Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood audiobook review

The Handmaid’s Tale author reflects on her loves, losses and literary achievements in a memoir that showcases her wisdom and wit

Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood audiobook review

TL;DR

  • Margaret Atwood was initially reluctant to write a memoir, finding the idea "dead boring."
  • She eventually saw the appeal in recounting personal history, "thanking benefactors, rewarding friends, trashing enemies and paying off scores."
  • "Book of Lives" covers her loves, losses, and literary achievements, showcasing her wisdom and wit.
  • The audiobook is read by the 86-year-old author, with a leisurely, gravelly, and drily funny narration.
  • Atwood recounts an anecdote where a poet told her she wrote "like a man," and her witty retort.
  • She remembers key books, including her landmark 1986 novel "The Handmaid's Tale."