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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This book was not what I thought it would be. It was also not what I thought I wanted to read, which really just goes to show that most of us haven't got a clue what we really want.
The subtitle is "A Writer on Writing." Don't get this mixed up with Stephen King's "On Writing" or any other writerly how-to book. This is more the philosophy of the act and of the writer. Why do writers write? For whom? How? It's filled with hypotheses and many literary examples ranging from Dante and Shakespeare to Stephen King and Tolkien.
It also contains some information about Atwood's life along with a number of amusing anecdotal asides.
Overall, it's quite thought provoking and well worth the read.
The subtitle is "A Writer on Writing." Don't get this mixed up with Stephen King's "On Writing" or any other writerly how-to book. This is more the philosophy of the act and of the writer. Why do writers write? For whom? How? It's filled with hypotheses and many literary examples ranging from Dante and Shakespeare to Stephen King and Tolkien.
It also contains some information about Atwood's life along with a number of amusing anecdotal asides.
Overall, it's quite thought provoking and well worth the read.
155th book of 2023. This hits #11 in my challenge with Alan, read a non-fiction book about writing.
Less about writing than the description suggests, but a breezy and gentle read. The essays in the book were adjusted from speeches Atwood has done. She claims to have not changed much, but has, she admits, removed some corny jokes. The most interesting bits were about writing being a craft and a Writer (capital W) being a discipline. I agree with this. I also had an argument with my ex-housemate the other day about intelligence being synonymous with a kind of madness, and Atwood delves into that, too. But mostly, Atwood seems to be having fun, quoting from her favourite books, chatting about the writers she likes and generally being passionate. There are also moments of autobiography: one of which Atwood recounts how one Valentine's Day, a boyfriend got her a real cow's heart with an arrow through it (in a bag - so it didn't drip).
Less about writing than the description suggests, but a breezy and gentle read. The essays in the book were adjusted from speeches Atwood has done. She claims to have not changed much, but has, she admits, removed some corny jokes. The most interesting bits were about writing being a craft and a Writer (capital W) being a discipline. I agree with this. I also had an argument with my ex-housemate the other day about intelligence being synonymous with a kind of madness, and Atwood delves into that, too. But mostly, Atwood seems to be having fun, quoting from her favourite books, chatting about the writers she likes and generally being passionate. There are also moments of autobiography: one of which Atwood recounts how one Valentine's Day, a boyfriend got her a real cow's heart with an arrow through it (in a bag - so it didn't drip).
This book really held my interest, even though I don't want to be a writer. Atwood talks about not only her experiences, but the work is peppered throughout with quotes and notes concerning other writers and their general inspirations, topics, and audience.
I loved the end section about death and writing. the bit about readers, writers and texts as go-between was also fascinating. I found it a little hard to follow at times but the death one was particularly captivating and coherent to my brain, and I gained some very nice thoughts from it all in all.
Sometimes when I read non-fiction I have a horrible creeping feeling of the author meeting notably more intelligent than I am. Atwood's sometimes divergent, rambling, genius style is a little guilty of this. Each section creates a strange effect of having clear topics, yet somehow journeying halfway around the cosmos with each discussion. That's not to mention the frequent references, quotes, examples and notes.
Definitely one for the more mystical side of writing, don't expect writing tips, but more a headfirst dive into the artistic side of things. Not in a pretentious way though, Atwood's wisdom and insight seeps throughout the book but always humble and pleasant. My only real worry is that I probably won't retain many of the insights from this book, too many and too deep to hold well in my brain...
Definitely one for the more mystical side of writing, don't expect writing tips, but more a headfirst dive into the artistic side of things. Not in a pretentious way though, Atwood's wisdom and insight seeps throughout the book but always humble and pleasant. My only real worry is that I probably won't retain many of the insights from this book, too many and too deep to hold well in my brain...
What is writing? What is reading? What is life? What is death? What is light? What is darkness? Margaret Atwood has interesting thoughts and ideas about all of these questions. This book is a magical journey that is part personal experience, part mythology and part philosophy. I can say now that I "know" someone who got a real heart pierced with an arrow as a Valentine's Day gift and found it poetic. Yes, the writer is a mystical creature.
"It's somewhat daunting to reflect that Hell is -- possibly -- the place where you are stuck in your own personal narrative for ever, and Heaven is -- possibly -- the place where you can ditch it, and take up wisdom instead." (p. 174)
"It's somewhat daunting to reflect that Hell is -- possibly -- the place where you are stuck in your own personal narrative for ever, and Heaven is -- possibly -- the place where you can ditch it, and take up wisdom instead." (p. 174)
There are some wonderful gems of insight in this book, but overall I found it messy and pretentious. Atwood writes amazing fiction, but I'm none the wiser as to how after reading this. Maybe that wasn't the point. But then, what was the point?
This little book discusses very few ideas but discusses them deeply and well. Entertaining, inspiring: a book I'd recommend to readers and writers alike.
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced