Curious Pursuits B

　　 Whenever I resolve to write less and do something healthfulinstead, like ice dancing - some honey-tongued editor is sure tocall me up and make me an offer I can't refuse. So in some waysthis book is simply the result of an under-developed ability to sayno.' Collected and published in the UK for the first time, here areessays and journalism from the brilliant novelist and poet. Rangingfrom book reviews of John Updike and Toni Morrison to anappreciation of Dashiell Hammet; an account of a journey inAfghanistan that sowed the seeds of The Handmaid's Tale; passionateecological writings; funny stories of 'my most embarrassingmoments'; obituaries of some of her great friends and fellowwriters: Angela Carter, Mordecai Richler, Carol Shields. This is aninsightful, thoughtful and revealing record of the life and timesand writings of Margaret Atwood from 1970 to the present.