Margaret Atwood has spent much of her 86 years exploring the darker corners of the human psyche. From speculative fiction and poetry to children’s books, her work has consistently plumbed the depths of power, technology and personal relationships. However, it is only now that the celebrated Canadian author is finally turning the lens on herself.
In her newly released memoir, Book of Lives, according to wired.com, Atwood reflects on a journey that began in the rugged Canadian wilderness. The book chronicles her early professional years toiling in relative obscurity before rising to global literary stardom. With her characteristic wit, she notes that the passage of time has allowed her to finally settle a few old scores, largely because most of the people involved are now dead.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Big Interview, Atwood shared her thoughts on the modern digital landscape, including her habit of “doomscrolling.” Despite the bleakness of the 24-hour news cycle, she remains strangely compelled to stay informed. “I want to keep up with the latest doom,” she quipped, highlighting her innate need to witness the unfolding of history in real-time.
The wide-ranging conversation also touched upon her perspective on the shifting dynamics of power in the Silicon Valley era, how the themes of The Handmaid’s Tale continue to resonate in a fractured political climate.
And, why, despite the “doom,” she maintains an unexpected optimism for the future of American democracy.
Atwood’s memoir and her latest insights arrive at a time of profound global transformation, proving that even at 86, the woman who predicted so much of our current reality is still watching, and writing, with a sharp, unflinching eye.
