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The Edible Woman
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
352 posts | 112 read | 3 reading | 74 to read
Marian has a problem. A willing member of the consumer society in which she lives, she suddenly finds herself identifying with the things being consumed. She can cope with her tidy-minded fianc, Peter, who likes shooting rabbits. She can cope with her job in market research, and the antics of her roommate. She can even cope with Duncan, a graduate student who seems to prefer laundromats to women. But not being able to eat is a different matter. Steak was the first to go. Then lamb, pork, and the rest. Next came her incapacity to face an egg. Vegetables were the final straw. But Marian has her reasons, and what happens next provides an unusual solution. Witty, subversive, hilarious, The Edible Woman is dazzling and utterly original. It is Margaret Atwoods brilliant first novel, and the book that introduced her as a consummate observer of the ironies and absurdities of modern life.
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Jeg
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Pickpick

What a read. I really related to the narrator in the beginning. When she lost the plot I almost did too. My life in the late 60s and early 70s was one of trying hard to conform when I really didn‘t want to. Oh if only I had been like Marian and stepped away from things like she did. Life is so much easier now. Think I‘ll make that cake and eat it!

LeeRHarry I‘ve even crawled under a table at a get together to get away from the people! 😆 1y
LeeRHarry Read this first at uni and then I was on a Margaret Atwood kick for most of my 20s. Some re reading is probably long overdue. 😊 1y
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MrsMalaprop
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Pickpick

Wow 😳. Devoured the second half of this on a cold and wet public holiday today. It is Atwood‘s first novel, written in 1965, which blows my mind, because she was in her 20‘s and it feels so out there and ahead of its time.
I saw Atwood speak on 1 March 2020 with @Rissreads just before the world went to shit. She spoke about this book and I made a note to read it then. It‘s been chosen for my bookclub this month. So glad to have gotten to it. 🙏

Rissreads Stacked! Yes she was so interesting to listen too wasn‘t she! I loved the story about the forrest of trees. 2y
sarahbarnes Yes! I read this in a class in college and it still stays with me. I want to reread it at some point. 2y
Books_et_al This was the first Margaret Atwood book that I read back in uni, recommended by a very good friend and has stayed with me ever since. I reread it not that long ago too. 2y
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Christine
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Pickpick

I often name Atwood as one of my favorite writers, and she is, but there‘s so much of her work I‘ve not yet read! Like this one (received from @Drebae29 many swaps ago). I really loved it. The characters are memorable, and together they say so much about being a young adult trying to make sense of it all. And a big part of that is what it means to consume and be consumed as a woman. Best language, and funny, too.

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GatheringBooks
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Bevita
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Pickpick

Published in 1969, I read this in college in about 1985. They re-read shows it is still relevant, even if some cultural references are a little outdated. Social norms for woman around marriage, loss of self, self-abnegation...things haven‘t changed that much. A classic.

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SusanLee
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Mehso-so

I was confused and not quite understand the story at times. Well written but not a good read for me. Surprised it‘s Atwood‘s first novel, written in 1969! The plots here are way ahead of time! She definitely can see the future!

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Mitch
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Wow... didn‘t realise Edible Woman was 50 years old this year...Her books always feel so relevant.

https://chireviewofbooks.com/2019/08/28/re-reading-all-of-margaret-atwoods-novel...

LeeRHarry This one was my first Atwood given to me by my best uni friend 😊 there are parts of it I still remember vividly. 5y
Blaire I remember reading this one in college - it made an impression on me and turned me into an Atwood fan. 5y
Mitch @LeeRHarry @blaire I read her books in all the wrong order. I feel know I‘d like to re read and see the evolution! 5y
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TelevisionNeighbor
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Same.

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Curiouser_and_curiouser
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Mehso-so

I'm almost halfway through this audiobook, not sure I'm liking it, waiting for it to get better...

Have you read this book?
Do i continue or bail???

