Atwood approaches the depiction of stories in a realist manner suited to middle class life in contemporary Canada.

What is most striking about them technically is their careful structure, with no detail wasted, no excess verbiage clutter ing the scene. Some critics have complained that they are a bit too symmetrical and polished, like beautifully carved objects, and often appear mannered. But others regard the collection as Atwood's most accomplished short fiction to date, working its magic through poetic evocation instead of novelistic elucidation.

Atwood masterfully conveys nuances of character through carefully chosen remarks or gestures. She employs a variety of points of view, telling four of the tales in third person past tense, five of them in third person present tense, and only one—"Weight"—in first person, a telling choice since in that story the central character's anonymity contradicts her self-assured manipulation of men...