Reviews

Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood

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jasmineforsyth's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

karenmichelh's review

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reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

elanienneco's review

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emotional funny reflective slow-paced

3.5

is this my favorite collection of short stories? certainly not. but there were some good ones! my main issue with some of the stories is that they felt a little grating, a little too aware that We Live in A Society. and most of the stories went on for a bit toooo long. HOWEVER! i really loved the beginning and ending stories of Tig and Nell (especially the ending ones) and the snail spirit one was so creative and refreshing and.. fun! it seemed like atwood was trying to do that in a couple others as well, but the snail one really hit the nail on the head. which then of course made the other ones seem incredibly blah.

ribsgd's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Synopsis:
"Old Babes in the Wood" by Margaret Atwood is a collection of short stories that offers a glimpse into the varied lives and experiences of its characters. From the intertwined narratives of Tig and Nell to the diverse cast of characters in the other stories, Atwood weaves together a tapestry of human emotions and complexities.

Review:
As someone who isn't typically drawn to short stories, delving into "Old Babes in the Wood" by Margaret Atwood was a journey of mixed feelings. While Atwood's prose is undeniably well-crafted and evocative, the format itself left me feeling somewhat detached from the narrative.

The book is undeniably a tale of two halves. The interconnected stories of Tig and Nell offer a compelling and poignant exploration of friendship and resilience. However, the transition between these narratives and the other stories felt disjointed and confusing at times, leaving me struggling to find my footing.

While I found myself engrossed in some of the stories, others failed to hold my attention, and a few even dragged on for longer than I would have liked. This uneven pacing detracted from my overall enjoyment of the collection and left me feeling somewhat disappointed.

Despite my reservations, there were moments of brilliance in "Old Babes in the Wood." Atwood's ability to capture the intricacies of human relationships and emotions shines through in several of the stories, offering glimpses of depth and insight that kept me engaged.

In conclusion, "Old Babes in the Wood" is a collection of contrasts. While it showcases Margaret Atwood's undeniable talent as a writer, its format and pacing may not be to everyone's taste. While I enjoyed certain aspects of the book, its uneven execution left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed.

khornstein1's review against another edition

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4.0

Not every story worked for me but there is a wide variety. A few left me wanting Atwood to write another book based on them. Especially enjoyed "My Evil Mother," "A Dusty Lunch," and "Old Babes in the Wood."

purplemuskogee's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Like with many short stories, I liked some more than others. There was a good variety of them, some about a couple (Tig and Nell... these were probably my least favourite actually at the beginning, and I liked them more towards the end), some more futuristic, some about friendship. I liked "My evil mother" a lot, the characters felt dark in a banal way despite being witches, it was entertaining and imaginative and touching. Overall I have enjoyed these a lot but I have not found many of them that memorable.

Free copy sent by Netgalley.