Customer Reviews

Writing with Intent: Essays, Reviews, Personal Prose: 1983-2005

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Writing With Intent from 2005 is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

There are a few words of caution, however. Atwood has written a number of non-fiction works including the famous "Negotiating With The Dead" to name just one. She has another non-fiction book from 2004 called "Moving Targets" which is sold in what appears to be a different market. So, if you have read or own that 2004 book, you can probably skip the present book. I did not compare them word for word but they are very similar.

Okay, now back to this present book. Unlike some writers, Atwood loves to read other people's work, and has done so since she was a child. Few have read more than Atwood. It is her passion as is her own writing. So, flowing from the two passions we have a series of essays on many topics including her own writing experiences and what she thinks of other books and other writers. You do not have to read it all at once. Each section or essay is a story. It is an impressive display of humor and knowledge of the field. She shows the reader her deep insight into how writers think and what other authors are trying to say, or their "voice."

As one example, she links Orwell's writing to her own work "A Handmaid's Tale" and shows why and where she got her ideas and inspiration.

Another author, and one who I do not really like personally, is Toni Morrison. She gives the reader many reasons to like Morrison, and maybe I will have a second look at "Beloved" which I read and did not like, or more accurately was not too excited about.

Overall, this is a humbling experience for "we common readers" and most will be awed by her knowledge and personality. It reminds the reader of Virginia Woolf's "Common Reader" books, but not as broad as Woolf, but with more personal stories, and it is the same size or a bit longer than Woolf's two "Common Reader" books combined.

I cannot say enough good things about this book.