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Old Babes in the Wood

by Margaret Atwood
272 pages 2023 Short Stories, Literary Fiction 🌶️ Clean Standalone
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The Vibe

Atwood's first story collection in a decade, written after the death of her partner Graeme Gibson. Stories about long marriages, aging, cats, and the strange comedy of getting old. The title story — about two children abandoned in the woods — is devastating. Atwood at 83, funny and fierce as ever.

Mood Meter

Romance
3/10
Fantasy / Magic
1/10
Pacing
5/10
Darkness
4/10
Humor
6/10
Angst
6/10

Mood Tags

WiseFunnyAutumnalTender

Trope Tags

AgingMarriageLossLate Style

Spice Check

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References to long marriage intimacy.

Content Heads-Up

Is This Book for You?

Skip if you dislike:

Ending: Varied — wise and tender
Pacing: Varies

What This Book Feels Like

Moods: Wise Funny Autumnal Tender

Tropes: Aging Marriage Loss Late Style

If You Loved This, Try These

Cat's Eye
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Same author same personal territory
You Like It Darker
Stephen King
Same late-career short story mastery
Stories of Your Life and Others
Ted Chiang
Same brilliant short fiction

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it about grief?

Several stories process the loss of her partner — with humor and grace.

Is Atwood still sharp?

Sharp as ever — her late style is warm without losing any bite.

Is it a good Atwood entry point?

Accessible — lighter than her novels while still being deeply Atwood.

Keep Exploring

Books Like Old Babes in the Wood More by Margaret Atwood Wise BooksFunny BooksAutumnal Books Aging BooksMarriage BooksLoss Books All Books Take the Quiz Subscribe

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