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Writing with Intent: Essays, Reviews, Personal Prose, 1983-2005
From one of the world's most passionately engaged literary citizens comes Writing with Intent, the largest collection to date of Margaret Atwood's nonfiction, ranging from 1983 to 2005. Composed of autobiographical essays, cultural commentary, book reviews, and introductory pieces written for great works of literature, this is the award-winning author's first book-length nonfiction publication in twenty years. Arranged chronologically, these writings display the development of Atwood's worldview as the world around her changes. Included are the Booker Prize–winning author's reviews of books by John Updike, Italo Calvino, Toni Morrison, and others, as well as essays in which she remembers herself reading Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse at age nineteen, and discusses the influence of George Orwell's 1984 on the writing of The Handmaid's Tale. Atwood's New York Times Book Review piece that helped make Orhan Pamuk's Snow a bestseller can be found here, as well as a look back on a family trip to Afghanistan just before the Soviet invasion, and her "Letter to America," written after September 11, 2001. The insightful and memorable pieces in this book serve as a testament to Atwood's career, reminding readers why she is one of the most esteemed writers of our time.
427 pages, Hardcover
First published February 25, 2005
33 people are currently reading
1380 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Atwood
633 books88k followersMargaret Atwood was born in 1939 in Ottawa and grew up in northern Ontario, Quebec, and Toronto. She received her undergraduate degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto and her master's degree from Radcliffe College.
Throughout her writing career, Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards and honourary degrees. She is the author of more than thirty-five volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction and is perhaps best known for her novels, which include The Edible Woman (1970), The Handmaid's Tale (1983), The Robber Bride (1994), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin, which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2000. Atwood's dystopic novel, Oryx and Crake, was published in 2003. The Tent (mini-fictions) and Moral Disorder (short stories) both appeared in 2006. Her most recent volume of poetry, The Door, was published in 2007. Her non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth in the Massey series, appeared in 2008, and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood, in the autumn of 2009. Ms. Atwood's work has been published in more than forty languages, including Farsi, Japanese, Turkish, Finnish, Korean, Icelandic and Estonian. In 2004 she co-invented the Long Pen TM.
Margaret Atwood currently lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.
Associations: Margaret Atwood was President of the Writers' Union of Canada from May 1981 to May 1982, and was President of International P.E.N., Canadian Centre (English Speaking) from 1984-1986. She and Graeme Gibson are the Joint Honourary Presidents of the Rare Bird Society within BirdLife International. Ms. Atwood is also a current Vice-President of PEN International.
Throughout her writing career, Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards and honourary degrees. She is the author of more than thirty-five volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction and is perhaps best known for her novels, which include The Edible Woman (1970), The Handmaid's Tale (1983), The Robber Bride (1994), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin, which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2000. Atwood's dystopic novel, Oryx and Crake, was published in 2003. The Tent (mini-fictions) and Moral Disorder (short stories) both appeared in 2006. Her most recent volume of poetry, The Door, was published in 2007. Her non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth in the Massey series, appeared in 2008, and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood, in the autumn of 2009. Ms. Atwood's work has been published in more than forty languages, including Farsi, Japanese, Turkish, Finnish, Korean, Icelandic and Estonian. In 2004 she co-invented the Long Pen TM.
Margaret Atwood currently lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.
Associations: Margaret Atwood was President of the Writers' Union of Canada from May 1981 to May 1982, and was President of International P.E.N., Canadian Centre (English Speaking) from 1984-1986. She and Graeme Gibson are the Joint Honourary Presidents of the Rare Bird Society within BirdLife International. Ms. Atwood is also a current Vice-President of PEN International.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 4, 2007
She could write about old socks and it would be good - writing about writing couldn't possibly miss. I took this with me on summer vacation - perfect beach/hammock read.
