Cat's eye by Margaret Atwood

 I have been reading another book by Margaret Atwood - "Cat's eye". The book is marvelous as all her works are.

Elaine is an middle aged artist visiting her home town Toronto for an exhibition of her paintings. The visit brings back a flood of childhood memories - some good, most others bad.

Nine year old Elaine who was very close to her brother, finds the world of girls confusing, a little scary. Her friend have a little group and their own world which gets complicated when they are growing. Cordelia becomes bossy, mean and will start emotionally abusing her friends. But they do not protest but put up with it. This causes depression in Elaine and she starts peeling off the skin of her toes. She does not want to tell her problems to her mother even when asked. She keeps telling they are her friends and they do not trouble her. 

One day because she laughed when Cordelia fell down, Cordelia asks Elaine to go into the ravine and bring her hat from there. But when she goes there, the friends leave her there and go away. She stays there in the cold for a very long time until her mother comes in search of her.

Grace's parents take Elaine to their church and the Sunday school. Elaine detests it because she senses her mother's condescending behavior. 

She gradually stops going to play with after school hours. 

Things improve after a while. They all go to different schools now. Cordelia's absence brings back peace and confidence to Elaine. And she forgets all her painful memories. 

But in high-school Cordelia comes back to Elaine's school and her mother asks whether she can go to school with Elaine. Elaine's mother is worried and Elaine reassures her and restarts her friendship with Cordelia.

But now roles have reversed. Cordelia who is academically weaker becomes dependent on Elaine. Elaine tutors her which does not help much. Elaine becomes bossy and mean herself. 

After school they meet occasionally. Elaine goes into an art-school. She starts a relationship with much older teacher knowing too well that he is a womaniser. She witnesses another student who too has a relationship with this teacher have an abortion. 

Now she starts going out with a class-mate Jon, but continues to meet the teacher. They get married when she gets pregnant. 

She gets a phone call from Cordelia asking her to meet her in a mental asylum. When she goes there, Cordelia begs her to take her away from the institution. Elaine worried about her family, does not agree and comes back.

This guilt always nags her. 

Now in her middle age, she wonders where she is and whether she will meet her. 

The book is good and explores the emotional bullying and its long term effects.