Old Babes in the Wood is a collection of short stories from Margaret Atwood, the award-winning author of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments.

There are 15 short stories in this book – some new and some previously published – that explore various themes such as relationships, grief, loss and memory.

Notably, around half the stories follow a married couple called Tig and Nell. Their stories include snippets from their everyday lives such as taking a first aid course, losing their beloved cat, Smudgie, their travels, through to more poignant stories about ageing and death. While I enjoyed some of these, I did find others a bit lacklustre.

The other half of the stories are found in the centre of the book and did not disappoint. These are wonderful and whimsical tales which I loved reading. Some of my favourite stories include: ‘Impatient Griselda’ which is a story about an Alien who entertains a group of humans with fairytales while they are being quarantined from a plague. The translation, however, goes awry, and the Alien’s retelling is very funny.

‘The Dead Interview’ is a fictional interview conducted by Margaret Atwood herself, as she uses a medium to speak to none other than author George Orwell. Fascinatingly, the interaction tells us a lot about Atwood’s personal views.

And finally, ‘My Evil Mother’, which follows a young girl as she navigates her tumultuous relationship with her mother, who claims to be a witch, from childhood into adulthood.

These stories are incredibly diverse in subject matter, which makes for a very enjoyable read. While there were some that I found less compelling, overall, I loved Atwood’s witty and thoughtful storytelling.

Reviewed by Akina Hansen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Regarded as one of Canada’s finest living writers, Margaret Atwood is a poet, novelist, story writer, essayist, and environmental activist. Her books have received critical acclaim in the United States, Europe, and her native Canada, and she has received numerous literary awards, including the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Governor General’s Award, twice. Atwood’s critical popularity is matched by her popularity with readers; her books are regularly bestsellers and her novels have been adapted into popular movies and television series.

Find out more about Margaret Atwood’s poetry