I just finished Oryx and Crake and it knocked my current favorite novel (Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises) straight out of first place.
I'm interested in reading some of her other works, but I'm worried about several things, the foremost being that Atwood has a reputation for being a bit of a feminist and, although I am female myself, find raging feminism not only tiresome, but largely unnecessary.
That in mind, I was wondering if some people could make some suggestions as to what to read next.
2007-02-13 17:48:25 · 4 answers · asked by silent_pavane 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I would recommend The Robber Bride. It shows how perception and letting go of fears can change your life. If you keep repeating the same pattern of self-defeating behaviour over and over, a pattern that you probably learned in childhood, then your fears will control you and dominate you and deprive you of living life to the full. If you change those patterns, see them for what they are, silly techniques for dealing with fears that might have saved you in childhood but which you can now leave behind, then those fears reveal themselves for what they are, hollow and pitiful scarecrows...I don't see anything wrong with a feminist who is saying that.
I would recommend Cats Eye too, if you can identitfy with an older woman/person.
2007-02-13 20:05:44 · answer #1 · answered by wardon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, The Sun Also Rises is my favorite novel...so powerful. But, to answer your Atwood question. I would recommend "A Handmaid's Tale." It's a wonderful dystopian novel. It's true that Atwood is a feminist, but she does not beat you over the head with it in this particular novel. Handmaid's Tale is more of a universal humanitarian cautionary tale. And, let me tell ya, the epilogue has a profound impact on the overall novel, so don't skip that part! If ya read it, I hope ya like it!
2007-02-13 17:58:20 · answer #2 · answered by imhalf_the_sourgirl_iused_tobe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have nothing to worry about. Atwood's reputation for being a raging feminist is based entirely on the fact that she started writing about women and unashamedly discussing their sexuality back in the 70's; and on her marvelous book The Handmaid's Tale, which made many religious types feel threatened. The standard response to a threatening woman is to brand her a feminist and/or lesbian.
The Handmaid's Tale is excellent; as are Cat's Eye, Alias Grace, and The Blind Assassin. I actually prefer her short story collections, which are wonderful, Bluebeard's Egg springing to mind as a great example.
2007-02-14 03:24:03 · answer #3 · answered by Robin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Blind Assassin" is also really interesting. It's neat because much of the book is the "novel" that one of the charachters wrote. I'd also recommend "Gertrude Speaks," a short story that takes place during the "closet scene" in Hamlet. I found both of these fairly accessible and enjoyable, especially "Gertrude Speaks."
2007-02-13 18:59:01 · answer #4 · answered by lenushka_13 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