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July 11, 2021“When I told someone that this book was called “Writing With Intent” she said “Writing within Tents? How do you mean?” But this writing sometimes has been done in tents, of in their equivalent: provisional shelters with just enough light to see by, and just enough heat to make it possible to get on with the job.”
I took my time reading Writing With Intent, because I feel it’s one of those books you can’t just sit down with and read large chunks from. It’s dense and often needs you to get a breath of fresh air and read something else between the separate articles, otherwise you risk getting them all mixed up. Unless you have an impeccable memory that allows you to sort and store this kind of information in your head without making a mess of it. I’m not one of those people.
I loved Writing With Intent for it’s wisdom and wit, which is generally why I love Atwood. There is something soothing in reading her perspective on things - her moderate approach to things and looking at things from several angles, the way she approaches large topics with a cool head, the way you can stop and think about what she says for a few seconds. In recent years where loud voices, screaming at each other and hating in the name of love have become sort of the new norm, I find this incredibly calming and inspirational.
I do, however, admit that I skipped some of the articles in this collection - a few reviews of books I have not read and don’t really feel interested in reading. After going through a couple of them in the beginning of the book, I decided I’m not that interested in them at this stage and would much rather continue with her personal writing and essays, so there - here’s your proof my adoration is not absolutely blind. In that sense, as much as I would recommend this book I think I would rather recommend it to big Atwood fans first, or to those who wouldn’t be discouraged by potentially finding a few less interesting pieces among the nuggets of pure gold.
I took my time reading Writing With Intent, because I feel it’s one of those books you can’t just sit down with and read large chunks from. It’s dense and often needs you to get a breath of fresh air and read something else between the separate articles, otherwise you risk getting them all mixed up. Unless you have an impeccable memory that allows you to sort and store this kind of information in your head without making a mess of it. I’m not one of those people.
I loved Writing With Intent for it’s wisdom and wit, which is generally why I love Atwood. There is something soothing in reading her perspective on things - her moderate approach to things and looking at things from several angles, the way she approaches large topics with a cool head, the way you can stop and think about what she says for a few seconds. In recent years where loud voices, screaming at each other and hating in the name of love have become sort of the new norm, I find this incredibly calming and inspirational.
I do, however, admit that I skipped some of the articles in this collection - a few reviews of books I have not read and don’t really feel interested in reading. After going through a couple of them in the beginning of the book, I decided I’m not that interested in them at this stage and would much rather continue with her personal writing and essays, so there - here’s your proof my adoration is not absolutely blind. In that sense, as much as I would recommend this book I think I would rather recommend it to big Atwood fans first, or to those who wouldn’t be discouraged by potentially finding a few less interesting pieces among the nuggets of pure gold.
April 13, 2018
This is my favorite read of the year so far. I'm wavering between four and five stars, but I think I'm just going to round up because it was such a nice surprise.
It's a hard book to classify. Basically, it's a collection of Atwood's previously published non-fiction pieces: book reviews, introductions, essays, random commentaries, eulogies, speeches, etc. Atwood is smart, funny, insightful, and a delightfully non-linear thinker who can talk about literature themes with specific references that would make any academic blush while also tossing in a relevant and illustrative example from her own rich experiences that entertains as much as it informs. I have read many of the books listed, but she offered insights into them that make me want to read some of them again. Some of the other books are unknown to me. Suffice it to say that her championing of them was strong enough that I was in danger of adding substantially to my "to read" shelf.
This should be entertaining reading even for those not familiar with Atwood's fiction. For those of us who know (some of) her work, it just sweetens the read when she talks about how she got the ideas for such books as The Handmaid's Tale or Alias Grace. Would-be writers (and readers who like to ponder the process of storytelling) might find interesting her thoughts on the differences between science-fiction and speculative fiction, what seeded her plot ideas, or the challenges of writing historical fiction when documentation is sparse or contradictory. (Given my exasperation with what's suddenly being called "historical fiction" these days, I really enjoyed that last one.)
