Margaret Atwood’s memoir offers an entertaining recount of her life and influences
Canadian author and poet Margaret Atwood wittily recounts her life and many loves, detailing her accidental rise to feminist icon through her new autobiography, “Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts”. In 1984, while struggling with another manuscript in Norfolk, England, Atwood found herself revisiting an old idea—a novel she initially deemed “too weird.” This concept became The Handmaid’s Tale, which she ultimately began writing in the same year as George Orwell’s dystopia, setting the stage for her future success, reports BritPanorama.
Atwood’s groundbreaking work, originally titled “Offred,” explores a totalitarian theocracy in a dystopian future, focusing on a woman subjected to systemic oppression. Despite the challenges she faced in getting published, The Handmaid’s Tale went on to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize and garnered Atwood international acclaim, especially after the adaptation premiered in 2017 against a backdrop of resurging conservative politics in the United States. Atwood emphasizes that her fame was an “incremental” process rather than an instantaneous phenomenon.
This self-reflective memoir, though subtitled as a memoir of sorts, diverges from modern expectations of personal narratives, presenting instead a linear recounting of Atwood’s life pulled from memory and her extensive journals. It begins with her parents, both from Nova Scotia, establishing a foundation in the Canadian bush where they lived without modern conveniences to support her father’s work in entomology. Her mother’s resourcefulness and outdoor skills played significant roles in shaping Atwood’s independent spirit and creativity.
Atwood’s path to becoming a literary icon is woven through her various life experiences, including her early writing endeavors and encounters with literary greats. Her childhood set the tone for her developing feminist consciousness, albeit in understated ways, as she navigated a landscape often marked by misogyny. Drawn from her writings and experiences, Atwood’s anecdotes combine entertainment with insights into the literary world and her own identity. The interplay between her works and personal life adds layers to the memoir, with a strong undercurrent of gratitude for the influences that shaped her, showcasing her complex relationship with success and the literary establishment.
Atwood’s relationship with Graeme Gibson, her partner of 36 years until his death in 2019, is a highlight of the memoir. The narrative intersperses passages dedicated to Gibson, revealing a profound bond while also addressing the complexities of their lives, including interactions with his ex-wife. Atwood avoids engaging in excessive self-examination or dramatization, focusing instead on sincere reflections and dry humor. Her narrative concludes with a tribute to her father’s legacy, framing her journey within the broader context of family and heritage.
Ultimately, “Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts” presents an engaging portrait of Margaret Atwood, illuminating her literary journey without embellishment, balancing insight and humor throughout its pages. The book, published by Chatto & Windus, is set for release on 4 November at £30.
