Back again, latest read, and pub news
After over a year blogless, I've come back. This time armed with ideas on exactly what I'll use the blog for and the steely resolve to actually ensure that I update regularly. Or fairly regularly. Hopefully regularly?
Latest Read
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Now this was a book I was psyched for. It was one of those moments when I'm in the library, desperately trying to come up with the list of a bajillion books that I know I'm just dying to read though I can't think of one, and then it hits me. The Handmaid's Tale. I've heard people mention how much they loved this book. But I knew nothing about it.
It was set in a dystopia. I'm not the biggest fan of dystopias. Utopias on the other hand...right up my alley. :) But this dystopia dealt with issues of gender, and the fate of the main character, Offred, kept me turning pages often late at night or at 3 in the morning. I just wanted to know!! So that was a positive.
On the other hand, I felt Atwood's presence too much. True, it is written in the first person, but I believed that I was reading a combination of Offred/Atwood in the narration. Perhaps Atwood's feminism drew this out, made the author's hand and words become too much the author's and not the character's? I've decided this might have been the drawback keeping me from singing the book's praises.
A few years ago I read a short story collection, Wilderness Tips, also by Atwood. And I've got to tell you I fell in love with the book. Atwood's poetry? Atwood's novels? After a couple attempts, not my cup of tea. Short story writer? Yes, she is!!!
Latest Write
You can find my flash piece, Palm Reader, up at The Pedestal Magazine. Also in this issue the flash pieces of Kim Chinquee and Miriam Kotzin!!
Latest Job
I had the remarkable experience of starting to teach a Freshman 101 class at Buffalo
State College. A great group of students, and so far I'm having a blast. Hopefully there will be more to report on this teaching experience. And that's for another day...
Latest Read
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Now this was a book I was psyched for. It was one of those moments when I'm in the library, desperately trying to come up with the list of a bajillion books that I know I'm just dying to read though I can't think of one, and then it hits me. The Handmaid's Tale. I've heard people mention how much they loved this book. But I knew nothing about it.
It was set in a dystopia. I'm not the biggest fan of dystopias. Utopias on the other hand...right up my alley. :) But this dystopia dealt with issues of gender, and the fate of the main character, Offred, kept me turning pages often late at night or at 3 in the morning. I just wanted to know!! So that was a positive.
On the other hand, I felt Atwood's presence too much. True, it is written in the first person, but I believed that I was reading a combination of Offred/Atwood in the narration. Perhaps Atwood's feminism drew this out, made the author's hand and words become too much the author's and not the character's? I've decided this might have been the drawback keeping me from singing the book's praises.
A few years ago I read a short story collection, Wilderness Tips, also by Atwood. And I've got to tell you I fell in love with the book. Atwood's poetry? Atwood's novels? After a couple attempts, not my cup of tea. Short story writer? Yes, she is!!!
Latest Write
You can find my flash piece, Palm Reader, up at The Pedestal Magazine. Also in this issue the flash pieces of Kim Chinquee and Miriam Kotzin!!
Latest Job
I had the remarkable experience of starting to teach a Freshman 101 class at Buffalo
State College. A great group of students, and so far I'm having a blast. Hopefully there will be more to report on this teaching experience. And that's for another day...
posted by Cheryl at 5:25 PM
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