I do have one niggling complaint about the Kindle version of this book. There was an annoying and persistent typo where "th" showed up as "di." Thus "the" often showed as "die." Since Atwood is Canadian and not German, I can't explain it, but it was in the text often enough to be distracted by it. Seriously, publishers, if you're going to ask us to spend print prices on e-books, we expect print quality in the proofreading and formatting of them. No, strike that. We expect better quality proofreading and formatting since the changes don't incur waste or extensive cost. Step up.
It's a hard book to classify. Basically, it's a collection of Atwood's previously published non-fiction pieces: book reviews, introductions, essays, random commentaries, eulogies, speeches, etc. Atwood is smart, funny, insightful, and a delightfully non-linear thinker who can talk about literature themes with specific references that would make any academic blush while also tossing in a relevant and illustrative example from her own rich experiences that entertains as much as it informs. I have read many of the books listed, but she offered insights into them that make me want to read some of them again. Some of the other books are unknown to me. Suffice it to say that her championing of them was strong enough that I was in danger of adding substantially to my "to read" shelf.
This should be entertaining reading even for those not familiar with Atwood's fiction. For those of us who know (some of) her work, it just sweetens the read when she talks about how she got the ideas for such books as The Handmaid's Tale or Alias Grace. Would-be writers (and readers who like to ponder the process of storytelling) might find interesting her thoughts on the differences between science-fiction and speculative fiction, what seeded her plot ideas, or the challenges of writing historical fiction when documentation is sparse or contradictory. (Given my exasperation with what's suddenly being called "historical fiction" these days, I really enjoyed that last one.)
I do have one niggling complaint about the Kindle version of this book. There was an annoying and persistent typo where "th" showed up as "di." Thus "the" often showed as "die." Since Atwood is Canadian and not German, I can't explain it, but it was in the text often enough to be distracted by it. Seriously, publishers, if you're going to ask us to spend print prices on e-books, we expect print quality in the proofreading and formatting of them. No, strike that. We expect better quality proofreading and formatting since the changes don't incur waste or extensive cost. Step up.
July 8, 2016
Margaret Atwood remains one of the most fiercely intelligent and insightful writers of our time. While some of these essays were written 15-20 years ago, they read like prophecies as I can see the very future she's troubled by take place before my eyes. A phenomenal writer with an acute grasp on the challenges and complexities of the conflicts we face.
November 27, 2011
I liked this book 3-stars worthy as a whole, but some of the essays in it I liked a whole lot more. For me it was a really mixed bag - but then again, I'm not a huge Atwood fan, so if you like her fiction I think you'll like her prose as well.
The book is also mixed in terms of its contents: the book is separated into periods of time in Atwood's life, and all the interesting essays she wrote during that time appear in the book, one after the other, showing her creative and critical development. I liked her personal essays a whole lot more than I liked her book reviews, which I either didn't read (because I hadn't read the book) or which I didn't agree with. Take for example, her review of Orhan Pamuk's "Snow," which she loved and I disliked. Disliked and had serious problems with. But not only that, I'm afraid that I feel she helped the US embrace a book that is not so embraceable, that is not actually so accurate a mirror of Turkish life and politics. It's also simply a boring book! That was a thorn that stuck in my side.
But her personal essays were delightful. The one in which she writes about her first job was not only funny, but humble and encouraging, too, and something that I'll remember for a long time to come.
The book is also mixed in terms of its contents: the book is separated into periods of time in Atwood's life, and all the interesting essays she wrote during that time appear in the book, one after the other, showing her creative and critical development. I liked her personal essays a whole lot more than I liked her book reviews, which I either didn't read (because I hadn't read the book) or which I didn't agree with. Take for example, her review of Orhan Pamuk's "Snow," which she loved and I disliked. Disliked and had serious problems with. But not only that, I'm afraid that I feel she helped the US embrace a book that is not so embraceable, that is not actually so accurate a mirror of Turkish life and politics. It's also simply a boring book! That was a thorn that stuck in my side.
