Modern Fiction Books > Margaret Atwood Modern Fiction Books

Fear and loathing in Toronto

Advantages: Beautifully constructed, utterly compelling
Disadvantages: None, really

...1993, "The Robber Bride" was the eighth novel by Margaret Atwood, distinguished Canadian novelist, poet and short-story writer. Born in Ottawa in 1939, Atwood is Canada's most eminent writer, the author of such acclaimed novels as "Alias Grace", "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Cat's Eye". "The Robber Bride" is, in my view, one of her finest achievements. "The Robber Bride" takes as its inspiration the Grimm fairytale of the Robber Bridegroom, in which ...
...on its head in creating the character of Zenia, a jaw-droppingly malevolent individual who worms her way into the lives of three women - Tony, Charis and Roz - purely, it seems, in order to destroy them. But Zenia, thank goodness, is dead, blown up by a terrorist bomb in Lebanon, an innocent bystander - if the word "innocent" can ever be applied to such a person. Tony, Roz and Charis went to her funeral just to make sure; noting the tree which is ...

sheri3004 15.05.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The Robber Bride - Margaret Atwood

the blind assassin

Advantages: Amazing storyline and subtly twisting plot.
Disadvantages: Very long story which may be off-putting

This was the second Margaret Atwood book I've read. I was undecided on the last of hers (Oryx and Crake) because although I liked the style of writing, I found the science fiction strand of the story unappealing. I am so glad that I decided to read this book. Once I began I couldn't put it down. The life of the Chase sisters is as intreguing as it is disturbing. Many books I have read fall back on the disclosure early on that one of the main characters ...
...I find this irritating because the stiry tends to play out in a rather predictable way. However, this author's cunning use of newspaper cuttings to allow the reader to figure out what was going on in the chronology of the story was a triumph. As was the story cutting back and forward to the unknown woman having the affair. I loveed this book and would recommend it to anyone. ...

linddel 26.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood

'Oryx and Crake' Exciting, layered storytelling

Advantages: Exciting, intriguing, mysterious writing, beautifully structured
Disadvantages: Anti-climactic ending

...right. The characters Oryx and Crake are both pitiable and awe-inspiring in their own ways, tangible yet also existing beyond the reader's understanding. Snowman's intimate humanity is contrasted against the detached nature of both the title characters, making the reader both empathetic and sympathetic to his plight. The ending, however, lacks a certain punch, especially given the nature of the climax of the story told in flashbacks. Despite this, ...

flyingsquirrel73 10.09.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

I will resist the invite to go camping

Advantages: A few good pieces
Disadvantages: Atwood's talent struggles to breathe in this tent

Margaret Eleanor Atwood - The Tent I personally think that Margaret Atwood is one of today’s most imaginative writers. After reading Atwood’s ‘Oryx and Crake’ and being completely blown away with it I looked forward to reading this book of short stories from the author. Unfortunately, after reading ‘The Tent’ I have no desire to go camping with Atwood at all. This slim, little book is billed as fiction, and it consists of a collection of ...
...into it. Most of the stories centre around aging, coming to terms with getting older, how age changes views in history, etc While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the collection of stories I found a lot of the book was more like reading someone’s jottings scribbled in a diary. The result is like staring at the remains of a broken vase - some of the pieces are bigger and better than others, but they don't add up to a whole thing. A lot ...

oldchem 19.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Tent - Margaret Atwood

Truly delicious

Advantages: well written, clever, witty, deep, intelligent
Disadvantages: none

...built up a reputation over the last few decades as Canada’s most prolific and prominent author, and the reputation is richly deserved. She writes with wit, intelligence, and style, all traits that are evident in her first novel, ‘The Edible Woman.’ Written in the late 1960s, the book is in some ways dated in terms of ideas about women and marriage, but nonetheless, is fascinating in terms of it’s psychological content, and it is this aspect that ...
...seeing semi-casually. At first, the arrangement seems ideal, yet something seems absurdly formal in the deal, for Marion looks at it almost as though she were signing a business merger. She feels they are reasonably compatible, the apartment he owns will be fine, and he’s a calm personality, and a steady job earner. Basically, if she marries him, her life will be in apple pie order, neat, calm, and controlled. She seems to dread ending up like her ...

mystikchick17 02.08.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Edible Woman - Margaret Atwood