Freespirit Hard to bail on Atwood...but so many good books to read! 6y
Curiouser_and_curiouser @Freespirit yes, well I'm happy to push through, just for curiosity sake and I dont like leaving books half read unless they're unreadable! Which this one is not. I didn't realise she wrote Alias Grace, that's next on my Atwood List. I have also just borrowed Hag-Seed, so that should give me a fair idea of her style and works. Thanks for the comment :) 6y
Freespirit I have Hag seed too but haven‘t read it yet👍🏼 6y
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Curiouser_and_curiouser @Freespirit I borrowed the audio copy so I'll have a listen when I'm done with The Edible Woman. Which Margaret Atwood books have you read? Any recommendations? 6y
Lcsmcat I love Atwood, but I have to say this is maybe my least favorite of hers. If you loved Handmaid, try the MaddAddam trilogy: Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood, and MaddAddam. Alias Grace is excellent too, as are Cat‘s Eye, Hag-Seed, The Robber Bride, etc. 😀 6y
Curiouser_and_curiouser @Lcsmcat gee, thanks for all of those recommendations of hers!! Looking forward to discovering more of her works. I watched Alias Grace a few months ago. I had no idea of Margaret Atwood at the time and was surprised when I discovered she had also written Handmaids Tale. I have just downloaded Alias Grace on audio, so looking forward to that! I have also just begun Hag-Seed, what a buffet, delicious! And Thanks xx 6y
Lcsmcat @Curiouser_and_curiouser You‘re welcome. Enjoy! 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🤗 6y
Curiouser_and_curiouser Thank you @Eggs I certainly am feeling the Litsy Love 💌💕 6y
Curiouser_and_curiouser Update, I finished the book. Enjoyable enough, I was curious enough to see it through to the end. If nothing else it brought me more of an understanding of Margaret Atwood as an author. 5y
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Redheadrambles
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“trailing herself, like a many-plumed fish-lure with glass beads and three spinners and seventeen hooks, through the likely looking places, good restaurants and cocktail bars with their lush weed-beds of philodendrons, where the right kind of men might be expected to be lurking, ravenous as pike, though more maritally inclined “

Atwood‘s debut novel is as superb as you would expect and now being adapted for TV 😁

Redwritinghood Didn‘t know about the tv adaptation. Do you know if it will be in the US? 6y
Redheadrambles @Redwritinghood - there is an article in Variety on this, so far the rights have been acquired and a producer attached so it early days but I imagine it will be shown worldwide like the Handmaids Tale ? 6y
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madamereadsalot1
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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LibLib
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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So my name isn‘t Christy, but when you find a signed book by Margaret Atwood, you buy it. #iloveusedbookstores #rarebookfind #bookhaul #signedcopy

LoverofLit I love finding stuff like this in used bookstores! It's a little bit of someone else in a book ❤ 6y
Lcsmcat What a find! 6y
IndoorDame Wow! 6y
35 likes3 comments
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Emilymdxn
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Pickpick

This took me a long time to read but I loved it so much! Funny how I didn‘t love the handmaids tale as much as everyone else did, but I never fail to love Atwood‘s other books. This felt very Plath and very up my street as I suspected it would be. I love books that examine women, food and mental illness and this was complicated, fascinating and had a really amazing protagonist. Love it!

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nomierosie
Edible Woman (Revised) | Margaret Atwood
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Having a lovely lazy Saturday morning indulging in visiting one of my favourite spots for breakfast and allowing myself some leisure reading for the first time in too long #margaretatwood #ediblewoman #coffee #breakfast

DebinHawaii Enjoy! 7y
KateFulfordAuthor If you like laugh-out-loud dialogue, a fast & twisty plot + a strong female narrative, may I recommend my debut novel to you? Links to reviews and more are in my bio. With thanks, Kate. 7y
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McFarchie
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Listening to this on audio and so far it is pretty amazing. How did I not know about this book? 🤘🏼

Mdargusch That cover! 💙💙💙 7y
PictureandBook One of my favs 7y
EKonrad Read this book in grad school. So good! 😊 7y
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Lcsmcat
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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1. Margaret Atwood - she‘s smart and would make for good conversation
2. Paris Combo
3. Red wine
#tricialthursday @GarthRanzz

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nomierosie
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Books are the best birthday presents! #margaretatwood #theediblewoman

tessavi Happy birthday! 7y
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SoniaC
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Pickpick

Well I didn‘t make a full 24 but I‘m pretty happy about how I did. This book was really good by the way. Typical of Atwood it is full of subtext and will really make you think.