But her personal essays were delightful. The one in which she writes about her first job was not only funny, but humble and encouraging, too, and something that I'll remember for a long time to come.
July 18, 2011
I liked how the book ranged from book reviews to personal reminisces to political pleas. Atwood's book reviews are analytical and enthusiastic. She made me want to read (or reread) almost all of the books and made me miss reading and writing literary criticism in grad school. Her personal essays are charming and self-effacing: reminisces about how her great aunt supported her writing, a first job as a cashier in a diner, and an illness-addled speaking tour. With her disapproving analysis of America's war in Afghanistan and our failure to grow our own vegetables, it's a shame she's not a political advisor or lobbyist.
September 1, 2013
Ah Margaret Atwood! I have loved many of her novels ( in fact Alias Grace is my all time favorite book), but I have to admit that I enjoy her non-fiction even more. This is a collection of delightful essays and book reviews on various subjects, ranging from Victory Gardens to what really happened to the famous Franklin expedition. She tackles such classics as "Beloved", by Toni Morrison and answers questions about wicked women in literature with thoughtful intelligence and a generous sprinkling of personal anecdotes. Her love and pride of Canada shine through in many of the essays, as does her enormous respect for nature and the environment. Excellent, delightful reading!
July 3, 2008
There's a lot of hit or miss stuff here, in regards to material and interest. On one hand, Atwood is obviously in fine form. Her voice is distinctive, as usual, and her observations are keen. On the other hand, though, these collected writings consist mostly of a few essays, some introductions, and a lot of book reviews. Which is all well and good, if you are looking for something to dip into occasionally, or if you like reading book reviews. But taken as a whole, it's too much to sustain my interest for any length of time.
May 6, 2017
A lovely collection of Atwood's older book reviews, opinion pieces, lectures and, sadly, a couple of beautiful eulogies. Sharp, witty, and insightful and a lot of fun to read. There are a couple of missteps - her stance on GMOs is based on the fear factor rather than on the science - but enjoyable nonetheless. The only real drawback- her book reviews will make you want to read the books, So it is not pocketbook- friendly. On the other hand, they're all older books, so plenty of secondhand copies are available!
January 4, 2025
Margaret Atwood's "Writing with Intent" is an illuminating collection that captures the breadth and depth of her insightful commentary across various themes and time periods. The book is organized into three distinct sections, each reflecting a unique facet of Atwood's literary journey and intellectual engagement. In the first part, "The 1980s," Atwood delves into a period marked by a burgeoning interest in politics, feminism, and environmental issues. Her essays from this era are characterized by a keen observational style and a sharp wit, as she critiques societal norms and reflects on the evolving role of women in literature and life. Atwood's ability to weave personal anecdotes with broader cultural critiques makes this section a compelling introduction to her thoughtful prose.
The second section, "The 1990s," sees Atwood continuing her exploration of cultural and literary landscapes, but with an increased emphasis on the interplay between technology and society. This decade, rife with technological advancement, provides a rich backdrop for Atwood's essays, which discuss the implications of digitalization on writing and communication. Her reflections on the impact of the internet on privacy and identity are particularly prescient, offering insights that remain relevant today. Atwood's writing during this period is marked by a blend of skepticism and curiosity, as she navigates the rapidly changing world with both caution and optimism.
In the final part, "The 2000s," Atwood's essays take a more personal turn, as she reflects on her own career and the evolving publishing industry. This section is notable for its introspective quality, with Atwood sharing her thoughts on the process of writing, the challenges facing authors, and the importance of storytelling. Her reflections on the nature of creativity and the enduring power of literature are both poignant and inspiring. Overall, "Writing with Intent" serves as a testament to Atwood's intellectual rigor and her ability to engage with a wide range of topics with insight and eloquence, making it a valuable resource for readers and writers alike.
