ICYMI: Atwood having a fine time!
https://lithub.com/in-case-you-missed-it-heres-margaret-atwood-on-an-electric-sc...
ICYMI: Atwood having a fine time!
https://lithub.com/in-case-you-missed-it-heres-margaret-atwood-on-an-electric-sc...
The first sentence of #ashortstory in this collection. #gratefulreads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620
As with most short story collections, some stories resonated more than others. But the opening and closing stories were excellent, as were many of the others. Themes of dislocation and the misunderstandings between people of good intentions, especially between men and women. (Of course, it‘s Atwood, right?)
#bookandsnack #gratefulreads I love these tiny “cartons” of Ben & Jerry‘s! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620
Continuing my Atwood backlist.
Starting this ♡FIRST EDITION♡ Atwood this morning. I'm two weeks ahead of my reading schedule for the year! How about that?!
Almost without saying each short story in this collection is beautifully written. For me the poet in Atwood always surfaces in her novels and short stories and they are a joy to read just to experience the writing. The last story, Giving Birth is breathtaking. A mother who is heading to hospital to have her child is joined by her future self. This ghost or spectre simply jumps in the car at a red light. This story is quite brilliant.
Yes this is the 1977 first edition, first print that includes “Rape Fantasies”.
The women in these stories are mostly middle-aged and dissatisfied with their lives. There is a pervasive sense of futility in their relationships and little sense that any significant change is possible. Anyone who‘s ever been in a long-term relationship will recognize the miscommunications and words not spoken that pile up over the years.
This is not a happy collection, but I kind of like the way Atwood shines a light on the dark corners.
“Giving Birth”
“Jeanie has seen her before, but she knows little about her except that she is a woman who did not wish to become pregnant, who did not choose to divide herself like this, who did not choose any of these ordeals, these initiations. It would be no use telling her that everything is going to be fine. The word in English for unwanted intercourse is rape. But there is no word in the language for what is about to happen to this woman.”
Found these right where I stored them years ago in my parents' attic when I moved out. 2017 is their year on the TBR list!