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trin's review against another edition
3.0
I have a weird love/hate relationship with Margaret Atwood. She has the capacity to intrigue and delight me, then rapidly switch to annoying the crap out of me, often in a matter of pages—maybe even paragraphs. There’s a certain…smugness, I guess, to her prose style that crops up sometimes and it makes me want to beat her monotonously-voiced narrators about the head with the particular volume I’m in the middle of. Luckily for them, this book is quite small—and all the stories in it are quite short, which meant my opinions vacillated even more rapidly than usual.
I just spent a moment trying to think if there are any other authors who provoke this reaction in me. The answer: [author: Chuck Klosterman]. Now I kind of want to make Chuck and Margaret have tea and, let’s see, listen to the musical stylings of KISS together. Yes. Yes, I need this now.
I just spent a moment trying to think if there are any other authors who provoke this reaction in me. The answer: [author: Chuck Klosterman]. Now I kind of want to make Chuck and Margaret have tea and, let’s see, listen to the musical stylings of KISS together. Yes. Yes, I need this now.
alicecorvo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5***
This is a collection of essays on a variety of subjects. In some, Atwood turns her considerable talent to the realm of traditional fairy tales and stories, turning them on their heads and delighting the reader. What did the “little red hen” REALLY think about the other animals? How do you rewrite the typical “boy meets girl, loves, lives happily ever after” plot to arrive at a different ending? Did the ugly stepsisters get fair treatment? In other stories, she turns her scathing wit to modern issues of feminism and the roles of men and women. I particularly enjoyed the story titled “Making a Man,” which is a satire on typical “women’s magazine” how-to articles. And then there are the poignant essays on aging and death. The short essays / stories are inventive, interesting and droll – for the most part. But some stories (including essays dealing with aliens or vampires), didn’t resonate with me.
This is a collection of essays on a variety of subjects. In some, Atwood turns her considerable talent to the realm of traditional fairy tales and stories, turning them on their heads and delighting the reader. What did the “little red hen” REALLY think about the other animals? How do you rewrite the typical “boy meets girl, loves, lives happily ever after” plot to arrive at a different ending? Did the ugly stepsisters get fair treatment? In other stories, she turns her scathing wit to modern issues of feminism and the roles of men and women. I particularly enjoyed the story titled “Making a Man,” which is a satire on typical “women’s magazine” how-to articles. And then there are the poignant essays on aging and death. The short essays / stories are inventive, interesting and droll – for the most part. But some stories (including essays dealing with aliens or vampires), didn’t resonate with me.
allydee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Sexism, Sexual content, Death, War, Terminal illness, and Rape
pallavi_sharma87's review against another edition
2.0
****2.0***
This book didn't get me, even though Atwood is one of my favourite authors. Or may be I am not intelligent enough to understand it!! I did like some of the short stories in it but majority of them just went above my head.
Happy Reading!!
This book didn't get me, even though Atwood is one of my favourite authors. Or may be I am not intelligent enough to understand it!! I did like some of the short stories in it but majority of them just went above my head.
Happy Reading!!
toniclark's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read quite a few of Atwood’s novels over the years, starting with her earliest (The Edible Woman). Recently I heard her speak at a conference and decided to read more of her essays, reviews, and other short works. This collection, Good Bones and Simple Murders, a varied collection of different forms — not “short stories,” per se, but rather parables, monologues, prose poems, science fictions, retold fairy tales, and more. The entire collection displays Atwood’s intellect, wit, and facility with language. At once, a forceful depiction of contemporary life — its values, politics, gender roles (often with wry tongue-in-cheek humor) — and a glittering tribute to the power of the imagination.
I first read the book many years ago, and I’m sorry for not revisiting it sooner, but know I will read it again.
I first read the book many years ago, and I’m sorry for not revisiting it sooner, but know I will read it again.
mandibibbs37's review against another edition
4.0
I think I will keep rereading this book every so often. Some stories resonated with me, others fell flat. But I think over time each story will resonate differently. I enjoyed Unpopular Gals, Simmering, Happy Endings, Let Us Now Praise Stupid Women, and My Life as a Bat.