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A review by book_concierge
Good Bones and Simple Murders by Margaret Atwood
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.