Moral Disorder by the amazing Atwood

Isn’t Margaret Atwood just amazing?  I got a little behind on my Project Atwood, but I picked up Moral Disorder at the library and figured I’d just read a short story here and there.

But I couldn’t do that.  I ended up reading the entire book straight through, which is unusual when it’s a book of short stories.  Similar to The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, Moral Disorder is a book of connected short stories.

The stories span decades of time, but stick with many of the same characters, who are all related.  I really enjoyed them, and feel like this is a different type of book that I haven’t seen yet from Atwood.  She can do dystopian political fiction on very tough topics, she can do poetry and short stories, nonfiction, and children’s books.  Now this, which is an interconnected book of short stories!

I guess the question is: What CAN’T Atwood do?

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & IndieBound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.

Quickie Reviews on Things Fall Apart & The Tent

Here are two quickie reviews on a couple of my recent reads, actually by two pretty prolific authors.

This will be a quickie review because, honestly, I feel kind of indifferent about Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

I’ve heard great things, but it just left me thinking the book was kind of moderate.

Basically, it tells the story of a Nigerian family who encounters struggles such as tribal regulations and the onslaught of Christian missionaries.

Things Fall Apart is considered almost a classic, so don’t let my review deter you necessarily.

 

The next review is on The Tent by Margaret Atwood, which helps to fulfill my Project Atwood requirement.  The Tent is a short book filled with super short stories (2 pages usually, sometimes less).  I have to say I have mixed feelings on these.  The book is split up into 3 sections, and I enjoyed the second section the best.  The first section I just didn’t understand.

But I did enjoy some of the satirical quotes from the stories.  Here are some of my favorites:

“No more photos.  Surely there are enough.  No more shadows of myself thrown by light onto pieces of paper, onto squares of plastic.” – p. 25 

“You’re not my real parents, every child has thought. I’m not your real child.  But with orphans, it’s true.  What freedom, to thumb your nose authentically!” – p. 29

“What are we do to?  The child sex trade is not for us: our children are unattractive and rude, and – due to the knowledge of our history – have a bad habit of mugging prospective customers and shoving them over cliffs.” – p. 60

The Tent is super short and a very quick read, so if you’re a huge Atwood fan, check it out.  Some of the stories were great, some were bizarre.

Have you read them?  What do you think?

Life Before Man by Margaret Atwood – Book 86

This month for my Project Atwood, I read Life Before Man.  I have to say, it wasn’t my favorite out of the Margaret Atwood books I have read.

The book is told from three perspectives: Elizabeth’s, Nate’s, and Lesje’s (pronounced Lashia).

Elizabeth and Nate are married with two children, but don’t have a conventional marriage.  Elizabeth has been having very public affairs for years, and it seems like Nate is doing the same.

However, Elizabeth’s most recent lover, Chris, commits suicide, which propels both Elizabeth and Nate to think more deeply about their marriage and affairs.

Lesje works with Elizabeth, and seems as if she will be the next one pulled into an affair with Nate.

While I did enjoy reading this story, it was so long.  I wanted the book to end sooner, which is never a good thing.  Not my favorite Atwood, but not terrible overall.  Just good.

Do you have a book by a favorite author that was a little underwhelming?