After a while, I felt that the book was captured so well in the TV show that I was convinced I could have skipped the novel. However, the chapters have clips of newspaper articles about the real Grace Marks and selections from a Ms. Moody, who interviewed the real Grace and wrote a book. Then ending, too, gave a better sense of what Grace was feeling than the TV show did, and I was glad for that. It comes full circle when another man asks her to describe the abuse she’s suffered, leaning in when she gets to the pawing would-be rapists. You’re left wondering what will happen to him, if anything, and if he can be trusted.

Overall, enjoy the TV show and the book! I recommend both.

Book group selection - Kindle Immersion read
True Crime Story riveting the nations of Canada, USA, and England during the middle of the nineteenth century. Barbara Mujica says it best: “[Atwood] brings to life not only the enigmatic and fascinating Grace Marks, but also an entire period in Canada’s history.” Mujica also points out the theme of quilts, which Atwood used throughout the work. Grace Marks was noted for her fine sewing skills, particularly quilting. Atwood uses a different quilting pattern for the title of each of their chapters to reflect Marks’s skills and to set a theme for that section of the story. “The novel is structured like a quilt in which each piece contributes to the total image, yet often the image changes form, depending on the angle from which it is viewed.”

Book Group Selection
True Crime Story riveting the nations of Canada, USA, and England during the middle of the nineteenth century. Barbara Mujica says it best: “[Atwood] brings to life not only the enigmatic and fascinating Grace Marks, but also an entire period in Canada’s history.” Mujica also points out the theme of quilts, which Atwood used throughout the work. Grace Marks was noted for her fine sewing skills, particularly quilting. Atwood uses a different quilting pattern for the title of each of their chapters to reflect Marks’s skills and to set a theme for that section of the story. “The novel is structured like a quilt in which each piece contributes to the total image, yet often the image changes form, depending on the angle from which it is viewed.”

I could not for the life of me get into this book. The pace and content were too slow for me, although the descriptions were interesting. I absolutely loved The Handmaid's Tale, so I was very excited to start another of Atwood's books. However, the thing about Atwood seems to be that she is not contained within one genre -- I loved her futuristic/political/feminist/dystopian novel, but was not interested in the historical aspect of this one. I will say that I really enjoyed the show adaptation, though. If you are into historical whodunit crime stories, this is definitely going to peak your interest.

An excellent book for feminists~

A suspenseful Canadian-who-done-it based on a notorious highly publicized 150 year old murder of a wealthy landowner and his housekeeper/mistress; Atwood's narrative probes the life and inner thoughts of the controversial alleged murderess, Grace Mark. Simon Jordan's, amnesia expert and forensic psychologist, attempts to unlock Grace's repressed memories of the murders becomes a "cat-mouse" chase with the cunning Grace. Atwood deftly weaves irony, wit and social commentary into a brutal crime. I was a skeptic (did she, or didn't she) up to the end.

There's a series on this book now, on Netflix I believe. It's really good!

I'm catching up with this one of Atwood's novels, and read the posted comments here with much curiosity. My take on the book agrees with several readers who found it slow moving and peopled with often unappealing characters. Much rich detail is engrossing, however. A virtuoso scene of hypnotism occurs near the end--worth waiting for. How will this book be made into a movie? Many possibilities. My favorite of her books remains Blind Assassin.

It’s 1843, and Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer and his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence, Grace claims to have no memory of the murders.

An up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story while bringing her closer and closer to the day she cannot remember. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories?

Netflix

Canada 150 fave for MP and Minister of Health Jane Philpott. The CBC version will have its world premiere at TIFF 2017.