Cat's Eye

TWs: Bullying, suicidal attempts, terrorists (planes), trauma (psychological/mental)

My life has been changed, soundlessly, instantaneously.

What a beautifully written novel, yet so heartbreaking and sad ;-; The story is written like an autobiography in the present tense as Elaine reminisces memories as she is getting ready for her retrospective exhibition.

It's unfortunate that Elaine had resorted to vengeance and took on Cordelia's 'persona' as she grew up. Though, it could have been different depending on many factors. How might it have been if someone had noticed what Elaine was going through? Who could have stopped Cordelia's bullying? Would they all have been drinking tea as old friends if it had been identified early on? Elaine's vengeance clouded her vision and perhaps came to the realization too late.

As my first Atwood novel ever pored through, I think this is an excellent choice for those wishing for an introduction to her. The prose was engaging, the timeline expansive, and the protagonist one of those that you can't help to sort of identify with, whether it's in entire spans of happenstance or just a line here or two that sheds light on the situation.

The one complaint I have is that, at first, I was a bit bewildered as to the setup of the novel. That is to say, it took me a little bit of time to grow accustomed to the fact that it happens in both flashbacks and present-day circumstances, both of which are intermingled with one another and aren't labelled with dates or other such markers. However, once one becomes more used to that factor of the setup, then it becomes a much more enjoyable read.

Overall, it's encouraged me to pick up another one of Atwood's novels in the future, which I consider to be a good sign.

Kind of a slog. Very well-written, but I cared a lot less about most of the story post-high school.

Not my favourite Atwood novel, but still, she can do no wrong. A vivid and compelling insight into chldhood bullying.

This book was recommended to me in my Woman's Studies/Psychology class in college as a great depiction of how young girls betray each other on a constant basis. It does that. However, another of Atwood's books, [book: The Robber Bride] does better at describing the ways back-stabbing girls turn into back-stabbing women.