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charlottekook's review against another edition
4.0
really great set of short stories, all weird and mysterious with intriguing characters and viewpoints. took me a while to get through because i don't find short stories as captivating to read one after the other as i do with novels, but did really enjoy these and love margaret atwood's voice.
toniisreading's review against another edition
4.0
★★★★☆
De los mejores libros de cuentos que leí (incluso me gustó mas que el cuento de la criada
De los mejores libros de cuentos que leí (incluso me gustó mas que el cuento de la criada
ame_lia's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
alexandrarhurst's review against another edition
3.0
Raise your hand if you've been personally victimized by Margaret Atwood.
mehitabels's review against another edition
4.0
"No. No sweet identity, she will clench herself against it. She will step across the stage, words coiled, she will open her mouth and the room will explode in blood."
"And then all at once she was gone and the silk lay flat on the earthen floor, and it was only light, after all, and impossible to lift."
"And then all at once she was gone and the silk lay flat on the earthen floor, and it was only light, after all, and impossible to lift."
floralfox's review against another edition
4.0
I lost this book so many times. It makes it very difficult to remember the beginning of the collection, however, there are bits and pieces I remember, and Atwood's tone is, as always, something I very much love.
I especially liked the alternating narration in the story about the couple on vacation that practically hated each other but didn't know how to live without each other, each one giving a little peek into the other. And I don't think I'll forget the story about the travel writer who ends up stranded on a life raft after a plane crash.
After finishing, though, my favorite story was Training. I don't know how Atwood does it, but she captures the complexity of our human emotions so, so well. Even when they're terrible, or seemingly unexplainable, she explains them. And makes me feel okay about having them.
I just wish I'd been able to read it more quickly.
I especially liked the alternating narration in the story about the couple on vacation that practically hated each other but didn't know how to live without each other, each one giving a little peek into the other. And I don't think I'll forget the story about the travel writer who ends up stranded on a life raft after a plane crash.
After finishing, though, my favorite story was Training. I don't know how Atwood does it, but she captures the complexity of our human emotions so, so well. Even when they're terrible, or seemingly unexplainable, she explains them. And makes me feel okay about having them.
I just wish I'd been able to read it more quickly.
isalittle's review against another edition
4.0
Mental illness tbh
This woman is unhinged lol
Was it entertaining and easy to get through, yea, but it’s 8 pages. Read in the short story collection and was kinda underwhelming and awkward. The other ones feel like I learn or like idk I feel smarter after reading them, but this one falls short for me.
(^this review is ab rape fantasies)
Also read ab half of the book then had to return to library. Felt like I needed to read it when I did. Very interesting use of language. Margaret Atwood is incredibly talented. I think reading short stories overall was a great way of getting me back into reading bc I could get gratification from finishing a short very quickly.
Felt very girlboss to me. #motomamisummer22
Overall 4/5 bc I can rlly appreciate it. But a 3 if we taking accumulation of what I gave each short.
This woman is unhinged lol
Was it entertaining and easy to get through, yea, but it’s 8 pages. Read in the short story collection and was kinda underwhelming and awkward. The other ones feel like I learn or like idk I feel smarter after reading them, but this one falls short for me.
(^this review is ab rape fantasies)
Also read ab half of the book then had to return to library. Felt like I needed to read it when I did. Very interesting use of language. Margaret Atwood is incredibly talented. I think reading short stories overall was a great way of getting me back into reading bc I could get gratification from finishing a short very quickly.
Felt very girlboss to me. #motomamisummer22
Overall 4/5 bc I can rlly appreciate it. But a 3 if we taking accumulation of what I gave each short.
m_____artha's review against another edition
3.5
It is difficult to describe this book as each story doesn't really fit neatly into place with the others. Where some collections of short stories have overarching themes in common, repeated motifs and even recurring characters, reading from story to story seemed more like a broken stream of consciousness. Atwood wrote them at different stages of her life and career, and I think we should consider this book by its parts rather than its whole effect. Recently, I have realised that the reason why everyone seems to remember or like different stories from a collection like this is because they are so personal. I found I could relate to some with such an intensity that I don't think I'll ever forget them and others seemed alien to me; like looking through someone else's eyes and realising you are a different height, distracted by the differences rather than the story itself.
Nevertheless, I will note down the short stories that I found the most memorable (this is my review after all).
My favourite was Giving Birth, the last short story as it had an interesting commentary on language we have assigned to the act of 'giving birth'. Here Atwood questions what it is to give birth, who is giving, who is receiving... and I loved it. I thought it was very clever, particularly by posing these questions through the slightly defracted lens of the main character and the shadow women that follows her during her birth.
Some stories I found strange like ' Polarities ' while others I found brilliantly weird ('Hair Jewellery'). It really is subjective but if you, reader, are planning on reading this. I would advise you to go in with an open mind, forget the negative reviews around this one and make up your own mind.
Nevertheless, I will note down the short stories that I found the most memorable (this is my review after all).
My favourite was Giving Birth, the last short story as it had an interesting commentary on language we have assigned to the act of 'giving birth'. Here Atwood questions what it is to give birth, who is giving, who is receiving... and I loved it. I thought it was very clever, particularly by posing these questions through the slightly defracted lens of the main character and the shadow women that follows her during her birth.
Some stories I found strange like ' Polarities ' while others I found brilliantly weird ('Hair Jewellery'). It really is subjective but if you, reader, are planning on reading this. I would advise you to go in with an open mind, forget the negative reviews around this one and make up your own mind.
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
4.0
I was nervous to read this book. I LOVE Atwood's novels, and was terrified that I would not adore her short stories as much. Of course, I should have had faith: It's Margarat Atwood, I don't think she knows how to not write well.
What was interesting about these stories, most of which had female narrators, was how haunting and truthful they are. Even in these short stories Atwood is able to develop characters who are so ordinary that their faults are so truthful--and you can't help but to know that these things could happen.
What was interesting about these stories, most of which had female narrators, was how haunting and truthful they are. Even in these short stories Atwood is able to develop characters who are so ordinary that their faults are so truthful--and you can't help but to know that these things could happen.
tasharobinson's review against another edition
2.0
Normally I'm a huge fan of Margaret Atwood, but this early collection just felt like wading through mud for me. So many sketches of characters that go nowhere, stories that are just about a state of mind that never resolves into anything particularly telling, prose that isn't particularly interesting or lively. Her more recent work feels so much more ambitious, and deeply felt, and wise, than this. There are standouts in this collection, like the classic "Rape Fantasies," and "Training," but most of these stories were a bit of a chore for me.