The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Jermia Martin

Mr. Rease

Ap English Literature

2 April 2020

​​​​​Book Review

The genre of the novel The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood is Historical fiction. Historical fiction is a story that is made up but is set in the past and sometimes borrow true characteristics of the time period. Iris Chase Griffen is the main protagonist and narrator of the novel. Iris Griffen wrote the novel withing the novel which was a science fiction novel set on the planet of Zycron, which Iris published as it being her sister Laura Griffen’s book. The main characters of that novel would be Alex, Iris lover but Laura also loves him, and Iris. The novel features love and heartache.

The first conflict was human vs. self “Ten day after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off the bridge,” (pg.1). This makes Iris question herself throughout the novel this makes her wonder if she had an input into why Laura committed suicide. The second conflict was human vs. society. In the memoir Iris would love to live freely and to be with Alex because of her societal role. In the novel because they come from two different backgrounds, they would know how society would treat them they know they would not accept them. I loved the suspense of the would it kept me wanting to read more and more. What I disliked about the book was when I first started to read the book, I could not quite understand it and its meaning. If you are the type of person who loves mystery, love, and black and white pictures I would recommend 10/10. As you read this novel it gives you the vibe as if you are watching a black and white movie.