Burning Questions is a collection of essays, speeches, book reviews, book forewords, and other non-fiction miscellany from the pen and wit of the incredible Margaret Atwood. Collected works starting from 2004 and on up through 2021, the range of material here is so vast it practically defies description.
It is most fascinating to see the different ways in which Atwood talks to people. In all cases, she appears to reaching out directly and speaking to a specific audience. But the way in which she speaks to them varies - not so much by year (the way the book is organized) but by audience. To the audience reading an intro or a review, she speaks very differently than the way she does to an audience which she is addressing live. This makes sense, of course. But even in her live addresses, she approaches differently depending to whom she is speaking. Again, this makes sense but it's something that is really only noticeable because of the volume of work collected here.

Nearly all the pieces were good, bordering on great. It shouldn't be a surprise to me that someone whose fiction I have been reading for some 40, years (yes, I was reading Atwood before The Handmaid's Tale was first published and when it was published, I bought and read it within the first week [the title of one of my short plays, produced in Upstate New York, came from a line in The Handmaid's Tale])- and reading because I like them so much - that I would also like what the author has to say through her non-fiction. And I do. We're very much on the same page, ideologically and politically.

When so many pieces are so good, it's often difficult to choose a favorite, but I identified only one of the works here with a note in my Kindle, remarking simply: "Fantastic" That piece is "Polonia" (from 2005) and is a response to the question "What advice would you give the young?" Here Atwood's talents are in full force. Her wit, her wisdom, her way with words. She'll make you chuckle while you think, "Yeah, yeah, that's exactly right."

This is not really the kind of book you want to sit down and read straight through, cover to cover (though you could). This is the kind of book you keep next to you, on a coffee table, or end table, or night stand, or in the bathroom magazine rack, and you read a piece here or there when you have a couple of spare minutes. You will feel better, enriched. And keep a highlighter next to you because you're going to want to take note of all the nuggets of wisdom that come from these pages.

And whether you've only just discovered Atwood or you've been reading her works for years, this is a great collection to have.

Looking for a good book? Burning Questions is a collection of short, non-fiction pieces (essays, speeches, reviews, etc) by Margaret Atwood. It is full of wit, wisdom, and insight and worthy of being in your home.

I received a digital copy of this book, from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Burning Questions is an excellent collection of essays by Atwood. The book allows for easy jumping around based on mood, but is arranged chronologically. Collections like these are great to see the progress of thought by authors and how they circle back to some ideas again and again. It always makes me want to read their current thoughts though.

I enjoy Margaret Atwood’s fiction very much. She is always thought-provoking, wryly funny, and often down-right brilliant. I just didn’t LOVE this collection of speeches and essays on various topics. I think the structuring of the pieces chronologically and not thematically, maybe made it feel too random? And whilst I loved certain essays, the collection as a whole felt way too long and the content repetitive at times. With so many pieces in one collection, individual pieces lost their power, in a sea of great writing.

A wonderful collection of speeches, prefaces, and short essays spanning almost 20 years. Atwood is an inspiring author and a joy to read. In each piece, her wit and intellect some through.
I have always enjoyed her speculative fiction, and reading her in this format was a wonderful opportunity to hear her full voice.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Margaret Atwood is so witty, and she makes you feel smarter for uncovering the humor.

Although this collection is presented in chronological order, it can be read is whatever order you choose, but you'll be missing some of the humor in the structure of the book. For example, an essay on Rachel Carson, a deep and learned exploration into her life, is followed by an essay on zombie culture which is given equal consideration. Now that's funny.

I would also argue that this collection is better savored in bites rather than plowing through. Many essays need time to be digested. You'll also want to mark passages and quotes, so it's one to purchase for the bookshelf and not borrow from the library. The discussions of her own work will allow you a deeper understanding of those books. Her comments on the importance of other writers and their work will increase your to-be-read pile. Her comments on society show just how observant she is.

4.5/5

Like Margaret I too question events in that have happened. It's interesting to see Margaret perceive on the past few years. She writes clearly and informatively yes but still with sharp eye and good humor.

Margaret Atwood remains one of the foremost writers of our age. She brings forth memories of her youth and the people that we all were in decades prior while also allowing herself to come into the modern world in a way few of her contemporaries have permitted themselves to do.

The reason I've always liked Atwood's work is that she melds accessibility with profound intellectuality, and when I read her work, I always feel as if I've learned something and this collection of essays is no different.

I recommend it to everybody who has some time to sit and think about the world we live in, how we got to this place and where we are going to go in the years to come.

**Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.