Content levels
Positive tags
Heroine archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
A powerfully and brilliantly crafted novel, Bodily Harm is the story of Rennie Wilford, a young journalist whose life has begun to shatter around the edges. Rennie flies to the Caribbean to recuperate, and on the tiny island of St. Antoine she is confronted by a world where her rules for survival no longer apply. By turns comic, satiric, relentless, and terrifying, Margaret Atwood's Bodily Harm is ultimately an exploration of the lust for power, both sexual and political, and the need for compassion that goes beyond what we ordinarily mean by love.
Bodily Harm: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
Contains themes of sexual and political power dynamics, implied sexual assault, political violence, and psychological trauma. Atwood's unflinching examination of power structures and bodily autonomy makes this mature literary fiction.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, moderate sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include sexual assault, captivity, and political violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will appreciate Atwood's sharp, satirical exploration of power, politics, and personal crisis in an unfamiliar Caribbean setting.