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The Robber Bride

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The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood tells the story of three women whose lives were intertwined by the manipulative Zenia. The plot unfolds as Zenia reappears in their lives after supposedly being dead, leading to revelations of past encounters and present struggles. Through flashbacks and multiple perspectives, the book explores themes of betrayal, manipulation, and the complexities of female relationships. Atwood's writing style captivates readers with compelling female characters and intricate plot construction, creating a narrative that delves into the psychological wounds inflicted by Zenia.

Characters:

The characters are complex and well-developed, featuring three distinct women: Tony, an introspective academic; Charis, a spiritual and free-spirited woman; and Roz, a strong businesswoman, all grappling with their shared history with the enigmatic Zenia.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by rich prose, humor, and psychological depth, with a complex structure that shifts perspectives among the three main characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The story follows three women who find their lives intertwined through shared experiences of betrayal by a charismatic and manipulative woman named Zenia, whose return after supposedly dying complicates their lives.

Setting:

The setting is primarily in contemporary Toronto, Canada, with flashbacks that enrich the characters' histories.

Pacing:

The pacing shifts throughout the book, slowing down to explore character backstories before picking up pace towards the climax and resolution.
Tony gets up at six-thirty, as she always does. West sleeps on, groaning a little. Probably in his dreams he’s shouting; sounds in dreams are always louder. Tony inspects his sleeping face, his angula...

Notes:

The Robber Bride features three main women: Tony, Charis, and Roz.
The story revolves around their complex relationships with Zenia, a manipulative and alluring femme fatale.
The novel explores themes of betrayal, female friendship, and the vulnerabilities that can arise in women's lives.
Tony, Charis, and Roz all have traumatic childhoods that affect how they interact with Zenia and men.
Zenia's character is depicted as cunning, beautiful, and weaves chaos into the lives of the three protagonists.
Each woman must confront their past and the impacts of Zenia's actions on their relationships.
The narrative shifts between the women's perspectives, allowing insights into their inner lives and struggles.
Atwood's writing addresses the nature of female rivalry and the wounds inflicted by both men and women.
The book is inspired by a fairy tale, with Zenia taking on a villainous role reminiscent of traditional evil figures.
Zenia's ability to charm and manipulate serves as a critique of male fantasies regarding women.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of emotional abuse, manipulation, suicide, and trauma from past relationships, which may be triggers for some readers.

Has Romance?

The novel contains elements of romance, particularly focusing on the relationships disrupted by the character Zenia.

From The Publisher:

The story of Zenia ought to begin when Zenia began. It must have been someplace long ago and distance in space, thinks Tony; someplace bruised, and very tangled. A European print, hand-tinted, ochre-coloured, with dusty sunlight and a lot of bushes in it - bushes with thick leaves and ancient twisted roots, behind which, out of sight in the undergrowth and hinted at only by a boot protruding, or a slack hand, something ordinary but horrifying is taking place.

Zenia is beautiful, smart and greedy, by turns manipulative and vulnerable, needy and ruthless. She is also dead. Just to make absolutely sure Tony, Roz and Charis are there for the funeral. But five years on, as the three women share a decorous lunch, the unthinkable happens: 'with waves of ill will flowing out of her like cosmic radiation', Zenia is back...

Ratings (6)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (2)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (17):

Read It (6)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (9)

1 comment(s)

Incredible
4 weeks

There are writers and there are WRITERS. Margaret Atwood falls in the latter category. I've loved every single one of her books. I'm not sure why I haven't read more of them. I should pick her books over the trashy, teeny-bopper vampire books I've been reading.

I found myself only reading this book when it could have my undivided attention. I didn't want to miss a single syllable. Yes, it took me longer than normal to read, but I enjoyed being able to truly savor the words.

And, Margaret Atwood is definitely a master of words. Vivid characters, engaging writing, strong storytelling -- it was a terrific book to read. I loved the way the story flowed together -- three different points in view, numerous points in time and one common thread tying everything together. It was fascinating to see how encounters with one not-so-nice person could spark life-long friendships with three women who didn't have much else in common.

Some folks have written that Zenia was way too bad. She WAS pretty bad, but occasionally I caught glimpses of some buried humanity. It made the story more believable.

 

About the Author:

Margaret Atwood, whose work has been published in more than forty-five countries, is the author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry, critical essays, and graphic novels. In addition to The Handmaid's Tale, now an award-winning TV series, her…

 
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