Good Bones and Simple Murders
Book - 1994
Random House, Inc.
In this collection of short works that defy easy categorization, Margaret Atwood displays, in condensed and crystallized form, the trademark wit and viruosity of her best-selling novels, brilliant stories, and insightful poetry. Among the jewels gathered here are Gertrude offering Hamlet a piece of her mind, the real truth about the Little Red Hen, a reincarnated bat explaining how Bram Stoker got Dracula all wrong, and the five methods of making a man (such as the "Traditional Method": "Take some dust off the ground. Form. Breathe into the nostrils the breath of life. Simple, but effective!") There are parables, monologues, prose poems, condensed science fiction, reconfigured fairy tales, and other miniature masterpieces--punctuated with charming illustrations by the author. A must for her fans, and a wonderful gift for all who savor the art of exquisite prose, Good Bones And Simple Murders marks the first time these writings have been available in a trade edition in the United States.
Baker & Taylor
A collection of short works includes parables, monologues, prose poems, condensed science fiction, and reconfigured fairy tales
Baker
& Taylor
Accompanied by enchanting line drawings, a literary master presents a brilliant collection of short works that features a wealth of parables, monologues, prose poems, condensed science fictions, reconstructed fairy tales, and much more. Reissue.
In this collection of short works that defy easy categorization, Margaret Atwood displays, in condensed and crystallized form, the trademark wit and viruosity of her best-selling novels, brilliant stories, and insightful poetry. Among the jewels gathered here are Gertrude offering Hamlet a piece of her mind, the real truth about the Little Red Hen, a reincarnated bat explaining how Bram Stoker got Dracula all wrong, and the five methods of making a man (such as the "Traditional Method": "Take some dust off the ground. Form. Breathe into the nostrils the breath of life. Simple, but effective!") There are parables, monologues, prose poems, condensed science fiction, reconfigured fairy tales, and other miniature masterpieces--punctuated with charming illustrations by the author. A must for her fans, and a wonderful gift for all who savor the art of exquisite prose, Good Bones And Simple Murders marks the first time these writings have been available in a trade edition in the United States.
Baker & Taylor
A collection of short works includes parables, monologues, prose poems, condensed science fiction, and reconfigured fairy tales
Baker
& Taylor
Accompanied by enchanting line drawings, a literary master presents a brilliant collection of short works that features a wealth of parables, monologues, prose poems, condensed science fictions, reconstructed fairy tales, and much more. Reissue.
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Publisher:
New York : Nan A. Talese, Doubleday, 1994
Edition:
1st ed
ISBN:
9780385471107
0385471106
0385471106
Characteristics:
vii, 164 p. : ill. ; 20 cm
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Add a CommentMy favorite stories were Unpopular Gals, the evil fairy tale characters explaining things from their point of view. Simmering, because how could you not like a world where men are judged by their cooking and carving knives. Happy Endings, an adventure into marriage and all the kinda happy endings you might get. Liking Men, for it's honest portrayal of rape. And Simple Murders just because.
It's a little book but it is not a fast book. Margaret Atwood has given us little snapshots and scribblings of various things. Nothing is probably longer than ten pages so it seems fast and furious but there is a lot going on in all of them. Like most collections of anything there are some all stars and some that sort of fall flat but in this case all of them do make you think. The first story is probably the best for setting the tone - the reader is the victim and the writer is the murderer.
As is usual with Atwood there's a lot of meta and feminist themes going on in some of them. I love the story that's Gertrude's point of view of Hamlet, for example. It does quite tiring as you hit the end of the volume though it does end on a high note almost as strong as the first story. Anyone who loves Atwood I'm sure will enjoy this, and I did enjoy most of it.