I will never not love Margaret Atwood--not just as a novelist but also as a poet, short story writer, thinker, essayist. This collection did not fail to disappoint--some really miraculous pieces in here.

Margaret Atwood’s Old Babes in the Wood is a captivating and multifaceted collection of short stories that showcase her exceptional range and storytelling prowess. Known for her incisive wit and profound insights into the human condition, Atwood delivers a series of tales that are both thought-provoking and deeply moving.

The collection is divided into three parts, each exploring different themes and aspects of life. The stories are interconnected by their exploration of memory, aging, and the complexity of human relationships. Atwood’s ability to shift seamlessly between different narrative voices and styles is on full display, making each story distinct yet thematically cohesive.

One of the standout stories is the titular Old Babes in the Wood, which follows a group of elderly women on a weekend retreat in the wilderness. Through their interactions and reflections, Atwood delves into themes of friendship, loss, and the passage of time. The characters are richly drawn, with Atwood capturing their humor, resilience, and vulnerability with remarkable precision. The wilderness setting serves as a poignant backdrop, symbolizing both the beauty and harshness of life.

Another highlight is Death by Landscape, a haunting tale that explores the lingering effects of a childhood tragedy. The story centers on Lois, a woman who becomes obsessed with the landscapes in her paintings, which seem to echo the loss of her friend Lucy during a summer camp many years ago. Atwood masterfully weaves together past and present, creating a narrative that is both eerie and emotionally resonant.

Atwood’s sharp wit and keen observational skills shine in My Evil Mother, a humorous and insightful story about a girl growing up with a mother who claims to be a witch. The story deftly balances humor and poignancy, exploring the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the ways in which we come to understand our parents as we grow older.

The Freeze-Dried Groom is another memorable story, blending elements of noir and dark comedy. The tale follows Sam, a man who discovers a frozen groom in a storage unit he purchases. As Sam attempts to unravel the mystery, Atwood delves into themes of guilt, morality, and the unexpected turns life can take. The story is both suspenseful and darkly funny, showcasing Atwood’s versatility as a writer.

Throughout the collection, Atwood’s prose is elegant and precise, her storytelling infused with both empathy and a keen understanding of human nature. She tackles a wide range of subjects, from the mundane to the extraordinary, always with a deep sense of curiosity and insight. Her characters are vividly alive, their struggles and triumphs rendered with a rare and genuine compassion.

In addition to the compelling narratives, Atwood’s exploration of aging and memory provides a unifying thread that gives the collection its emotional depth. The stories often reflect on the passage of time and the ways in which our pasts shape our present selves. Atwood’s meditations on aging are nuanced and profound, offering a poignant reminder of the beauty and fragility of life.

In conclusion, Old Babes in the Wood is a masterful collection that reaffirms Margaret Atwood’s status as one of our most gifted and insightful writers. With its richly drawn characters, diverse narrative styles, and profound thematic explorations, the book is a testament to Atwood’s literary brilliance. Whether you are a longtime fan or new to her work, Old Babes in the Wood is a must-read that will leave you reflecting on its stories long after you’ve turned the final page.

Margaret Atwood has been one of my favorite authors since I was in high school. This collection of short stories is something that I think I'll find myself coming back to for years. Atwood uses these stories to share her thoughts and feelings on aging and her life. I think this is one of those short story collections, by such an important voice of our time, that is useful to readers of all generations. And something i think i personally will help with each new stage of life to turn back to

It's been a few years since I read some of Margaret Atwood's short fiction but it was her collection Bluebeard's Egg, that I read after reading The Handmaid's Tale back in the 1980's, that endeared me to her writing and to the brilliance of a well-written short story. Some forty years later and she's still producing terrific work.
There are recurring characters in a number of the stories - Nell and Tig - an older married couple who look back at their lives and the people they've interacted with. Then some of the later stories in the collection feature only Nell, reflecting on a life that has changed with Tig's death.
It is often said about Shakespeare that he wrote so well about what it means to be human, but I think the same thing can be said about Margaret Atwood. These might be short works of fiction, but it would be easy to mistake these for essays. More than once I thought the voice of the narrator was Atwood's. I felt this way the most, I think, with the story titled "My Evil Mother" which follows a mother/daughter relationship through many years and shows us how, sometimes sadly, we become our parents.
Perhaps it's just because the last pet in my house died during my reading of this book, making this the first time in 30+ years that I've been pet-less, but the story "Morte de Smudgie" in which Nell grieves the loss of her cat, definitely touched a note with me.
"The Dead Interview" - where Margaret Atwood interviews George Orwell - was fun and almost believable (When did she meet Orwell ... oh, wait, she didn't - this is fiction!). But perhaps my favorite story in the collection was "Bad Teeth."
There aren't any duds here - Atwood is too good a writer and too well established in her career to publish anything that isn't up to her standard - but, odd as it might sound, given my long history with science fiction, the stories that are much for scifi in nature were my least favorites here. "Metempsychosis" has a snail's soul inhabiting a human body. While well written, I couldn't connect with this.
If you've never been interested in reading short stories I'd highly recommend starting with a Margaret Atwood collection, and this is as fine as any she's published.
This book contains the following:
Tig & Nell
"first aid"
"Two scorched men"
"morte de smudgie"
My Evil Mother
"My Evil Mother"
"The Dead Interview"
"Impatient Griselda"
"Bad Teeth"
"Freeforall"
"Metempsychosis: or, The Journey of the Soul"
"Airborne: A Symposium"
"Death by Clamshell"
Nell & Tig
"A Dusty Lunch"
"Widows"
"Wooden Box"
"Old Babes in the Woods"
Looking for a good book? Old Babes in the Woods in a collection of short stories by Margaret Atwood. Each of the stories is a reflection on what it means to be human. This collection is highly recommended.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

