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_fanny_'s review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
purpl_pages's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I hesitate to write anything bad about the lovely Margaret Atwood but I personally found these stories a bit slow and lacking in any real punch/ emotional depth for me. It felt a little like light sketches without a real meaning to them, which left me with a slightly empty feeling, in contrast to some of her earlier works. That said, moments of the stories stood out in their presentations of intergenerational feminism, inherited female culture and a sense of moving onwards through time - I just wish that was enough for me to enjoy the book :/
orchidsandclouds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
teresatumminello's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
I liked these stories enough while I was reading them, but I don’t think most will stick with me. Many of them, notably the ones in the middle section, have already dissolved from my memory. I remember the one about talking to Orwell via a séance, but that’s because I found it mostly didactic. The stories I enjoyed the most are of the first and last section, of Nell and Tig, obviously based on the longtime partnership of Atwood and Graeme Gibson, and of his death a few years ago. Old widows deserve stories too.
I liked these stories enough while I was reading them, but I don’t think most will stick with me. Many of them, notably the ones in the middle section, have already dissolved from my memory. I remember the one about talking to Orwell via a séance, but that’s because I found it mostly didactic. The stories I enjoyed the most are of the first and last section, of Nell and Tig, obviously based on the longtime partnership of Atwood and Graeme Gibson, and of his death a few years ago. Old widows deserve stories too.
annajohnson11's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 rounded down, I love attwood’s writing style and definitely want to read more from her, having read the handmaids tale previously. Each story rated individually as I can’t lump the whole
Book together considering it is made up of multiple short stories.
First Aid 4/5
Two Scorched Men 3/5
Morte de Smudgie 3.5/5
My Evil Mother 5/5 - the first stand out story for me!
The Dead Interview 4/5
Impatient Griselda 3/5
Bad Teeth 4/5
Freeforall 3/5 - interesting concept, but a short story not long enough to explore it so it works effectively
Metempsychosis 5/5
Death by Clamshell 3/5 - a bit of an forgettable one
Airborne: A symposium 4/5
A Dusty Lunch -5/5
Widows 5/5
Wooden box 4/5
Old Babes in the Wood 4/5
My favourite section of the book, the recocurring characters of Tig and Nell in multiple stories in this book were by far my favourite stories. I could read a whole book of short stories just containing them.
Book together considering it is made up of multiple short stories.
First Aid 4/5
Two Scorched Men 3/5
Morte de Smudgie 3.5/5
My Evil Mother 5/5 - the first stand out story for me!
The Dead Interview 4/5
Impatient Griselda 3/5
Bad Teeth 4/5
Freeforall 3/5 - interesting concept, but a short story not long enough to explore it so it works effectively
Metempsychosis 5/5
Death by Clamshell 3/5 - a bit of an forgettable one
Airborne: A symposium 4/5
A Dusty Lunch -5/5
Widows 5/5
Wooden box 4/5
Old Babes in the Wood 4/5
My favourite section of the book, the recocurring characters of Tig and Nell in multiple stories in this book were by far my favourite stories. I could read a whole book of short stories just containing them.
lommelun's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
katyboo52's review against another edition
5.0
An absolute cornucopia of Atwood at her whimsical finest. I haven't enjoyed a short story collection so much since I read Mark Haddon's The Pier Falls a few years ago. This is sublime. Each story is utterly perfect. The Nell and Tig stories that bookend the collection are a wonderful love letter to Atwood's late husband; funny, intimate and sad all at the same time. I loved the story My Evil Mother most of all. Perfection.
knenigans's review against another edition
4.75
Not all of these stories resonated with me but the ones I liked I really liked.