The Edible Woman

by

310 pages

English language

Published Jan. 5, 1998 by Anchor Books.

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4 stars (3 reviews)

The Edible Woman, a 1969 novel that helped to establish Margaret Atwood as a prose writer of major significance, is the story of a young woman whose sane, structured, consumer-oriented world suddenly slips strangely out of focus. Following her engagement, Marian feels her body and her self are becoming separated. As Marian begins endowing food with human qualities that cause her to identify with it, she finds herself unable to eat, repelled by metaphorical cannibalism. Atwood explores gender stereotypes through characters who strictly adhere to them, such as Peter or Lucy, and those who defy their constraints, such as Ainsley or Trevor. The narrative point of view shifts from first to third person, accentuating Marion's slow detachment from reality.

44 editions

reviewed The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood

Still relatable. Also bizarre.

4 stars

This book is far too relatable today for something that was originally published in 1969. I kept finding myself identifying more and more with Marian, always feeling more consumed by my male partners who want me to be something other than who I am. They want me to meld with their lives, their styles, their desires, their whims, and they do it in such a way as to be condescending and gas-lighting potential issues. That's where I really kept connecting to it, especially as she runs away from Peter and his so-called 'stability' twice.

It feels weird that it's still so relatable almost 50 years later; it's ludicrous that it is, but things haven't changed for a lot of people.

reviewed Edible Woman, The by Margaret Atwood

Review of 'Edible Woman, The' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Usually I'm apprehensive to anything that remotely resembles "chick lit", but as I soon learned, Margaret Atwood is something completely different. I have already read "The Handmaid's Tale", which I thought was brilliant - another reason why I chose to check out more stuff by Ms. Atwood.

This is a very ruminative story in a Mad Men-esque setting about how women are consumed by men back in the day (very much a product of its time).

I personally enjoyed the Toronto setting, even though the name of the city is never mentioned.

avatar for wetdryvac

rated it

3 stars

Subjects

  • Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
  • Food habits -- Fiction