Reading Margaret Atwood

I first read about Margaret Atwood and The Handmaid’s Tale around 2016, when Trump was elected president. Later, when abortion rights were being rolled back, her name and the book’s name surfaced again and again.

I did not dive deeply into her work at that time, but I had ‘The New Yorker’ subscription, and I came across stories by her. That is how I became aware of her work.

Lately, I have been buying many books. Whenever I get angry with my spouse, instead of fighting or keeping score, I buy books.

I also see how difficult it is for a woman to build a career. I have a PhD and two master’s degrees in biosciences. I know many things, yet I earn a very modest amount through writing. Because of this, I have consciously decided to support female writers. I own books by many women writers — Jhumpa Lahiri, Amy Tan, Joan Didion, Annie Proulx, and others.

Recently, I ordered a book by Margaret Atwood and began reading it. It is her memoir (above). It's named 'Book of Lives. A Memoir of Sorts'.

Even on the book cover jacket, something struck me. Her father was an entomologist, while her mother was independent and resourceful. They lived in forested regions of Quebec, Canada.

As I read about her parents and her early life, I saw reflections of myself and my children. Our life, too, is shaped by nature, as we explore the chaparral of California. A quiet connection formed. It's important to continue reading a writer.

I continued reading while a fierce storm raged outside my window. I came across many interesting thoughts. Atwood mentions that she had already written six novels when people asked her to write a memoir, so she finally did. She mentions, how her mouth, hair, writing style, everything has been comente upon.

She also writes about other authors. She mentions novelist Robertson Davies, who was asked why it took him so long to write novels. His answer was simple: people… die. She reflects on how true that is, after people die, stories emerge that were once held back.

I agree completely. That is what many people do, writers and non-writers alike. My mother kept many secrets about my father and others throughout her life. Only after he passed away did she begin sharing those quiet truths.

We read books to connect, to broaden our outlook, to be inspired by great minds. During this holiday lean time, I am taking the opportunity to pick the brain of Margaret Atwood.

Till now I have read only 46 pages out of the 600 pages. i.e. Chapter 4 or 5 out of 39.

From what I have read, her parents were originally from the Nova Scotia region. She was one of two children of her parents. She was named after her mother Margaret. Her early years were spent in the boreal woods, as her father Carl often went on insect-collecting expeditions. She grew up exploring the wilderness. She could fish at an early age. They grew food in their garden.

She was less girly as a child because she spent much of her time playing adventurous games with her elder brother. She had undergone tonsil surgery. She had astigmatism, so she did not excel in archery unlike her brother.

I expect a lot more stories and insights from her. I am slowly getting used to her sarcastic writing style.

Thank you for reading. Have you read this book or other works of her?