Author Margaret Atwood | Conversations from the Sun Valley Writers' Conference

[@marycahill546]

Canada here. Our national treasure. I have been reading her poetry and books all of my life. Now her views offer the wisdom our world needs.

[@NSABF]

For sure

[@lesbolt3549]

Well said my Friend!

[@pegm5937]

How does anyone not jump on the chance of listening to Margaret Atwood? ❤ She's been a huge, unrelenting figure in my thinking and reading life since 1985. She's brilliant to listen to regardless of the era. Just, heart-achingly the best ❤

[@lynnej.9357]

I love Margaret Atwood.. I don't usually love people that I don't know personally, but she is an exception.

[@veronikalynn5084]

@@lynnej.9357 yep. That’s the exact feeling.

[@randomstardust1365]

She's prescient because she's a student of history (amongst many other things). Human nature does not seem to change throughout our relatively short duration here, but our ideas; what societies find abhorrent or acceptable seem to fall in and out of fashion because of our historical knowledge or lack thereof. We can choose to keep running on a hamster wheel or break out and run through the fields and the forests and swim the oceans and explore new planets. Thank you, Ms. Atwood, for your constant vigilance, wisdom and extraordinary communication skills.

[@joannebamfordmccombs9755]

I love Margaret Atwood as well. I gravitate to her wisdom. Also proud she is Canadian like me!

[@janetones6221]

A prophetic goddess griotte of the highest order. Lucid longevity to our national treasure! Thank you for your prolific literary Art from an admirer, ardent fan and fellow Canuck! Bravo Margaret Atwood!🇨🇦

[@veronikalynn5084]

I adore this woman. To open this with astrology and tarot is so uniquely amazing. I love the way she talks of it. It’s exactly true. She’s able to poke fun at it yet draw so many interesting conclusions from it. It’s rare to see people who are able to do that nowadays, about many topics.

[@claudiagrandy844]

Love Margaret Atwood! She’s prescient and wonderfully active & aware of life in all its complexities. I’ve read most of her works and greatly appreciate listening to this interview!😊

[@rwilsonweir5697]

This is truly a miracle! Americans discussing a Canadian icon! Thought I'd never see the day!😂

[@SandraBeberian]

I love her! She is wonderful...she is Canadian, Nova Scotia. I've been there, and have friends there. It's a beautiful place. I'm an avid reader from New York, yet I've never read her. This will soon change.

[@amiekvdb6878]

In this day and age do I dare say I have also have never read her. Tried but couldn’t continue. Maybe Audible will change it for me.

[@rwilsonweir5697]

I don't get the Nova Scotia reference. Atwood was born in Ottawa, spent her young years in Northern Quebec, and then her later years back in Ontario, so how come Nova Scotia?

[@CowboyPants-h5p]

@@rwilsonweir5697 I am related to the Atwoods, through the Barkhouse family. I hung out with her younger sister Ruth and we all went to the same high school (Leaside High). My family settled Nova Scotia in 1772. Hers came to Nova Scotia later. The Atwoods lived a couple of kilometres away from our house. They lived in Bennington Heights, near Leaside proper.

[@MysticLandho]

Genius interview Marsha; kudos Margaret!

[@IdahoPTV]

Thanks so much, @mysticlandho! -- Marcia

[@vahramelagoz6759]

A delight to listen!

[@danielhewson2557]

Her wisdom is second to none in my eyes.

[@CPAndy-x5x]

What she said is interesting anout the women who go along - "collect the wood to burn the witch."

[@leanordials8008]

I ❤ that this is in Idaho.

[@Queenie-the-genie]

Woderful interview... I am so grateful🩵

[@iamanomas]

She looks wonderful. Sharp as a tack.

[@chantalderementeria]

In 1976 arriving to exile in Canada , lost in bookstores I took Edible woman knowing nothing , and felt with a friend

[@chantalderementeria]

Back in Chile she came with me till now

[@taritabonita22]

The election is over. Shocking, scary and heartbreaking! Grateful to be a native Californian. Thank you Margaret Atwood. A national treasure.

[@beatrizmarcelin9261]

A Canadian national treasure.

