Margaret Atwood

[sevencrows]

I loved the Handmaiden's Tale and the Testaments, and I'm eager to read more from Atwood--any reccs?

[SunVixen]

I loved the Handmaiden's Tale and the Testaments, and I'm eager to read more from Atwood--any reccs?

I recommend you "The Penelopiad". This is a retelling of Greek myths about the Trojan War and the journeys of Odysseus from the perspective of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. If "Handmaiden's Tale" is sometimes very scary and gloomy, then this book is very ironic and funny. From the perspective of a smart woman, pompous Greek heroes sometimes look just ridiculous. This is actually my favorite Atwood's book.

[sevencrows]

I loved the Handmaiden's Tale and the Testaments, and I'm eager to read more from Atwood--any reccs?

I recommend you "The Penelopiad". This is a retelling of Greek myths about the Trojan War and the journeys of Odysseus from the perspective of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. If "Handmaiden's Tale" is sometimes very scary and gloomy, then this book is very ironic and funny. From the perspective of a smart woman, pompous Greek heroes sometimes look just ridiculous. This is actually my favorite Atwood's book.

thank you! that sounds wonderful, and it's definitely going on my tbr!

[SunVixen]

This is really great. This novel is somewhat similar to the books of Robert Graves, especially "Homer's Daughter".

This Robert Graves really thought the Odyssey was composed by a woman. He also thought that she inserted herself into the Odyssey under the name of Princess Nausicaa. So he wrote a book about it.

I read "The Penelopiad" long before "The Handmaid’s Tale" was turned into a TV-series and became popular. I pick this book because I thought it might be like "Homer's Daughter". However, "The Penelopiad" was even better!

[AnnaLibri]

The Handmaid's Tale is brilliant. I have The Testaments on my shelf but haven't read it yet.

As for other Atwood books, I've read a few. Couldn't get through Oryx and Crake. I liked The Blind Assassin but expected to love it; I think maybe I wasn't quite in the mood for it when I read it. That said, I really liked Cat's Eye and Alias Grace, and I absolutely loved The Robber Bride.

[SunVixen]

The Handmaid's Tale is brilliant. I have The Testaments on my shelf but haven't read it yet.

As for other Atwood books, I've read a few. Couldn't get through Oryx and Crake. I liked The Blind Assassin but expected to love it; I think maybe I wasn't quite in the mood for it when I read it. That said, I really liked Cat's Eye and Alias Grace, and I absolutely loved The Robber Bride.

I started reading "Oryx and Crake" once, but quickly dropped it.

[mary-annef]

I love The Handmaid's Tale because in an interview she said that all the awful things that happened in the story were copied from real-life events that have already transpired - she shows the world the horrors that have been overlooked elsewhere.

Yes, I also found that scarily fascinating. If you're interested in the details, this interview with Atwood reveals the actual newspaper clippings she worked from. https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2019 ... spiration/

In fact, she is adamant that none of her work is classified as science fiction because everything she writes about is likely/possible today or has already happened.

[leareiler]

Fell in love with Atwood after reading The Handmaid's Tale. Then I read The Heart Goes Last and couldn't put it down. Would love to read more of her books, anyone have recommendations of what I should read next ?

[piplup45]

I only just finished watching The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu and am waiting for a friend that owns the book to find it and lend it to me. I am certain there are great differences between the show and the book and cannot wait to read it. She tells me that, as I assumed, the book is much better.

[Carolreads30]

I don't think that I have ever read anything written by her, but I want to read "The Handmaid's Tale". It will give me a chance to see if she is an author that I will choose to read more than one book by.

[Tavaiel26]

I picked up Morning in the Burned House and breezed through it. It has a cozy feeling and brings back memories of reading Neruda in my youth for some reason.
I can't believe I missed the fact that Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale. Will check it out!

[anaplasticCerebrum]

maybe it is a bit cliche, but I really was taken aback with how good The Handmaid's Tale was. I'm really interested in the sequel (I think it's coming out this month?)

I was honestly surprised how much I enjoyed it too. I wasn't really expecting the nuance she explores with certain subplots and ideas. And yeah, The Testaments came out a couple weeks ago. No spoilers, but there were some storylines I liked better than others.

[Munachimso_Nwaogazie]

The handmaids tale.