there's nothing more to say about margaret atwood that hasn't already been said. i love her writing style so much, and i also loved seeing the short stories i read on the new yorker a few years back now published as a book. some stories in old babes in the wood show atwood at her best—incredibly careful with her plot and characters while being audaciously imaginative. some of my favorite stories included: a dusty lunch, first aid, death by clamshell, and my evil mother.

one of the things i look for in a short story collection is the diversity of writing style while having a cohesive tone altogether. atwood, a veteran in both, pulls it off beautifully. however, that being said, there were some stories that didn't echo as much as the others—in short, they were a hit or miss. while there will always be more hits with atwood, some stories fell a bit short.

This was my first book by Atwood and I am eager to read lore of her work.

I enjoyed Old Babes in the Wood because it’s a collection of short stories and I find those types of books great for when you are busy because you can read one short story and put it down without losing momentum of a full novel.

I’m not a huge fan of short story collections, especially those by a single author… but Margaret Atwood! It’s Margaret Atwood! So I was thrilled to read and review this.

As it turns out, Old Babes in the Wood includes a set of stories that unfolds like a novel told in segments. There are also some standalone stories in this collection, but several which incorporate the same characters and, combined, offer the read a novel-like narrative arc. This novel-in-stories revolves around a mature couple and their engagements with one another and others of their mature social circle. They are “empty nesters”, finding themselves now in a moment of their lives that is somewhat unfamiliar.

Other stories are also peppered with similarly mature life-stage themes and concerns. One of my favorites in this collection revolves around the hot topic of motherhood and mothering. As usual, Atwood delivers very creative approaches to each one, turning the perspective inside out, and presenting the reader with a novel experience.

That said, many tales here have been published in journals earlier, so readers should not expect a wholly new collection of stories. Their cohesiveness here, however, appears to mimic Atwood’s own life journey: these tales are concerned with change from one life-stage to another, mature themes and concerns (by which I do not mean X rated spice, but concerns of older adults). Atwood is, after all, an old babe in their own wood (no offense, Mx Atwood!) and like us all, navigating our own paths through life.

I kept falling asleep reading this. Marge, I'm sorry. Just not super interesting. Love the thought of her doing short stories though. Missing that characteristic poignance and charm.

There is not much from this author I have not read, however found this collection to be a bit subpar from what her usual offerings are. The Nell and Tig stories just did not hit home for me and compromised a large part of the content. The Evil Mother, however was a hidden gem and was the saving grace of this collection for me. I will never not read anything from this author and find her just be an amazing and epic force in the written world. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Margaret Atwood is on my always read list for a reason-her never fails to delight, entertain, and horrify in some combination. Old Babes in the Woods is a gorgeous collection of stories that will resonate with all readers.

Book review: Atwood collection offers eclectic mix of stories
Ashley Riggleson Apr 28, 2023

I have been a huge fan of Margaret Atwood’s work for many years, but until now, I had yet to read any of her short stories. So, when I saw her latest collection, “Old Babes in the Wood,” was up for review, I jumped at the chance.

Short story collections are notoriously difficult to review, so let me start by saying that, if you have not read Atwood before, this is a great entry point for her work. It has a little bit of everything. This collection is a mix of poignant slice-of-life stories, science fiction, and some works that do not fit in any category and are quite bizarre.

