Sometimes read, if a big book, one gets the feeling that the author set out to achieve size, as if it might suggest certain adjectives from a reader or reviewer - weighty, significant, deep, serious, complex, extensive, perhaps. Sometimes - rarely, in fact - one reads a big book, and is lost in its size, in the sense that one ceases to notice the hundreds of past lost, as the work of creating his time, defines its own experience, shares his own world. Even then,the end is reached often banal, just to vapor, the process thoroughly engaging, the product, but it left something of a lurch. Rarely, very rarely, in fact, reading a thick book that really needs its size, justifies itself, continues to charm as a surprise, and finally numb. Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin is such a book, a giant in every sense a masterpiece beyond question.
Blind Assassin was awarded the Booker Prize in 2000 and chartsIntersecting stories of two well-to-do Canadian families, Chase and handles. The two Chase sisters, Iris and Laura are very different people. In the relative opulence of a Canadian production was born family, they have a private training style, and experienced quite a bit vague in addition to a child. Various aspects of the history of the twentieth century, with repercussions in their lives and eventually force her family to check their status. Due to the economic downturn, war and familyTribute to the tragedy of their father, who are less able to handle either his life or his business. There has got to happen. Ways of coping must be found.
Iris, the elder sister, who is the narrator in about half of the book, while the other half to get a book in a book, a novel, dedicated in the name of Laura, the younger sister. This novel, entitled The Blind Assassin, is an eclectic mix of experience, sex, fantasy and politics. It has made a name for Laura and retainconsiderable cult for many years after its publication. Laura, herself died in a car accident. She drove off a bridge into a ravine. The car belonged to Iris. There was never a real explanation for the event.
Iris, meanwhile has been married to an older man, one handles which seems to treat them like serfs so much to be. But then he let a contractor with the wherewithal, not to mention capital to help the bride's family business in times of need. Iris, soExperiences of the Canadian equivalent of an arranged marriage. Perhaps the word marriage is a little exaggerated. The partnership could be better than a merger or a trade union, described, if that's not a dirty word, because the political connotation.
And so octogenarian Iris, clearly goes after the end of their days on a cathartic outpouring of personal and family history, in the hope that an estranged granddaughter, just maybe understand a little about other nationsBehavior.
The book takes us through Canada and North America, Europe, at an imaginary world, a political commitment to direct action and the inevitable reaction. Iris needs to write down everything. And it works out its history, construction, and perhaps reconstruct it, maybe they invented from memory and lived experience against the background of today's Canada and in the absence of their own health. Their vulnerability, in the end is our fault, our penance, perhaps. It is a wise oldWoman with much to hide, but her bitter wit is undiminished by age, her observations of other amazingly astute.
It is not often that a novel, a mere flight of another fantasy reaches the subtle, stunning and secure enduring power of the Blind Assassin.
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