GypsyKat You did great!!! 🙌👏👏👏📚🎉 7y
DebinHawaii Great job!!! 🎉📚🎉 7y
LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
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RebL 21+ hours is impressive! Congrats! 7y
catebutler So well done! 👋🏼👏🏼 7y
Cinfhen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
Eggs 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
DivineDiana 👏🏻📚👍🏻 7y
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SoniaC
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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And do it begins! #24in48

Suet624 Good luck and have fun!! 7y
SoniaC @Suet624 thank you! 7y
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SoniaC
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Today‘s book haul ❤️❤️❤️. I‘m really excited about all of these.

Suet624 Tom Robbins. That guy makes me laugh so much. 7y
SoniaC @Suet624 Seriously! He is so quirky. I just love it. 7y
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Sydne
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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My Margaret Atwood #tbr! I've been reading through her novels for the past couple years. I'm past the halfway point, which makes me kind of happy and kind of sad. I'm thinking about Cat's Eye or The Robber Bride next! Any suggestions?!

readinginthedark I haven‘t read either of them, but a few have recommended Cat‘s Eye to me. (edited) 7y
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Christine
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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And now this gorgeous collection of straight-from-my-TBR books. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Wow. Each one of them made me happier than the next (and to be honest I got a little choked up because outside of a swap I would never receive a ? gift like this…my family does respect my love of books and reading, but they don‘t quite “get it”...what a joy to be connected with people who do!!). Andrá, I am SO grateful for your generosity and can‘t thank you enough. ❤️

Christine And @drebae29 I hope you didn‘t despair when you saw me finish Give a Girl a Knife a few days ago 😂 - it was a library copy I had been hoarding for weeks, and I ADORE owning library books I‘ve read and loved but rarely treat myself to one, so I‘m thrilled to be able to put it on my shelf (it was one of my favorites of 2017)!! 7y
Chelleo 🎅🏾📦📫📚🎁🎉❤️ 7y
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MrBook Oooh! We did "The Edible Woman" for one of our bookclubs. (edited) 7y
Christine @MrBook Oh cool - hope you enjoyed it! I love Margaret Atwood so much but haven‘t gotten to this one yet! :) 7y
BooksForEmpathy This was how I felt. Litsy gets us!!!! Such a happy day 😍. 7y
Drebae29 @Christine You have warmed my heart with your gratitude. I was only worried for a second then I saw the library tag. I‘m glad you will have it for your own, now. 7y
Christine @BooksForEmpathy Aww yay, it sure was. ❤️ 7y
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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Today, the #eighteenth #18 of November, is Margaret Atwood‘s birthday! #🎂

Edit: I should have stated this upfront earlier. This gorgeous collection is not mine, sadly.

#novemberbythenumbers @Tiffy_Reads @JoeStalksBeck
#emojinov #nov📚📷 @RealLifeReading

Heideschrampf You scared me! I thought she'd died.... phew... happy birthday, margret! 7y
charl08 Nice stack of books! 7y
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Lacythebookworm Love those Virago editions! 😍 7y
Moray_Reads What a great stack 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Great book stack, and great idea for the 18! 7y
Reviewsbylola Nice stack! 7y
Miss_Kim Love this stack! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 7y
batsy Fabulous collection of Virago editions 😍 7y
AtwoodLover @umbrellagirl Thanks for the tag! What a gorgeous stack - mine is ragtag and a mix of hardcover and paperback. She is my hero! 7y
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PolaroidPoet
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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I LOVED The Handmaid‘s Tale, so I‘m excited to read Atwood‘s debut novel. #novemberbythenumbers The_Edible_Woman is sixteen characters for day #sixteen.

