Novelist Margaret Atwood gets personal in a new memoir

Margaret Atwood is one of the most famous authors in the world. The 86-year-old Canadian writer has published 64 books over more than 50 years. Her most well-known novel, 'The Handmaid's Tale,' has sold more than 10 million copies and inspired a hit TV series. Now, Atwood has written something new — a memoir called 'Book of Lives' — where she shares stories from her own life.

Atwood's books have been banned in many places, including 135 American school districts. Officials say some of her books contain content they consider too sexual or morally wrong. Two of her banned books, 'The Testaments' and 'The Blind Assassin,' won the Booker Prize, the top award for English-language fiction. Even so, they were removed from school libraries.

Atwood has fought back against book banning in bold ways. She once used a flamethrower on one of her own books — but the book would not burn because it was made with special fireproof materials. The stunt was part of a charity auction for PEN America, a group that supports free speech. She has also written opinion pieces pushing back against the bans.

Atwood is known for mixing sharp wisdom with dry humor. When asked how many languages her books have been translated into, she said 'over 50.' How many books has she written? 'Over 50.' How many awards has she won? 'Over 50.' She delivered each answer with a calm, straight face.

'The Handmaid's Tale,' published in 1985, is set in a future America ruled by a strict religious government. Women who can have children are forced to wear red robes and give birth for powerful people. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the red robe became a symbol used by real-life protesters. Many readers felt the book had predicted the future.

Atwood says she never claimed to see the future — just the patterns of history. She keeps folders full of old newspaper clippings to back up every detail in her stories. Her strict rule is that if something didn't happen somewhere in real history, it does not go in her books. 'This could happen. This might happen, so you should be on the watch for it,' she said.

Her memoir traces her life from childhood in the wilderness of Quebec. Her father was an entomologist — a scientist who studies insects — and the family would stop on road trips whenever he spotted an infestation. He would spread a tarp under a tree, hit it with an ax, and collect the insects that fell out. Growing up this way taught Atwood to pay close attention to details.

Atwood went on to study at the University of Toronto, where she wrote poetry and performed in plays. When she graduated in 1961, there was barely a Canadian literary scene. She stayed in Canada anyway and helped build one. She also met fellow writer Graeme Gibson, who became her longtime partner — a bond tested and proven by an early canoe trip together.

In her memoir, Atwood writes letters to an imaginary 'Inner Advice Columnist' to work through personal decisions. In one letter, she admits feeling upset that her partner did not want more children. The advice she wrote back to herself was blunt: 'Count your blessings... Suck it up. Cherish your child. Get another cat.' She called it very 'get over yourself' advice.

Atwood is also watching global politics closely. She says there are 'warning lights flashing' for democracy, including in the United States. She wrote in her memoir that taking away civil liberties is a sign on the road to dictatorship. She pointed to efforts to control the media and put judges under a leader's power as key warning signs.

Even as she raises serious concerns, Atwood keeps her wit sharp. She still reads palms, remembers a 17th-century curtsy from a college play, and has a quick comeback for nearly every question. She once described herself as having a fierce stare in interviews, but says now she is a 'nice old lady.' When asked why she changed, she smiled: 'I got older. I became a blonde.'