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Thursday, July 06, 2006

Book #12 The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

Okay, so book #12 was Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad. It's the story of Odysseus but from Penelope's perspective, with Atwood's feminist wit and charm attached. It was a fantastic book and a pretty quick read. The chapters are spliced with the "chorus" of the 12 handmaids that Odysseus murdered, and Penelope is speaking from Hades. You get her opinion on Helen, on her husband, on the suitors, etc., and the whole book was a great exercise in point of view, and how entire novels can change based on who is telling the story.

It's a great summer read, and Atwood fans won't be disappointed.

2 comments:

Myfanwy Collins said...

Oh, I must read this! Thanks!

J.A. McDougall said...

I attended an Atwood reading last fall where she read sections of this book...it sounded awesome and there is humor, no? Looking forward to picking it up.