to have no control of what happened to her and where she ended up. Sometimes she made a move to break away and change her destiny, but most of the time she just sucummbed to the flow, which was kind of sad and all too familiar! I thought it was interesting how her relationship with Cordelia changed so completely when they went to the same highschool, but even though she had the "power" in the relationship then, it was still her childhood relationship that had the most grasp on her psychologically as an adult. I felt the ending was a bit weak. I was left asking "and...?" But overall I liked and enjoyed reading it.
Sorry I have taken sooo long with this book - It will be on its way to Jubby soon!

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