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Post by Natasha~ on Dec 30, 2006 23:35:00 GMT -5
So, I've never actually read any Atwood material, and some of you love her, so can you recommend any good Atwood to me?
Please feel free to hijack this thread into a crazy discussion too! What are your thoughts about her? A lot of people here have a giggle at her, especially comedians. I dunno. Let the discussion begin!!
xo
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Post by sweetsangria on Dec 31, 2006 19:11:11 GMT -5
Nat, I've always been dying to ask you: what exactly do Canadians find funny about Atwood? Is she really eccentric or something?
If I were you, I would start with A Handmaid's Tale. It's a pretty quick read, compared to some of her other books, and it's just amazing and chilling at the same time.
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Post by Koalapupu on Jan 1, 2007 4:44:26 GMT -5
I agree with Sabsy: The Handmaid's Tale is what I started with. Another one I love dearly (my favorite of them all) is The Blind Assassin.
And I also am interested in hearing why she is considered silly! I have only read perhaps one interview of her (where she was adamantly saying that Handmaid is most certainly not sci-fi--as if it's somehow embarrasing that it would be) and then just her books, so I have no idea what her political opinions etc are.
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Post by Natasha~ on Jan 1, 2007 16:57:41 GMT -5
I guess it's a Canadian thing, I'm not really sure how to explain it. Don't worry though.  Yeah, I've wanted to read A Handmaid's tale for a long time. I've heard The Blind Assassin is amazing too. xo |
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Post by Koalapupu on Jan 4, 2007 15:54:29 GMT -5
Ok, one Atwood criticism: she uses the word 'oblong' way, WAY too often.  |
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Post by ♪Carly♪ on Jan 4, 2007 16:33:13 GMT -5
BAHAHA!!! My one criticism is that she hates Americans. Anyway, I'm about 120 pages into The Robber Bride. It's moving slow, but it's a delicious slow. I'm really enjoying it so far. |
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Post by Koalapupu on Jan 5, 2007 9:19:35 GMT -5
BAHAHA!!! My one criticism is that she hates Americans. Anyway, I'm about 120 pages into The Robber Bride. It's moving slow, but it's a delicious slow. I'm really enjoying it so far. Hehe. I think I noticed that, too. Like in that terrible Surfacing where she depicts, IIRC, American tourists incredibly stereotypically. You just described The Robber Bride with maybe the most suitable word ever: delicious. It's a book after which I wanted to do a Dead Poet's Society-style "barbaric YAWP" (or what was it, hahahaha.) And about Atwood among Canadians. I'm still interested in what makes her so "disgusting"--I have read only her books, never her interviews apart from a few quotes--so I tried to google around and found so far one quote where it says "Canadians, who know her better than anyone, warn that she's a ferocious interviewee: if she says you can have an hour, you'll get spot-on 60 minutes. She'll fight you, ridicule you, chew you up and spit you out and make you sorry you came. One writer ended an interview saying that if she ever saw her again, she'd run in the opposite direction." So, being punctual is silly?  You can read the rest of the interview here: books.guardian.co.uk/bookerprize2000/story/0,6194,377730,00.html It's a pretty interesting speculation as to why she's so "scary" or whatnot. What this sounds to me like is that Atwood doesn't like to be made run around in circles by interviewers and is a tough nut to crack, and that's why interviewers can't stand her. |
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Post by ♪Carly♪ on Jan 5, 2007 16:59:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, dear!
So many parts of that interview cracked me up.
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Post by sweetsangria on Jan 7, 2007 10:38:51 GMT -5
Thanks for shining some light on the situation, Jenni! |
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Post by ♣Miranda♣ on Jan 12, 2007 18:04:05 GMT -5
Poor Margaret! I ♥ her.
My favorite is The Blind Assassin - I tell everyone I know to read it.
I also love The Handmaid's Tale and Alias Grace.
Carly, I read The Robber Bride earlier this year and really enjoyed it.
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Post by ♪Carly♪ on Jan 12, 2007 22:39:18 GMT -5
I finished The Robber Bride and loved it sooo much! I think the whole thing is genius.
Now on to Cat's Eye... I found it at my favorite used book store. Yay!
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Post by ♪Carly♪ on Feb 27, 2007 18:18:17 GMT -5
Miranda, there's a film adaptation of The Robber Bride that will be on the Oxygen channel on March 3rd at 8 pm.
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Post by ♣Miranda♣ on Feb 28, 2007 22:37:19 GMT -5
Miranda, there's a film adaptation of The Robber Bride that will be on the Oxygen channel on March 3rd at 8 pm. I saw that! I really like Mary-Louise Parker but I'm always wary of TV movies.  |
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Post by Koalapupu on Mar 3, 2007 7:09:07 GMT -5
A film adaptation! I had not even heard of there being one! Thanks for the information, Carly, maybe I can find it somewhere.
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Post by ♪Carly♪ on Mar 4, 2007 13:16:10 GMT -5
I caught the last half hour. Then an hour later, I turned it back to the channel and caught the last half hour AGAIN because they played it twice in a row.
Anyway, I think Mary-Louise Parker plays a good Zenia.
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Post by ♣Miranda♣ on Mar 4, 2007 13:56:48 GMT -5
I missed it! I'm sure Oxygen will play it again though.
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Post by veela on Apr 5, 2007 14:03:39 GMT -5
i just finished THE HANDMAID'S TALE, my first atwood. definitely creepy!! it's scary that i can actually imagine certain aspects of that becoming reality...
i'll have to try some more of her later. but right now i'm starting harry potter (goblet of fire) over again and am going to do the same with books 5 & 6 in preparation for 7...
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Post by ♣Miranda♣ on Apr 6, 2007 0:40:19 GMT -5
i just finished THE HANDMAID'S TALE, my first atwood. definitely creepy!! it's scary that i can actually imagine certain aspects of that becoming reality... i'll have to try some more of her later. but right now i'm starting harry potter (goblet of fire) over again and am going to do the same with books 5 & 6 in preparation for 7... That book freaks me out every time I read it! It's not that far from reality and that's terrifying to me. |
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Post by veela on Apr 6, 2007 11:26:08 GMT -5
i just finished THE HANDMAID'S TALE, my first atwood. definitely creepy!! it's scary that i can actually imagine certain aspects of that becoming reality... i'll have to try some more of her later. but right now i'm starting harry potter (goblet of fire) over again and am going to do the same with books 5 & 6 in preparation for 7... That book freaks me out every time I read it! It's not that far from reality and that's terrifying to me. exactly. you know there are people who want to pass legislation so that all women of breeding age would be considered "pre-pregnant" and have to treat their bodies as such (i.e. no alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, etc.)  since the time before you know you're pregnant and still doing all those things is the time of most growth and when most harm can be done. it's so creepy. |
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Post by Koalapupu on Apr 10, 2007 11:37:56 GMT -5
Jessica, I just recently read an experience from a woman who had sternly told her gyneocologist that she has no intention of having children. Still, the doctor insisted that she start taking extra vitamins that she didn't need for her own health "just in case you change your mind". Not only does this assume that you are just an incubator, but also is very condescending. "Now little lady, your decisions obviously are not to be taken seriously". Ugh. Some women are already treated as pre-pregnant, legislation or not :/
I really like The Handmaid's Tale, but it freaks me out, too.
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Yeah, I've wanted to read A Handmaid's tale for a long time. I've heard The Blind Assassin is amazing too. 
since the time before you know you're pregnant and still doing all those things is the time of most growth and when most harm can be done.