Review: The Edible Woman

The Edible Woman
by Margaret Atwood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Edible Woman / 0-385-49106-9

Probably one of Atwood's most surreal novel, as the main character of "Edible Woman" finds herself "consumed" by her plans for a wedding and married life, she also finds that she cannot consume an increasingly large list of foods without becoming violently ill. Her mysterious illness eventually results in her being unable to eat anything at all, intensely afraid of causing harm to the world around her.

The symbolism within the novel is incredibly heavy, and revolves around women eating and being eaten by the world around them. Each of the women in the novel - and several of the men - are completely consumed by their own individual fears and desires, as well as the societal expectations being laid upon them by others. In typical Atwood fashion, nearly every character is a victim of something, with few true villains to point at, and no real answers offered. The ending is neither happy nor tidy, and will likely lead the reader to feel disappointed and sad, but the reader's disappointment will be with harsh reality, and not with the author or her excellent writing.

~ Ana Mardoll

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