I just happened to stumble across this book when looking for international writers (Margaret Atwood is Canadian) who wrote coming-of-age stories to include in my Novel comp, and I am so glad that I did, because this book knocked me off my feet.
Some of Atwood's passages when she describes Elaine's near drowning at a ravine, her pain after a divorce, and the death of her brother are some of the best I've ever read. Her metaphors are spot on. Her words for such emotions are shocking in their honesty. I found myself reading several passages over and over again, just to fully absorb such brilliance and beauty.
I am still in awe after reading it and will surely read some of Atwood's other books once I'm done with comps, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on the book. Have any of you read it or another one of Atwood's books? What are some of your favorites?
The cover of the book is of a vision Elaine sees
after she's fallen through the ice while retrieving a lost hat.
I am still in awe after reading it and will surely read some of Atwood's other books once I'm done with comps, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on the book. Have any of you read it or another one of Atwood's books? What are some of your favorites?
Margaret Atwood
This book totally blew me away when I read it years ago. I love her writing--she's written quite a bit of nonfiction and poetry, too. I'm teaching Handmaid's Tale this fall in my Intro to Women & Gender Studies class.
ReplyDeleteLoved this book when I read it in college. Two other Atwood favorites, The Handmaid's Tale and The Edible Woman.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that The Handmaid's Tale is one of her best works, so I will make a point to read it! Thanks for the suggestion!
ReplyDeleteMargaret Atwood is probably my favorite writer. I love dystopian novels, so I think The Handmaid's Tale, Oryx & Crake, and The Year of the Flood are all fantastic. I really loved The Robber Bride, too, but my favorite Atwood novel would have to be The Blind Assassin. It's one of my top three favorite books of all time. She has a lot of great short fiction you should check out as well (Wilderness Tips, "Death by Landscape").
ReplyDeleteAtwood has sort of two major styles: coming-of-age stories (a la Cat's Eye), and speculative fiction (a la Handmaid's)...although the former usually ends up in the latter somewhere. The Blind Assassin has both very strongly, side by side, and is my favorite of hers.
ReplyDeleteIf you loved Cat's Eye, you'll probably also like The Robber Bride -- it has three main characters who could be in the same universe as Elaine, and a villainess!
One of my all-time favorites. I've read it over many times, yet somehow have failed to connect with her other books. The ending still gives me chills--so freaking perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the suggestions! I will certainly read some of her other books!
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