The second section, "The 1990s," sees Atwood continuing her exploration of cultural and literary landscapes, but with an increased emphasis on the interplay between technology and society. This decade, rife with technological advancement, provides a rich backdrop for Atwood's essays, which discuss the implications of digitalization on writing and communication. Her reflections on the impact of the internet on privacy and identity are particularly prescient, offering insights that remain relevant today. Atwood's writing during this period is marked by a blend of skepticism and curiosity, as she navigates the rapidly changing world with both caution and optimism.
In the final part, "The 2000s," Atwood's essays take a more personal turn, as she reflects on her own career and the evolving publishing industry. This section is notable for its introspective quality, with Atwood sharing her thoughts on the process of writing, the challenges facing authors, and the importance of storytelling. Her reflections on the nature of creativity and the enduring power of literature are both poignant and inspiring. Overall, "Writing with Intent" serves as a testament to Atwood's intellectual rigor and her ability to engage with a wide range of topics with insight and eloquence, making it a valuable resource for readers and writers alike.
March 22, 2019
I almost invariably adore Margaret Atwood's writing, and this collection is no exception. It's full of reviews she wrote of books and movies (mostly books), essays on themes (although fewer of those than I expected), introductions of books (such as a collection of Canadian fiction from a certain time period), explanations of her writing process for certain novels (Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake among others), and eulogies for writer friends.
I found several new authors to read and a film or two to watch; I mean, if Margaret Atwood thinks they're swell, they gotta be worth at least a look.
I found several new authors to read and a film or two to watch; I mean, if Margaret Atwood thinks they're swell, they gotta be worth at least a look.
September 23, 2018
This wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but I enjoyed many of the pieces in it. It took me nearly a year to get through, for a collection of book reviews and eulogies does lack a certain page turner quality, but the writing is so superb that I kept coming back to it.
No one writes a book review like Margaret Atwood! I did skip a few, but I also added quite a few more of the books and movies she reviewed to my upcoming reading list. And the essays that reflected back pieces of her life were simply delectable.
No one writes a book review like Margaret Atwood! I did skip a few, but I also added quite a few more of the books and movies she reviewed to my upcoming reading list. And the essays that reflected back pieces of her life were simply delectable.
October 12, 2024
Margaret Atwood is one of the most intelligent writers out there. Each of her works is a how-to on writing. I learn something new about the craft every time I read her.
This book is a lovely compilation of reviews and essays. I felt like I was sitting down with Ms Atwood, having tea and discussing whatever was at the forefront of her mind. Over the course of this book, I got to know her a little better and learned to appreciate her even more.
This book is a lovely compilation of reviews and essays. I felt like I was sitting down with Ms Atwood, having tea and discussing whatever was at the forefront of her mind. Over the course of this book, I got to know her a little better and learned to appreciate her even more.
November 23, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening! Margaret Atwood’s reviews of other writers reflect her keen intelligence, her sharp wit and her eloquence. In her book, she offers the reader more than just a glimpse into the writing of others, spanning four decades. My reading list had been replenished, thanks to Margaret Atwood, who remains one of my favorite writers!
May 3, 2018
I started this book in April to look for new essays for a class. I was immediately absorbed in Atwood’s essays. I bought this book when it was published. I can’t believe it took me so long to get to it!
November 28, 2023
Margaret Atwood is a wonderful writer. These essays, reviews, and personal prose stories were very interesting. Some were a bit depressing. All were thought-provoking.
January 24, 2012
Disclaimer: I did not read every piece in this book. I tend to skip reviews if I have not read the book, because I like to come to a book clean. (I won't read the backs of books or the forewards either.) Although, actually, I did break that rule several times in this book, because the beginning of the review was intriguing.
