Which Margaret Atwood book would you recommend for a newbie?

[Evie Elena]

I hear a lot about Margaret Atwood, of course, but when I tried to read Oryx and Crake I nearly screamed. I decided she was a bad writer who had, nonetheless, a reputation for being 'literary' and was determined never to touch her books again.

However, I am willing to try again, and all because I read somewhere that JK Rowling admired her work (actually, I think she said that Hermione would read Margaret Atwood's novels, which amounts to the same thing).

So I'm willing to believe that maybe I picked the wrong book to start with. So I'm asking Atwood fans out there which of her novels would best introduce me to her writing style and "genius"?

Thanks for the suggestions.
By the way, I didn't say I didn't understand it. My problem with Oryx and Crake was on several grounds. 1) I didn't think it was particularly good science fiction, I'm not sure that she has the imagination required for good science fiction, although she might be able to write intelligently on issues to do with technology and the future, so maybe I should try one of her books that isn't 'speculative'.
2) I didn't like the main character, which is always a problem.
3) I don't think writing about the uninteresting main character masturbating is particularly intellectual. From everything I'd heard about Atwood, I expected better than what I found.

But, as I said, I'm willing to try another of her books, and maybe try to approach it with all these expectations of greatness that no book can probably live up to.

 

[RedStar]

Never make the mistake of dismissing something you don't understand as 'bad writing'.

I would start with The Handmaid's Tale. It's an accessible read with universal themes and an acknowledged modern classic.

 

[old lady]

I've never found her books anything but dark and gloomy and as for her take on marriage - I feel sorry for her husband if that's any sort of reflection on their relationship. Well, she isn't exactly married but has been with the same partner for umpty dozen years. He's a writer too, so perhaps that levels their playing field.
I could never understand why she won so much acclaim