I once drove about
six hours from Philadelphia to Boston to hear Margaret Atwood read from her then
latest novel, Cat’s Eye. Set in Toronto, the book was her first
novel after A Handmaid’s Tale. Atwood is a writer I collect assiduously,
because I have never read anything she has written that I have not thoroughly
enjoyed. Stone Mattress: Nine Tales is her latest work. The peculiar title intrigued me, and I want
ted to read simply to find out about a stone mattress. This title story did that and so much more.
All nine stories
focus on relationships between men and women.
The first three were lots of fun, since they detail the story of Gavin,
a mediocre poet, who did have some early success, and three of his partners. In the first, “Alphinland” is narrated by
Constance, Gavin’s first. She is a
writer, who has penned a popular series of fantasy tales set in
Alphinland. Gavin disdained her work
when they were married, but the popularity of the stories has provided
Constance with a comfortable lifestyle.
She has put all her friends, family, and Gavin into the stories with
only the thinnest of disguises. Aging
rapidly, she wanders around her apartment listening for the voice of her
recently departed mate, Ewan. The voice
helps her remember things, such as “take a flashlight” when she walks through a
storm to buy some food in a town with no power.
Atwood writes, “What they didn’t understand was that – increasingly –
she did take it seriously. Alphinland
was hers alone. It was her refuge, it
was her stronghold; it was where she could go when things with Gavin weren’t
working out. She could walk in spirit
through the invisible portal and wander through all the darkling forests and
over the shimmering fields, making alliances and defeating enemies, and no one
else could come in unless she said they could because there was a
five-dimensional spell guarding the entryway” (22).
The second story,
“Revenant,” describes Gavin’s last wife, Reynolds. She tries to keep up Gavin’s reputation, but
he is a crusty, mean old man, who does not want the attention. Reynolds sets up an interview with a graduate
student, believing she was interested in Gavin’s poetry. To his dismay, Naveena’s thesis involves the
Alphinland stories, and she wants to confirm the alter ego of Gavin. Gavin discovers Reynolds has sold his papers
to a university.
The third story
involves Jorrie a former partner of Gavin, who reads his obituary in the
paper. She decided to attend the
ceremony, and discovers all three women are present. Lots of awkward fun there!
The last two
stories, “Stone Mattress” and “Torching the Dusties,” round out the collection
and end this marvelous book with two exciting stories. Sorry, no spoiler alerts! Read the collection and find out exactly what
a “stone mattress” is, and then end up with a thrill ride nearly reminiscent of
her great novel, A Handmaid’s Tale.”
Stone Mattress: Nine Tales will make many readers fans of Margaret
Atwood. The visit to The Harvard
Bookstore Café ended with a half dozen of her novels in my collection
signed. And it was worth every mile I
drove. 5 stars
--Chiron, 10/12/14
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