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For a complete compilation go to http://idstudies.bizland.com
Summary of Sources:
Christina Rainey
Speculative Fiction-Essay by Clare Witcombe
This source is an essay on The Handmaid's Tale, a book by Margaret Atwood. In
the essay the author portrays the book as a calling for mankind to pay attention to social
issues that effect our society. It goes on to tell us that Atwood is visualizing a world
were men rule everything and women are there to just have babies and follow through with
their biological destiny. The author also describes the book as being extreme and
unrealistic. She says that Atwood paints a grim future for women and this society in The
Handmaid's Tale. This sounds like an interesting book. Is this Atwood's true belief on the
future of woman? All extremes are possible, is this where we are headed?
Reading Woman: Great Reads This was a source that describes books that are believed by
this group as great reads for women. The Margaret Atwood book that this group felt was a
must read is The Robber's Bride. They say that this book shows us the evil in
woman and how the victim must be willing. It goes on to say that the characters are great
and the book itself shows us how women react to relationships with each other and with
men.
Are all Atwood's book about women? Do they all bring out deviance as a trait in the
women?
Colette Sherrick
A Mesmerizing Murderess by Alison Moore
Moore writes that Alias Grace was based on an earlier book that Atwood wrote
called The Journals of Susan Moodie. Atwood develops Graces's character while also delving
into the different ways that science was being used for healing and exploring the brain.
Women who murder are being looked at the same way today as they were in the 19th-century.
As if they are not capable of killing, and when they do it makes everyone take a step back
and realize that it is possible. The character development could have been better, and the
build up to the murders was a little slow, but putting together all the small pieces into
one big picture made it worth while to read. Writing about a true event Atwood was able to
use her cool, calm style and really let go to come up with a great read.
Summary: Natural Born Quilter by David Wiley
Grace's character is timeless. Atwood based Alias Grace on a book by Susanna
Moodie. Susanna visited the real Grace in prison and from what she could remember did a
write up on her case. Atwood didn't like the way that Grace was portrayed based on
Moodie's accounts. Atwood found that after doing some research that there were many sides
to Grace and she was amazed at how the public molds people into who they want them to be.
Dr. Simon Jordan was put into the book so Grace could tell her side of the story. Oddly
the more you find out about Grace and the murders, the more confused things seem. The
extensive research that Atwood did for this novel helped her learn a lot about the
19th-century. At the end of the book Grace is still a mystery.
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