[@CowboyPants-h5p]

What are you talking about? Grateful to be a native Californian? So what. What does that have to do with ANYTHING???? WTF....

[@JanetLClark]

"How close to a totalitarianism is the United States?" ... It might be easier than you think." Yes of course we Canadians should be worried. The US has more tanks than we do.

[@RVFreeDa]

Excellent interview 😊❤

[@MichelleIkoma]

Woohoo, Margaret Atwood love her serious and her sardonic personas. Joy💪🏻🇨🇦

[@nickcrosby9875]

Margaret for the Nobel

[@carycastle4269]

Wow. The first people to be purged is not something I had considered.

[@laura24aby]

same. she's been right so many times before...

[@jilld8787]

Intelligence on display! AW ROCKS!!!❤

[@lyneade8334]

Given trump's return, I am rereading Testament as a blueprint for action

[@Dank951]

I never thought of it this way…thank you!

[@stpd1957]

Lovely interview

[@cubangal1]

two words.....Alias Grace....check it out...she is an amazing writer! our Canadian Treasure....cheers!

[@jerryannclifford6538]

Had the opportunity to 'sail' recently on an expedition ship with most interesting crew, scientists, ornithologists, archaeologists, geologists, artists, writers and researchers , among whom was Margaret Atwood and some family. One of the travellers, focussed on enjoying family time, time with friends, opportunities to board the zodiacs and be quietly a part of hikes and discoveries. At the end Ms. Atwood was asked to speak. She did speak to and with us, all. I have 'known' her (& husband Graeme Gibson) for over 50 years and have read her many books of various genres. Yes. I did get a chance to chat a wee bit on our adventure in Greenland and the high Arctic. I resisted the temptation to chat more (& not been a fawning follower!) Much more to say here, but as the USA Election loomed and passed, I thought how I would want to hear Ms Atwood's perspectives based on what she has said and written. So glad to have found this. I include her take on life, history, human nature as we proceed, as we have come to this moment in my treasure trove of selected, highly intelligent and insightful historians, journalists, political analysts and more. Thanks for this. I enjoyed the interview, leaning in to hear her responses as I hoped the questions would be thoughtful, equally responsive and well paced. Interesting to see 'Gemini rising ' too! (Dundas Ontario Canada 🇨🇦)

[@k8sl]

Love her!

[@vaunniethayer1484]

Listening to this in November in 2024 after the reelection of trump. A small majority of Americans chose the dream of dictatorship. Millions did not. Millions did not vote at all.

[@smilebot484]

love Atwood. ❤

[@leanordials8008]

Future library, great idea!

[@nadinestapler3881]

Love her books. Just want to say, no books should be banned, if you don’t like a book put it back , someone else will enjoy it.

[@denenemcbride7372]

A woman of great wisdom and she has such beautiful skin!

[@carolineschaillee3180]

What was the title of the Atwood essay of 2008 quoted by the interviewer?

[@IdahoPTV]

Hi @carolineschaillee3180 -- thanks for the question! I don't remember the title, but it's in her book, "Burning Questions." -- Marcia Franklin, host

[@mrsmacca126]

It’s called “ Iam a warmonger”

[@martinvanoene7192]

thanks so much

[@PianoWithBeth]

“You may not know my guests name” - what??!! Anyone who has walked into a bookstore in the last 40 years with their eyes open knows that name. The face is pretty memorable too. Madonna of the literary world, but we might not have heard of her. Mmhmm…

[@rwilsonweir5697]

Americans, remember? Their literacy rate is not very good, so how many of them are hanging out in bookstores? 😂

[@carycastle4269]

Yes, I read it when it was first published. It was a time when professional women who had snuck into Corporate America were trying for some level of equality.

[@martinvanoene7192]

amen in regard to alice

[@mystars5283]

Alice was not told about the abuse until her daughter decided to share the info with her at least 16 years after it occurred . Everyone in the family but Alice knew about it and kept it from Alice. Why was Alice not told right away when she could have done something to protect Andrea??? Alice had only just married Gerald back then. Instead, she is not told until after she has been married to the guy for 15 years. I, for one even though I have been a victim of sexual abuse in childhood myself, I will never blame Alice nor stop reading her amazing stories.

