Life Before Man>Margaret Atwood
I’ve commented before that Margaret Atwood can do no wrong in my book. I haven’t read all of what she’s written, but even her mediocre stuff is better than most other writer’s best. She’s one of the few writers whose work I will read without questioning, without reading reviews, or even without perusing the back jacket. If it’s Atwood, it’s in.
So before purchasing Life Before Man, I had only to check that I hadn’t already read it. Nope: this one was new to me, even though it was published 1979. The novel centers on three characters: Elizabeth and her husband Nate, and Nate’s lover Lesje (pronounced Le - sha). Elizabeth and Nate seem to have an open marriage, each both frequently taking lovers but staying together for the children.
As the novel opens, Elizabeth’s latest lover, Chris, has committed suicide, sending Elizabeth into a deep depression, recalling memories of her mother and sister who both suffered from mental illness. Elizabeth, however, is not so weak as to give in to despair, and her controlling nature compels her to manipulate both her husband and his lovers even though she can barely control her own life.
Life Before Man, then, follows these three characters around for a period of a few years: Elizabeth tries to make sense of her life following her lover’s suicide; Nate tries to pry himself from Elizabeth’s domination; and Lesje just wants to be loved.
My biggest problem with the book is that every character was unsympathetic. Elizabeth is a manipulative busybody who would do well to get a divorce and move on with her life. Nate is a spineless douche who seems like the biggest loser alive; why are so many women interested in him? He doesn’t even have a job. Ugh. And Lesje is so weak and flimsy, ugh on her too. She allows Nate to walk all over her and is at the mercy of Elizabeth’s machinations. When she finally takes a decisive action on her own, she does it in a sneaky way that leaves little to be admired.
That said, Atwood’s writing is always admirable and her insights noteworthy, even if Life Before Man is not the best example of Atwood’s keen mind. However, it does bear repeating that Atwood on a bad day is better than many writers at their best.
In a nutshell: A must for Atwood fans; those needing an introduction to this grand writer had better look elsewhere first, though.
Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars
So before purchasing Life Before Man, I had only to check that I hadn’t already read it. Nope: this one was new to me, even though it was published 1979. The novel centers on three characters: Elizabeth and her husband Nate, and Nate’s lover Lesje (pronounced Le - sha). Elizabeth and Nate seem to have an open marriage, each both frequently taking lovers but staying together for the children.
As the novel opens, Elizabeth’s latest lover, Chris, has committed suicide, sending Elizabeth into a deep depression, recalling memories of her mother and sister who both suffered from mental illness. Elizabeth, however, is not so weak as to give in to despair, and her controlling nature compels her to manipulate both her husband and his lovers even though she can barely control her own life.
Life Before Man, then, follows these three characters around for a period of a few years: Elizabeth tries to make sense of her life following her lover’s suicide; Nate tries to pry himself from Elizabeth’s domination; and Lesje just wants to be loved.
My biggest problem with the book is that every character was unsympathetic. Elizabeth is a manipulative busybody who would do well to get a divorce and move on with her life. Nate is a spineless douche who seems like the biggest loser alive; why are so many women interested in him? He doesn’t even have a job. Ugh. And Lesje is so weak and flimsy, ugh on her too. She allows Nate to walk all over her and is at the mercy of Elizabeth’s machinations. When she finally takes a decisive action on her own, she does it in a sneaky way that leaves little to be admired.That said, Atwood’s writing is always admirable and her insights noteworthy, even if Life Before Man is not the best example of Atwood’s keen mind. However, it does bear repeating that Atwood on a bad day is better than many writers at their best.
In a nutshell: A must for Atwood fans; those needing an introduction to this grand writer had better look elsewhere first, though.
Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars
2 comments:
I have yet to read any Atwood, but it is on my list. I think this novel sounds interesting as well.
Great review. Atwood has always been hit or miss with me, but I agree that her writing his superior.
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