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Cut and Thirst

A Short Story

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About this listen

Three women scheme to avenge an old friend in a darkly witty short story about loyalty, ambition, and delicious retribution by Margaret Atwood, the #1 bestselling author of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Myrna, Leonie, and Chrissy meet every Thursday to sample fine cheeses, to reminisce about their former lives as professors, and lately, to muse about murder. Decades ago, a vicious cabal of male poets contrived—quite publicly and successfully—to undermine the writing career, confidence, and health of their dear friend Fern. Now, after Fern has taken a turn for the worse, her three old friends decide that it’s finally time to strike back—in secret, of course, since Fern is far too gentle to approve of a vendetta. All they need is a plan with suitably Shakespearean drama. But as sweet and satisfying as revenge can be, it’s not always so cut and dried.

©2024 O.W. Toad Ltd. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Crime Fiction Literature & Fiction Revenge Witty

Critic reviews

“The story primarily revolves around the themes of loyalty and retribution and is humorous and engaging. [Joyce] Bean's nuanced delivery captures the distinct personalities and subtle humor of each character, skillfully conveying the sharp and witty dialogue crafted by Atwood. Bean brings to life the deep emotional undertones and sarcastic wit of the characters, making this audiobook a captivating journey.” —AudioFile Magazine
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I am by default a fan of Atwood's writing and have enjoyed many of her major stories. This short story I found a little banal. The characters themselves are rich and vivid and most of the stars I've given are for the characters. I found the story they narrate a bit boring. There are no cliff hangers or mysteries to solve and I'd liken it to overhearing a group coffee morning in a busy cafe.

Good short story to pass the time

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I did not like the narrator and there were too many "she says" it was a little confusing

not for me

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