Though I love Atwood, I have never considered her a poignant writer before. Her previous fiction is well-paced, wry and irreverent. So, “Old Babes in the Wood” took me by surprise. Two sets of interconnected stories, which follow a married couple called Tig and Nell in their older years, bookend this collection, and these sections were my favorite to read. Here, Atwood compassionately explores loss, grief, change and moving on after the death of a partner. And the Tig and Nell sequences were so intricate and emotional that I was profoundly moved. When I was not reading them, I sped through the other stories just so I could get back to these beautiful tales.

That said, not every story in the collection worked for me. In one story, for instance, a narrator hires a medium to help her interview George Orwell. And while the premise of this text is undeniably interesting, it also feels quite didactic and heavy handed. Readers might not be surprised to hear that the science fiction stories did not interest me as much, either. Despite my preferences, though, it is worth pointing out that most of the stories in this collection are well crafted, and other readers may have a different reaction.

All in all, I came away from “Old Babes in the Wood” quite satisfied, and reviewing this collection is a privilege. While not every story hit home, I looked forward to returning to this collection every day. Atwood proves, once again, that she is a versatile writer, and I am so excited to read more of her work.

This review was originally printed in The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, VA.

Atwood puts us on a rollercoaster where your mind goes from "such normal story about Tig and Nell and their family" to "excuse me but what?!". To me, the way stories were ordered was more interesting than the stories itself.

I especially liked "My Evil Mother" because it was depiction of not an evil but concerned mother. Of a mother who could turn into an evil witch to protect her child. I loved the way the story ended with a quiet understanding of that fact and embodiment of the same attitude in the next generation.

I'm a tough one to please when it comes to short stories, but this collection was very well sequenced and Atwood continued to be Atwood.

With three sections in the book, Tig & Nell, My Evil Mother, and Nell & Tig, we have a variety to review.

The first section is on Tig and Nell enjoying their time together, experiencing loss of friends (and beloved cat), mostly giving "no plot, just vibes." The writing style is enjoyable, and you can experience what the characters are feeling. My favorite with Smudgie's story in this section, as we all understand the strange pain when we lose a pet. Eloquently written, including an odd poem which fits the story perfectly.

Next is my favorite section of the book, My Evil Mother. I truly enjoyed each story within this section, showcasing Atwood's ability to write multiple types of genres with great prose. Each story had my captivated, whether it was an odd one (Impatient Griselda) or and true Atwood style story (Freeforall).

Lastly, the third section goes back to Tig & Nell, where Nell is coping with loss in her old age. This was my least favorite section, as it felt somewhat repetitive, but that could be attributed to the repetitiveness of grief.

I rated each individual story, and averaged them all, rating a 3.5 stars. The stories packed a punch and are beautifully written, and would easily recommend this.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

Love collections of short stories and Margaret Atwood's 'Old Babes in the Wood' is fantastic! An eclectic mix of people, topics and ideas scattered throughout this one. I would've loved some of these ideas to become full books!

A grouping of short stories that some were good and some just didn’t work for me. I think major Atwood fans would appreciate it. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

Thank you to Margaret Atwood, Doubleday Books, Doubleday, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Old Babes in the Wood: Stories" for an honest review.

What's better in the world than hearing Margaret Atwood is releasing a new batch or short stories? Nothing, I tell you, and you should absolutely get on reading these right away. There's everything you could want here—aliens, fairytales, a slice of life being shared later on in your year. Atwood dives deep in the topics of love, family, marriage, self, acceptance, and transcendence with a masterful hand and a sharp turn of phrase.

Everyone should give this one a read!

I'm always excited when there's a new Margaret Atwood book, and this one didn't disappoint. The fifteen new stories in this collection span a wide range of topics and genres, but they are all filled with the startling insight into human nature that Atwood has cultivated throughout her long and prolific career. Some of these stories are more memorable and engaging than others -- particular favorites include "My Evil Mother" and "Impatient Griselda". But overall, this is a very strong collection and I enjoyed reading all of them.

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. I found this collection of short stories to be a bit of a mixed bag. This collection is organized into sections - the first and last section deals with stories concerning Nell and Tig, a married couple. Some of these stories caught my attention and some did not. I found the middle section the most riveting of the stories, with "My Evil Mother" being an easy favorite for me. The third section of the book which returned to Nell and Tig, focused on Nell's life after Tig has passed. These stories were truly beautiful and sad in the best way.

Published by Doubleday on March 7, 2023

Aging women are the primary characters in Margaret Atwood’s latest story collection. Sexism and ageism blend in the background of the stories, as they did in Don Lemon’s astonishing remark that women are past their prime by time they enter their 50s. Atwood is proof that Lemon doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

The stories are diverse. A couple are probably meant to appeal to intellectuals. Some are funny, although the humor is uneven. The best stories are poignant. All of them showcase Atwood’s love of language, sometimes overtly, as characters discuss the origins and meanings of meanings of words they like or despise.

