The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher: Stories by Hilary Mantel

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

Love. Love. Love.  I absolutely LOVED The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel.  It is now one of my favorite short story books.  I can't believe I waited so long to read her work - what was I thinking?!  I suppose it doesn't really matter since I am now officially hooked on Mantel.  I plan on reading her highly praised novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies next year.  I can't wait!!

As for this book of stories - Whoa, Nelly! I don't even know where to begin.  I just know that I thought it was fan-bloody-tastic!!  The stories are absolutely terrific - they are well written, chock full of relatable characters, and completely unforgettable.  I found them all to be thoroughly engaging, thought-provoking, and unputdownable.  I stayed up all night reading this book and enjoyed every minute of it.   These were just such great stories to get lost in.  I keep thinking about the couple in the taxi - the horror!  Oh, and the two little girls who spend their time sneaking up to the 'rich' people's home and peeking in the windows - they are consumed by this idea that something or someone is being hidden in that house.  There's also the title story about a woman who decides to help the man set on assassinating Thatcher - secret door, anyone?  And then there's the story about the woman who finally decides to ask her husband to help her get rid of a visitor who can't seem to stay away from her - this one was my favorite short in the book.  All of these wonderful stories are connected by Mantel's exploration of disconnection, displacement, and isolation - she manages to show the ugly, raw reality of people struggling with feelings of discord, loneliness, unhappiness, and general dislocation.  Her stories are sad, funny, horrific, satirical, and amusing.  They keep you on your toes - which I loved!  Mantel's writing is truly amazing.