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

"She smiled at him in conciliation. She sensed her face as vastly spreading and papery and slightly dilapidated: a huge billboard smile, peeling away in flaps and patches, the metal surface beneath showing through[...]"

merelybookish Early Atwood! I read this and Surfacing and they eluded me somewhat. I preferred her later, chunkier, plottier books. I wonder if I would like these better now. 7y
Bertha_Mason @merelybookish Understandable. I like the plottier ones a bit less, but I loved The Robber Bride, even though identified with Xenia much more than I think I was intended to. Xenia made my official list of badass Cluster B Heroines/Antiheroines/Villainesses. 7y
merelybookish I should have said I read all these 20+ years ago when I preferred plottier books. I find them more tedious now. I don't remember much about Robber Bride except they all hated Xenia. ☺️ 7y
Bertha_Mason @merelybookish I definitely want to read The Heart Goes Last. Have you read it, and is it any good? 7y
merelybookish I have not. I haven't read any of her more recent works. Alias Grace was probably the most recent. 7y
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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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I love how Atwood captures the depth of wonder that often comes with dissociation. How familiar sights and objects become wondrous visions and alien landscapes.

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

The copy I'm reading is covered in marginal notes that say things like "MOLD = ALIVE". ?

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

I'd forgotten how much freudian bullshit tends to be in white-authored seventies novels. 😝 I wish the characters would all shut up about complexes and drives and ids and superegos, for even just half a page.

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

"I gave him a tender, chrome-plated smile; that is, I meant the smile to express tenderness, but my mouth felt stiff and bright and somehow expensive."

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

Two pretentious, misogynistic douchebros (one of them the protag's fiance) are holding forth about how to take the perfect selfie. Ah, the seventies.

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

Interestingly, gentrification is a recurring motif in the story. I wonder what direction Atwood will take it.

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AshleySimon
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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I‘m pumped to see Margaret Atwood in person at Notre Dame tonight! It‘s been two years since I picked up my first Atwood novel (The Edible Woman). Tonight she‘s discussing The Handmaid‘s Tale - another of my favorites.

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

"A cicada was singing in a tree nearby, its monotonous vibration like a hot needle of sunlight between the ears."

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Bertha_Mason
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

"I suspected the lady down below had taken note of all the bottle-shaped objects we had carried upstairs, though I tried my best to disguise them as groceries. It was true she had never specifically forbidden us to do anything--that would be too crude a violation of her law of nuance--but this only makes me feel I am actually forbidden to do everything."

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Augustdana
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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#riotgrams day 17 weird covers. I....don‘t know what this is. An exploding treehouse? Maybe if I read it I will find out

TrishB Can't figure that one out! 7y
Augustdana @TrishB I know!!! It‘s bugging me 7y
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BooksAndChopsticks
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
Pickpick

I loved every minute of this poignant and sassy story. A young woman during the 60's is engaged to (what she deems) a very ordinary man and becomes unravelled and frantic. Atwood cleverly flips back and forth between the narrative of Marian in the third person and first person, while exploring women's roles during that era. By the end I found myself both liberated and discouraged by how far (and how little) we've progressed. A terrific read.

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BooksAndChopsticks
Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood

Just. Wow.

Joe on women and education: “Maybe women shouldn‘t be allowed to go to university at all; then they wouldn‘t always be feeling later on that they‘ve missed out on the life of the mind.”

Excerpt From: Atwood, Margaret. “Edible Woman.” Seal Books, 1976-01-02T00:00:00+00:00. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Curiouser_and_curiouser Lol, I've just read this part in the book! It stood out to me too that I had to read it again, it was like "What the???!!!" 5y
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BooksAndChopsticks
The Edible Woman | Margaret Atwood
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My #currentread. When I start a new author I truly believe their first book is usually their best and most true to their heart. I'm almost done and loving Marian, the main character. She's sassy (in her head) and conflicted. I must say, for a story written in the 1960's, it is shocking how far we have come on such issues as gender equality and sexual orientation - but at the same time disheartening that some things have not changed at all.