Moral Disorder, by Margaret Atwood

Moral Disorder and Other Stories, by Margaret Atwood, reviewed by Trish Burns, Director
(Doubleday, 2006, 23.95, 225 pages)


Normally, I am not fond of the short story, but this collection is the exception. All of the stories are interconnected in some way – parents, siblings, friends, enemies, pets – making it seem like more of a novel. Atwood’s descriptions, especially those detailing emotions, are sharp enough to help the reader recall their own family memories and compare them to those of Nell, the central character. Happy endings?? No, not always happy, but always thoughtful.