Goodday and welcome to
"The B.B. Weekly Review"
Margaret Atwood is one of those famous Authors that everyone loves and everyone raves about her books. I think that she is so famous that publishers don't really even read her books... they just publish them because they know that people will buy them.
I, for one, have been very disappointed with Margaret Atwood.
Don't get me wrong, there are several of her books that I really loved, especially
"Oryx & Crake."
After having heard nothing but praise for Atwood in my University Lit classes, from Professors and Students alike, and after having studied and enjoyed "Alias Grace" I decided it was time for me to get with the times and become an avid Atwood reader and fan. I always told people, "oh yeah, I love Atwood too" even though I had only read a few short works and one novel.
After my Mum RAVED to me about
"Oryx & Crake" enough, I took the plunge and read the book. I LOVED IT! It was a very weird book, and I was completely enthralled and Atwood's new biggest fan. Of course after that I wanted to read more of her works, so for the next few months I bought or borrowed every Atwood book I could find, including: Moral Disorder, Surfacing, The Robber Bride, The Penelopiad and The Edible Woman.
I emjoyed The Penelopiad.
I absolutely hated all of the others.
I couldn't figure it out. Most of the books did not even have a good plot, no climax, and an appallingly horrible ending. I don't think one sinlge book had a conclusive ending. What I loved about
Oryx and Crake; the strangeness, the mystery; I hated about all of her other books.
So, instead of wasting several "B.B. Weekly Review" posts on Atwood's writings, I will give you my very brief short hand reviews. I won't even elaborate because I don't want to waste that much time on these books. Sorry Margaret.
"The Edible Woman" (1969) by Margaret Atwood.
Review: A woman's body shuts down according to her mental state of being. She is "suffocated" by the oppression of having a man in her life and her engagement to him. The subconscious takes over and she basically stops eating. Interesting view of humanity, although I don't think I agree. Her friend, Duncan, a crazed English graduate student makes fun of people like Atwood who are writers/English majors, etc. The 'Power of the Mind' is a main focus throughout the book. Inconclusive ending.
"The Robber Bride" (1993) by Margaret Atwood.
Review: Interesting, A lot of newage references. Very uneccessarily lengthy. Almost too descriptive. Very intricately woven, however, and that keeps the reader hooked right to the end. Somewhat anti-climactic, however, as the book begins with Zenia's death, and then ends with her death. The book seems to simply 'cut off' after ALOT of history/memory leading up to...exactly what they all want. Leaves some questions, and yet seems conclusive at the same time. Leaves one undecided as to whether or not it was worth the time to read.
"Surfacing" (1972) by Margaret Atwood.
Review: A woman's journey to find herself and cope with the past. What begins as a trip to find her missing father turns into a life altering experience, taking her through childhood memories, repressed adult memories and present fears. Anti-American...in that all 'bad' people are labeled Americans. Some coarse language and mature subject matter. A little hard to follow at times as the past and present intermingle in the same sentences. Very strange ending. Not recommended.
My Rating: 0/5 (Hated- not even worth a coffee cup)
"Moral Disorder" (2006) by Margaret Atwood.
Review: Like most of Atwood's books, the ending is inconclusive. There is no plot. Nothing is resolved. The book is simply a collection of short stories, detailing the lives of the same poeple, at different times and stages. Though strange and inconclusive, it was interesting and easy to read.
My Rating: 1/5
