BOOK OF LIVES

Poet, novelist, activist, mother, mentor, embodiment of Canadian literature--the list of Atwood's achievements is remarkable. The two-time Booker Prize winner and doyenne of speculative fiction (the international phenomenon THE HANDMAID'S TALE) has many incarnations. She is also that rarity among writers: an excellent narrator. Now in her 80s, she has a tone with a hint of gravel, she reads with her characteristic deadpan wit, and her Canadian accent adds to her delivery. Her backstory is revealing. The daughter of an entomologist, she was nicknamed "Peggy Nature" as a child. Educated at the University of Toronto and at Harvard, she's mostly lived in Toronto and remains the avatar of Canadian lit. Atwood's travels; publishing anecdotes; and experiences with her partner, novelist Graeme Gibson, enrich this memoir. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]