We sent copies of Margaret Atwood's newest collection of personal short stories, Moral Disorder (published by Random House Canada)
to three urbanmoms.ca members and book review panelists. Here are their reflections and opinions on Atwood's triumphant new collection.
Publisher Random House bills Moral Disorder as: "vintage Atwood, writing at the height of her powers." And our urbanmoms.ca Book Review Panel agrees!
Growing up in Canada, most of us encountered Atwood several times in high school or university English classes. A prolific author in nearly every genre (short stories, novels, poetry, children's books, essays, literary criticism…the list goes on…), Margaret Atwood permeates Canadian curricula to a point where we tend perhaps to take her talent for granted. But she truly is a gem in the crowded Canadian book landscape (did you know Canada has the most saturated book market in the entire world?). When there's so much to choose from out there, it's nice to know that you can always rely on her for an outstanding — and surprising — read.
Margaret Atwood is Canada's literary chameleon; you never know what to expect when you pick up her newest book. From futuristic post-apocalyptic novels like The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake to the historical novel (based on fact) Alias Grace and everything in between, Atwood always surprises and delights the reader. And Moral Disorder is no exception. Based on her own experiences coming of age, as well as reflections on her parents' generation's reaction to the social revolution of the 60s and 70s, this collection of stories weaves an amazingly earthy and emotional tale.
Moral Disorder is more than a collection of short stories; each chapter of the book reads like a novella, with common characters serving as the strands that hold the story together as a whole. Our panel of moms really appreciated the fact that the book could be read story-by-story; with such busy lives some of us don't get the chance to read for several hours every day…or even every day at all! And others — who can't resist a good read once it's started — appreciated being able to put it down and actually do the laundry and feed the children instead of ignoring these less enjoyable tasks for the sake of "one more paragraph"!
Moral Disorder – like its title, reveals itself in a disorderly fashion. The stories do not flow one to the next with a linear chronology, rather they jump backwards and forwards in time in an organic way, very much in the voice of a person remembering and telling the stories that make up her life. And that, after all, is what this book is.
The verdict: this is one book you will want to add to your lifetime reading list.
Here's what our book review panelists had to say:
"Reading through the first chapter was like slipping on an old sweater, very easy and comfortable, like I have been there before."
— Tara, urbanmoms.ca member and mom to a 9, 7.5 & 3 year-old.
"I've loved Margaret Atwood since I first read 'Survival' in grade 11. I've been addicted ever since and haven't missed a book. Several I've read more than once, and 'Moral Disorder' will go on that list."
— Katherine, urbanmoms.ca member and mom to a 6 & 3.5 year-old.