Alias Grace: A Review

One of the most intriguing things about reading novels in the thriller genre is that you are always left groping in the dark, anticipating the characters’ next move or any new twist in the plot.

Alias Grace tells a gripping story of maturity, mystery, and murder which will keep you hanging by the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.

Grace Marks, an Irish-born Canadian housemaid in the early 1800s, is sentenced to life in prison after being charged with being an accomplice to the murders of her employer and his housekeeper. Grace is soon despised and hailed as a devastating murderess after the horrifying details of the murders come to light. But despite compelling confession from her “partner-in-crime” James McDermott, Grace continues to plead innocent. There is only one thing getting in the way of her being brought to justice: her memory. No matter how hard she tries, she simply cannot recollect the day of the murder. It is all a confusing blur to her.

In comes the handsome and mysterious Dr. Jordan from Massachusetts, an unconventional doctor who embraces practices that were considered unorthodox at the time. He deals with illnesses of the mind, and unlike most doctors of his kind, he uses a method that relies on attaching certain memories to certain everyday objects. Dr. Jordan is given the task of helping Grace Marks remember the day of the murder by some spiritualists and reformists who believe in Grace’s innocence. As Dr. Jordan explores the crevices of Grace’s mind and her past, he discovers the dark emotions within himself and learns a few life lessons along the way as well.

The story of Grace Marks provides readers with insight into the life pre-Confederation in Canada and the hardships that were faced, as well as the racial discrimination and misogyny that were popular practices of the day. This makes the novel in general give a very enriching perspective on Canadian history.

As an avid reader and an enthusiastic movie watcher, I took on the task of watching the Canadian television series by the same name, Alias Grace, which was featured on Netflix. I was curious as to whether or not the television series followed the stereotype of a misinterpreted adaptation.

The TV series was not as horrendous as I expected. While it does miss out on quite a few key points found in the novel, overall it does justice to the original story line. Although I must say this: it could’ve been better. The actors, the scenery and the acting just didn’t seem to fit together well enough to give the same impressions that the novel did. Nevertheless, the TV series adaptation was a better one than some others that I have seen. But, as any frequent reader would tell you, read the book before watching the show.

Margaret Atwood is a celebrated writer, who has been accredited with various awards and is recognized all over the world. Alias Grace is a fine novel, which brings with it the freshness of something written way ahead of its time.