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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The first book of poems in 12 years from the now world-famous Canadian author (The Handmaid's Tale) combines an older writer's reflections on aging with the dire warnings-political, environmental and moral-familiar from Atwood's recent fiction. Short lines and deliberate, balanced phrases consider how "my mother dwindles and dwindles/ and lives and lives," how senior citizens hike and trek across tundra, and how privileged citizens of rich nations might understand refugees from far-off wars. "Owl and Pussycat, Some Years Later"-the longest poem in the book, the wittiest and likely the best-retells the familiar rhyme as a parable of late-career poets, rueful and "no longer semi-immortal," yet still conversing, still writing, as they go on rowing "out past the last protecting/ sandbar." Other verse shows Atwood-who began as a poet, despite her fame as a novelist-looking at the climate for new poetry amid the sometimes funny parochialism of its audiences (in Canada or anywhere). Yet the predominant notes are fiercely grim: ice melts and cracks, mammals head towards extinction, "the hurt child will bite you... And its blood will seep into the water/ and you will drink it every day." One page compares all poets everywhere to violinists on the Titanic. Another declares, truthfully, "That's what I do:/ I tell dark stories/ before and after they come true."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
“Atwood’s poems are short, glistening with terse, bright images, untentative, closing like a vise. . . . A plain, explicit poetry, perfectly sure of itself.”
— New York Times
“Margaret Atwood is best known, of course, as a novelist. But she brings to her poetry the same sharp eye and stinging wit.”
— Robert Haas, Washington Post
“Atwood is always vital, powerful, magnetically readable. . . . Readers who know only her novels really owe it to themselves to read her poems.”
— Booklist
“Margaret Atwood’s The Door is one of the best books by one of the best poets writing in English, written in a sparse, elegiac tone that combines illuminating intelligence with caustic humour, and wisdom that for once truly comes with age.”
- Alberto Manguel, Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year
From the Hardcover edition.
— New York Times
“Margaret Atwood is best known, of course, as a novelist. But she brings to her poetry the same sharp eye and stinging wit.”
— Robert Haas, Washington Post
“Atwood is always vital, powerful, magnetically readable. . . . Readers who know only her novels really owe it to themselves to read her poems.”
— Booklist
“Margaret Atwood’s The Door is one of the best books by one of the best poets writing in English, written in a sparse, elegiac tone that combines illuminating intelligence with caustic humour, and wisdom that for once truly comes with age.”
- Alberto Manguel, Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year
From the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful poetry!,
By
This review is from: The Door [With CD (Audio)] (Paperback)
Trying to think back to my university years, I can't recall taking a poetry class. I remember reading poetry at some point, but I had always felt that poetry was so cryptic and to take a whole course on it would be frustrating.This year, however, I've been trying to convince myself to read more classics and more Canadian works ' step out of my comfort zone. Poetry is definitely out of my comfort zone. I'm not sure why I picked up Margaret Atwood's book of poetry, The Door. I'm sure there was something I saw somewhere while on my search for some good poetry, but I'm glad that I stumbled upon it. The poems were accessible and beautiful, wrenching your heart out on one page, turning you thoughtful on another, and making you laugh here and there. She can be brutally honest in one section, move to being slightly seductive in her innuendo, and end the entire collection on a thoughtful and hopeful note. The whole book flows effortlessly, despite Atwood dividing it up into five sections. The book also comes with an audio CD, Atwood reading a selection of the poems from the book, which was a welcome surprise. The first thing I did was put the CD in the player and listen to Atwood read the first poem. Immediately, I was reminded that to read poetry, one has to slow down. Poetry isn't the same as consuming a book, you have to slow down, slip into the rhythm of the poem, and read it as if you were reading for the first time. Slowly, cautiously. Read it out loud if you have to. Then read it again. Some of my favourites from this book include, Year of the Hen; Owl and Pussycat, Some Years Later; War Photo; The Line: Five Variations; and the title poem, The Door. I read this short book over the course of three nights, alternating between listening to the audio CD and reading out lout to myself. When I finished reading, I went back to read my favourites again. Since I took this out from the library, I will have to return it eventually. Perhaps I'll put it on my wishlist so I can get a copy one day. Atwood is a Canadian treasure ' I look forward to exploring more of her works.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews) 20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
UNSENTIMENTAL ELEGIES,
By Panopticonman "panopticonman" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Door : Poems (Hardcover)
Margaret Atwood's THE DOOR could very well have been subtitled UNSENTIMENTAL ELEGIES: the same clear-eyed, sometimes caustic observations that give her novels their energy and force are also everywhere apparent in this strong collection of short poems.At times intensely personal, Atwood's poems seek to find a common thread of humanity in their narration of such every day tragedies as the death of a beloved cat, or the slow onset of her mother's senility. Always alive to the possibility that suffering can distort our humanity, render us blind and selfish, Atwood shows us that we must learn to be sentimental in only the best and highest sense of that word. Altogether THE DOOR is a good solid collection that is perfectly in keeping with Atwood's masterful, often inspired fiction. Recommended. 3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atwood returns to poetry,
By Therese Pantazakos "Panda Reader" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Door : Poems (Hardcover)
From the cat in the freezer to dealing with her grief you will want to own this book to read and re-read.
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not what you would expect from this author,
By P. Chandler "g'ma" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Door : Poems (Hardcover)
i love Margaret Atwood's writing. I've read just about all of her books, so I was surprised this was a book of poetry. When I ordered it I didn't notice this fact. It isn't my cup of tea, but my intellect and life style aren't very conducive to reading poetry. I may give it another try after some time has passed, but on first blush it was not my thing.
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