Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

**Cat's Eye** is the story of Elaine Risley, a controversial painter who returns to Toronto, the city of her youth, for a retrospective of her art. Engulfed by vivid images of the past, she reminisces about a trio of girls who initiated her into the fierce politics of childhood and its secret world of friendship, longing, and betrayal. Elaine must come to terms with her own identity as a daughter, a lover, an artist, and a woman -- but above all she must seek release from her haunting memories. Disturbing, hilarious, and compassionate, Cat's Eye is a breathtaking novel of a woman grappling with the tangled knot of her life.

Kind of a slog. Very well-written, but I cared a lot less about most of the story post-high school.

This book was recommended to me in my Woman's Studies/Psychology class in college as a great depiction of how young girls betray each other on a constant basis. It does that. However, another of Atwood's books, [book: The Robber Bride] does better at describing the ways back-stabbing girls turn into back-stabbing women.

Not my favourite Atwood novel, but still, she can do no wrong. A vivid and compelling insight into chldhood bullying.

TWs: Bullying, suicidal attempts, terrorists (planes), trauma (psychological/mental)

My life has been changed, soundlessly, instantaneously.

What a beautifully written novel, yet so heartbreaking and sad ;-; The story is written like an autobiography in the present tense as Elaine reminisces memories as she is getting ready for her retrospective exhibition.

It's unfortunate that Elaine had resorted to vengeance and took on Cordelia's 'persona' as she grew up. Though, it could have been different depending on many factors. How might it have been if someone had noticed what Elaine was going through? Who could have stopped Cordelia's bullying? Would they all have been drinking tea as old friends if it had been identified early on? Elaine's vengeance clouded her vision and perhaps came to the realization too late.