My favorite story in this collection is “My Evil Mother.” The narrator meets the father who (she suspects) abandoned her. When she was a child, she believed that her mother turned her father into a garden gnome. The narrator’s mother chats with her daughter about spells and potions. The daughter is never quite sure whether her mother is cooking soup or a witch’s brew. The mother tells her daughter that she has been carrying on a battle for the last four hundred years with the daughter’s gym teacher. Back in the day, the gym teacher collected severed penises, keeping them in a cedar box and feeding them bits of grain, as was the custom. Is the narrator’s mother mentally ill or does she just have a bizarre sense of humor? Probably more of the former, but the exasperated (and often embarrassed) narrator eventually realizes that lessons she learned from her mother will serve her in her relationship with her own daughter.

One story is told by a snail whose soul has transmigrated into a customer service representative. The story might be seen as an amusing if uncomfortable take on people who feel they have been born into the wrong bodies. A story told to quarantined humans by an alien has some funny moments. Fans of Chaucer or the Decameron (as well as readers who know how to google) might appreciate the story’s relationship to the character Griselda in folklore. Both stories ask questions about the purpose of being human.

A story set in the world of academia recounts a salty (and slightly drunken) conversation about the history of feminism as a group of women plan a symposium to lay “the foundations for the brave new generation of emerging non-cis-male creatives.” In another story that is probably meant for readers who appreciate education, Hypatia explains how her mother was murdered (skinned by clamshells, to be ghoulishly precise) by a mob of Christian men in Alexandria — while noting that, if it happened today, mob members would have recorded the murder on their phones. Not being an intellectual, I needed to google Hypatia of Alexandria to give the story some context. To be honest, I did the same for Griselda. Atwood is far above my level of intellect but I made an effort to keep up.

In a less successful story, Atwood uses a medium to help her interview George Orwell. He’s not surprised to learn about “cancel culture,” the insurrection, and evil uses of the internet. In another story that didn’t work for me, two aging Hungarians share scandalous memories, some of which might be real, other just fake news.

Atwood has chronicled the marriage of Tig and Nell during her writing career. Those characters star in the first three stories. The first suggests that fears of death are best ignored, lest we mourn events that have not yet happened. Better to preserve an illusion of safety until our fate is revealed. In the second, Nell does a favor for departed friends by telling their story, because they wanted to become words rather than a handful of dust. In the third story, Nell tries to immortalize a dead but beloved cat by making it the subject of Tennyson’s “Morte d’Arthur.”

The last four stories are about Nell and her memories of Tig after Tig’s death. Nell learns some things (and surmises others) about Tig’s father by reading poems that he wrote during the war. She isn’t sure what she learns, isn’t sure she’s the right audience for the amateurish poems, but she wants to say to the man, I hear you, or at least I’m trying.

One of the post-Tig stories takes the form of a letter in which Nell explains what it means to be a widow: grieving, coping, “tidying up” after a partner’s death, her sense that Tig is still present. The letter is heartfelt and honest, achingly sad and ultimately unsent because she knows that her friends want to hear conventional nothings from widows. Another story is devoted to memories of the lost husband, memories of both his vital and declining days.

The theme of the final story is that death is inconsiderate. It leaves the surviving partner to perform all the chores/repairs that were the duty of the lost partner. Yet she can’t blame Tig. He didn’t intend to grow old.

Growing old is not typically the subject of fiction until writers reach the age when looking back is easier than looking forward. At least when we are older, we don’t fear our own inevitable deaths so much as we fear the deaths of those we love — including, perhaps, a cat. I appreciated Atwood’s willingness to confront the subject in these stories with fearless honesty.

RECOMMENDED

Old Babes in the Woods by Margaret Atwood

Who doesn’t love Margaret Atwood? I still remember how chilling it was when I read the Handmaid’s Tale the first time, realizing that I recognized the Harvard campus and how real and chilling that made the story, and how every year since then realizing how real this piece of SF was as the Right forces us closer and closer to its reality. I know Ms. Atwood sometimes eschews the label of science fiction author, but that seems more like a marketing strategy. Her Maddaddam books, for example, are amazing SF.

So I was super excited when I got an eARC of Ms. Atwood’s new short story collection in exchange for an honest review.

Her prose sings. I have no other way to put it. Every word is a masterpiece.

Many of the stories are interconnected and told from the perspective of a woman after losing her husband. Having lost my father recently and seeing my mother continue on, this book hits very close to home. Sometimes you need a book to help you process your emotions.

This book is a must read. Go get it today.