In this collection, Margaret Atwood presents twelve stories centered on the domestic friction and inner lives of Canadian women during the late twentieth century. Characters include a wife who views her husband through the lens of a dark fairy tale, a woman navigating a complicated friendship with a former husband, and a botanist reflecting on her childhood. The narratives focus on the specific dynamics of infidelity, urban isolation, and the tension between feminine expectations and private impulses. Atwood anchors these tales in tangible details of Toronto life, garden landscapes, and the awkward social maneuvers of middle-class professionals.
This book serves readers who value psychological scrutiny over plot-driven action. It attracts those interested in the precise ways language and memory shape personal identity. A reader walks away with a sharper understanding of how humans use metaphor to make sense of betrayal and how childhood resentment survives into adulthood. The collection provides an unsentimental look at the uneven power balances found in long-term romantic relationships and the persistent influence of family history on current behavior.
Deep, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1983
- Language
- EN
