Modern Fiction Books > T Modern Fiction Books > Margaret Atwood

Advantages: feminism, religion, depth, quality,
Disadvantages: not for younger readers

The many levels of this book create a myriad of layers, including the most obvious themes of feminism and the possibility of a post feminism backlash and religion and its potential for destruction. Using colors as symbolism, Atwood successfully creates an intricate world, and even through the use of her characters as symbols, still enforces a sense of strong character and interesting description. Her confident use of conemporary issues, such as a ...
...enjoyable and disturbing experience. Following the likes of 1984 and Animal Farm, this book effectively delivers its deep messages through a thoroughly developed story, which succeeds in keeping the reader turning the pages. A little disturbing for a younger audience (and perhaps a little hard to understand), this is definitely recommended more for adult readers. ... Read review

Advantages: Funny and highly entertaining.
Disadvantages: Like all Atwood , is a bit wordy.

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood is based on Homers Odyssy. This however is not simply the idiots guide to Homer! Its an interesting exploration into the thoughts and feelings of Penelope (wife of Odysseus) written with her as the narrator after her murder. The voice is of a bitter woman who has not forgiven her husband for leaving her for years and years and then later having her killed - which seems understandable to me! Whats also interesting ...
...viewed as a sex symbol and steals men! A great story, very witty and sarcastic with a decent amount of sex and scandal thrown in for good measure! Another triumph by Atwood and well worth listening to. It comes highly recommended by me and all my friends who borrowed it afterwards. ... Read review

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. ... Read review

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 ... Read review

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 ... Read review