[@Esc4pe_velocity]

I wonder whatvher thoughts are about project 2025

[@justinlinnane8043]

A bit of a mismatched interview but relaxed a bit towards the end !

[@TontonMacoute]

Unfortunately not even the people of Idaho have the sense or the sensibility to watch that video. (In any number).

[@SeanCannon-x6v]

Watching women's fashion in most 80s entertainment reveals how this industry fell so in line with organized religion. We all looked horrid in these gigantic print ladden sacks. There was the other hideous variation for the corporate image - manly shoulders and Roman armour as jewelry. "80s fashion. Unflattering at any speed." MSTK quote.

[@fredlifsitz7411]

There are tens of millions of Americans who did not vote for this atrocity. Wish us all well.

[@geraniumzanzibar]

Me too--gemeni rising.

[@CowboyPants-h5p]

*gemini. Do better.

[@AeiSedai1976]

Our family cottage is near Atwood's.. she has brilliant ideas but man she grows a LOT of pot

[@Queenie-the-genie]

Me too - Gemini rising 🩵🩵🩵

[@pianoredux7516]

Margaret Atwood looks like the recurrent bit player in Hollywood studio movies who always played the dotty aunt or the eccentric dowager.

[@juliechaud]

That’s funny - she often plays that role just for the heck of it/actually plays it up!!! 😅

[@heidimueller1039]

Have you read any of her books! You wouldn’t say that if you had. She is a FORCE!

[@pianoredux7516]

@@heidimueller1039 Her physiognomy has nothing to do with the force of her content and is not a disparagement of her worth as a writer.

[@mesamies123]

Atwood, not the writer Munro is, distancing herself with 'literary friendship.' Treacherous lies. Good way to salvage her own tepid, popular career, based not in its quality but its perceived palatable politics. Canny. The sad thing is that she's brilliant.

[@lisannebaumholz5028]

"Tepid" is not a word that describes Atwood's writing, whether it be fiction, poetry, essays or plays. You might like, love or hate her writing or views, but tepid is hardly a word that describes it. But since you are so dismissive of any of those, it just demonstrates that you have probably never read her work. Yet you think she is brilliant? Popular career? Clearly, you didn't grow up in Canada in the 1960s or 1970s when Atwood was just getting started. But you probably haven't read Margaret Laurence, Timothy Findlay or Robertson Davies either. Another bunch of Canadian writers whose work must have only been popular because of their "perceived palatable politics". (What a great phrase, by the way, both in its alliteration and meaning! Hope you made that up but if you didn't, let me know whose words you were cribbing.)

[@mesamies123]

@lisannebaumholz5028 🤣

[@carolynrobe5957]

@@lisannebaumholz5028 And yet, and yet the words 'treacherous lies' stand out to me as do "literary friendship." What Margaret Atwood has done with her remarks here on Munro is to send me back to her stories. Indeed one might suggest that Atwood's defense of her "literary friend' can be seen not as "tepid" but as strong as can be conceived under the circumstances?

[@garybowler5946]

Mesamies: Are you kidding or just being a maga troll, russian aide, what is your deal.

[@arxsyn]

​​​​@@garybowler5946exactly. Do you really think Atwood is afraid of being "cancelled" for speaking her mind? She's literally the cream of the crop in Canada's literary world. She can't be dethroned, sorry. The jealousy speaks volumes here, or the OP is a diehard Munro fan. What's so wrong with clarifying the fact that they weren't close friends? Just by saying so, you're branding Atwood as a traitor. Munro is not the only celebrity that have let their fans down due to their personal misconduct. Previously placed on a pedestal, we all have fallen heroes to contend with. No one is infallible. It was Munro who betrayed her daughter and many of her fans. Atwood has done no such thing. This betrayal inflicted upon the daughter is no small thing. I should know. I've had to endure the same. I know what it's like to be raised by a narcissistic mother. I believe Atwood when she says, "I don't know why people think she was a nice old woman, she was no such thing..."