Jamie's Reviews > The Edible Woman

** spoiler alert ** Certainly not my favorite Atwood, but still an enjoyable read. Besides, I give her a little lee-way with this one, considering it's her first published novel. The writing is fairly typical Atwood--often dense, but with much quick humor and stunning imagery on hand. Marian is an interesting character, but my problem with her is that she doesn't really shine up against the collection of eccentric friends/foes/etc. around her--for example, Ainsley's plot of fertility-based domination, Clara's baby-induced paralysis, Duncan's web of lies and insanity, and the (mostly absent) landlady's totalitarian rule over the household are infinitely more interesting than Marian's plight. At least for me. And to some extent, I suppose that's the point. Marian is quite obviously losing her Self through the course of the novel; being both metaphorically consumed and physically unable to commit that same action. It is a really intriguing premise, but I don't think it ever seems a big enough focus in the book, because all the subplots seem to compete with it. Of course, they all tie together--issues with production and consumption, and how those figure into identity politics--but I would have liked perhaps a little more angst/focus placed on Marian's very big problem.

I admit that I've already found more appreciation for the book while glancing over some critical essays on it. Sharon Wilson's chapter on the novel in "Margaret Atwood's Fairy-Tale Sexual Politics" really made me think more critically about the fairy tale intertexts in the novel, as well as the dynamics and sexual politics of all the relationships Marian faces in her narrative. While I had my problems with it--I definitely lost some interest as I passed the 200 page mark--I think it's worth it, if you're an Atwood fan. Like I said, not my favorite work of hers, but still far better than most of the schlock out there.