“The Edible Woman,” by Margaret Atwood

FM's ratings:

          1. Premise 7
          2. Prose 9
          3. Plot 8
          4. Characters 8
          5. Overall 8

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Prose goes a long way with me, and few do it better than Margaret Atwood.  This is a great example of taking a rather weak premise and making a fine work out of it.  As Atwood’s novels go, it is a relatively short one.  I think her shorter works are her best (“The Handmaid’s Tale” is a prime example) because her longer works tend to explore her characters’ pasts way, way too thoroughly.  I have referred to this in the past, with Atwood’s novels, John Irving’s novels, and others, as “character-driven” novels.  Well, this novel is also very much a character-driven novel, but without the tedious over-development of the characters, so I enjoyed it much more.  It’s also a ‘50’s/‘60’s novel and, as such, it depicts a sort of odd glorification of irrational behavior that was common in the popular literature of the time.  (See Updike, Salinger, Kerouac et. al.)  The metaphorical connection with the protagonist’s eating disorders and her doubts about her upcoming marriage is fascinating, especially in that it is revealed so gradually that it doesn’t really manifest completely until the last few pages.  This was her first novel, though she had previously had books of poetry published.  I think it is one of her best.