The Blog Of Dysfunction

Margret Atwood is the sort of author who you read and wish there was a worldwide prize for pure awesomeness. She would undoubtedly win. My Atwood journey began in final year of med school when a friend lent me a copy of the blind assassin. This is a novel within a novel about the protagonist, Iris  who narrates the multiple life stories of her sister, her husband and the novel within the novel. I was hooked five words into the novel, and missed most of my lectures in the following days. Since then she has taken Tolkien’s place on my list. Fortunate for me was the discovery of blossoms, an out-of-the-world used-book shop in Bangalore that I hope I will write about soon. They had Atwood, several of her books and all affordable to the medical student.

I have finished five of her novels so far and am hoping to get my hands on the other stuff too. I was hoping as I planned this post, that a beautiful description of her protagonists and a description of why I can so love them, and understand them would flow from my eager finger tips, but alas, my pen is rusty and keyboard sore, i must rest for this exercise is tiring me. Soon, the rust will be gone, these aching internal muscles will be healed and bulging and then sonorous prose will flow from these fingertips. soon.

Did i forget to mention that her unmatched wit and depth of meaning are not limited to prose, she is quiet the poet too.
In ending, a Poem by her.

Siren song

This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:

the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see the beached skulls

the song nobody knows
because anyone who has heard it
is dead, and the others can’t remember.

Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?

I don’t enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical

with these two feathery maniacs,
I don’t enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.

I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song

is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique

at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.

See you soon, when my weary wounded ego and rusty pen have recoverd.

ciao

me

Image credit Shutterhack