I FAMILY SAGA Margaret Atwood
The Blind Assassin (Bloomsbury £16.99)
After 25 years of acclaim and several high-profile awards, the production of a single book would be too easy for Margaret Atwood. With her latest work of fiction, Canada’s most prominent author has come up with a sales gimmick to rival the bonus track, producing two tales for the price of one.
The novel opens with Iris Chase Griffen’s dispassionate account of her sister’s death, before quickly transporting us to Laura Chase's posthumously published novel The Blind Assassin. Despite the comical image conjured up by this title, Chase's bestseller is an erotic, Nin- esque tale of illicit love between a
naive young socialite and an anarchist.
a M rgaret Atwood 0
Erotic and comic saga
Atwood moves between this and octogenarian lris’ memoir throughout. Instructed by their remote, manufacturer father to ’look after Laura', lris' life becomes subordinate to the needs of her highly-strung younger sister. Overshadowed and eclipsed, her late writings provide an unrestrained family history and an acerbic depiction of Canadian high society. In turn, her story is contextualised by newspaper cuttings documenting the fall of the house of Chase as well as key historical events of the last century; two world wars, big business exploitations, Red activity of the 305/405.
While the interwoven segments of Chase's mucky novel-within-a-novel are occasionally tedious and overwritten, this is more than compensated for by Iris’ wrny compelling memoir which provides a rich portrait of tormented individuals against a vigorous historical backdrop. (Allan Radcliffe)
Tne B/irid Assassin is ,LJirb/is‘i'ied on Thu 28 Set) See Books i've/its
CRIIVIE FICT ON Frederic Lindsay Death Knock (Hodder £17.99)
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RELIGIOUS COMEDY
Jenny Diski Only Human (Virago £14.99)
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Continued over page STAR RATINGS
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BOOKS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS
7PM THURSDAY 2lST SEPTEMBER
ANDREW GREIG
will be discussing his latest novel, set against the backdrop of the Battle of Britain
THAT SUMMER
7PM TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER
JEANETTE WINTERSON
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit author will be discussing her new novel
THE POWERBOOK
7PM WEDNESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER
BARBARA WINDSOR
Britain’s best-loved actress will be in conversation about her life and work. Tickets on sale at Borders.
7PM THURSDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER
GORDON RAMSAY
Ex Rangers footballer and television chef will be discussing his fascinating rise to the top of his profession and the role of seasonal ingredients in his cooking.
12.30PM MONDAY 9TH OCTOBER
JACKIE COLLINS
in a rare Scottish aearance will be sinin c ies of her latest novel
LETHAL SEDUCT ON! 7PM WEDNESDAY l2TH OCTOBER
I I/9 NEW SCOTTISH WRITING LAUNCH
The launch of the first wave of titles from Scotland’s new fiction imprint
11/9 7PM MONDAY 16TH OCTOBER
CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH EVENT
John McKean will be discussing the work of Glasgow's favourite son.
FORTHCOMING HIGHLIGHTS
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