It's always a gamble to read an author's essays and reviews if you've developed your relationship with them through their fiction. Sometimes, you are unpleasantly surprised to find yourself disagreeing with them and you walk away with your view of them a bit tarnished. This didn't happen here. Atwood is as charming and lucid as she is in her fictional books. It was pretty easy to put into perspective her shaky relationship with her southern neighbors and she shone when talking about her own native country ("True North" was amazing). She has a love of books coupled with a facility for words that always makes her stuff worth reading.
It's always a gamble to read an author's essays and reviews if you've developed your relationship with them through their fiction. Sometimes, you are unpleasantly surprised to find yourself disagreeing with them and you walk away with your view of them a bit tarnished. This didn't happen here. Atwood is as charming and lucid as she is in her fictional books. It was pretty easy to put into perspective her shaky relationship with her southern neighbors and she shone when talking about her own native country ("True North" was amazing). She has a love of books coupled with a facility for words that always makes her stuff worth reading.
December 22, 2015
i've been saving this book in my unread-books-i-own pile for almost two years now, just waiting for when i would have the time and emotional wherewithall to approach it. this is my first of this kind of book, where its just a collection of prose and essays and book reviews, waxing and waning between the almost academic and the deeply personal, earmarked generously with the kind of descriptions of physical surroundings that such and such book was written in or such and such book was read in or such and such vase was on such and such table in the hotel room i was in when i first had this thought that this sort of thing benefits from.
September 16, 2010
So, I love, love, love Margaret Atwood. I found this collection of essays and reviews to be mediocre. The writing was fine, I'm just not sure I love the things she loves and so I was reading mostly reviews of her favorite books which all sounded fine... but it just wasn't that captivating. Because I love her, I kept thinking I was going to stumble across a really good essay in the book but none of them struck my fancy. I kind of feel relieved it's over.
April 28, 2013
It's always a pleasure to get Atwood's take on things, whether the topic is personal, literary, political, or scientific (oftentimes, it's all four). I especially enjoyed the political essays in part three, as well as her heartfelt, yet unsentimental, tribute to Carol Shields. Recommended for any Atwood fan.
August 18, 2013
This is quite a diverse collection. I didn't read all the book reviews, but thoroughly enjoyed everything I did read. I particularly enjoyed the essays relating to 'Oryx and Crake', 'The Handmaid's Tale' and 'Alias Grace' - I enjoyed all three of those novels and really liked learning a bit more about Atwood's thought process as she wrote them. Very interesting and entertaining.
September 9, 2007
It would--perhaps--be more accurate to shelve this book as "partially-read." I chose to skip Atwood's reviews of books I haven't read yet, such as She and Reading Lolita in Tehran, among others. I hesitate to rate an unfinished book, but let's just say I'm giving it 4 stars for now.
December 13, 2011
Atwood is not for everyone. I think she is somewhat creepy and I love that about her. She has a strong voice and has a lot to say. If your looking for a nonfiction read with short essays, etc. check out this book.
June 27, 2013
This is a fascinating collection in Atwood's inimitable voice. As an added bonus, reading her reviews of books made my "to-read" list quite a bit longer. Recommended to anyone with an interest in contemporary literature.
March 14, 2012
Quite a few book reviews in this collection, and those essays were not my favourites. I really liked many of the more personal pieces, though.
Want to read
September 29, 2022read SOME in 2007, where is the book that was at ATL-SS???? gone gone gone,,,,,
READ MOST from DCPL DEkalb 2022.
See Notes and quotes......
READ MOST from DCPL DEkalb 2022.
See Notes and quotes......
December 21, 2009
This book is not for everyone but I loved it. I felt like I was in a book club or having a cup of coffee with one of my favorite authors. I want to read it again and again.
October 19, 2008
It is interesting to put a timeline on her works and hear the innards of how they came about. loving it all so far
July 14, 2009
This couldn't really capture me, and I think I prefer Atwood's novels instead of her nonfiction.
Read
March 5, 2010I can't rate this. I can't even say I read this. I looked it over. It is too heavy of reading for someone who is not a huge Atwood fan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews