Review: Moral Disorder

Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BOOK:

I listened to this entirely through 1 day’s commute (2x speed). The first short story is a blur, so forgive me. The later women were more memorable and meaningful to me.

CHARACTERS/DYNAMICS:

I can’t remember a single name, but basically: all of these short stories are intertwined. It starts around the 40s, of a young girl, and then follows other ladies until the late 70s. A common feature in all of their experiences is: drugs, feminism, and unstable relationships.

STRUCTURE:

The stories are chronological, thank god, and subtle in their transition from one woman to the next. They are interwoven masterfully.

THEMES:

– Female experiences during the 20th Century
– The role of women, and untold history
– Drugs and other harms from the concoctions of war and the 70s

THE ENDING:

Each ending to a story had me feeling solemn, and I’m not sure why. Atwood’s writing is depressing, I feel so much loss for all of these women.

IMPACT:

I still haven’t read The Handmaids Tale, nor do I feel an urge to. I want to watch the show, though!