This year, for Margaret Atwood Reading Month #MARM, we’re playing BINGO. (If you’re printing your playing card, don’t forget to select “Shrink to Fit” in your printer’s options, so your card will fill a single sheet of paper.)
In recent weeks, looking ahead to November was like having a Book Token to “spend”; I kept changing my mind, especially as the month drew nearer, throughout October, selecting different reading options from day to day. Especially when I was thinking about the novels, because it seemed like every time I thought about it, I was in a different reading mood, wanting to spend time with different characters and different styles.
Now that November’s here, I’ve committed to rereading Cat’s Eye. This was one of my earliest possibilities for this year’s MARM, and when I located my pencil-scribbled notes from a 2001 reread, I settled. Already I’m interested to see that I didn’t note anything about the first few chapters, which seem to me, now, to contain all sorts of clues about the story which is about to unfold.
I’m so puzzled: why didn’t I see how cool the idea of “time as having a shape, something you could see, like a series of liquid transparencies, one laid on top of another” was, on the first page.
Why didn’t I note this observation about Elaine and Cordelia riding the streetcar at thirteen years old: “We think we are friends.” I was rereading in 2001, so I knew where this story was going and how it was told, but these bits didn’t stand out. At least, not enough to make a note of them.
When I’ve finished rereading Cat’s Eye, I’ll have filled my top LH corner BINGO square; I could aim for that top row (but it’s the most time-consuming of the lot), or the outer border (okay, maybe that’s the most challenging, now that I think about it), or an X (which would allow me to avoid the two some-creativity-required squares).
That X is looking good, because I’m also planning to read Dancing Girls, which would fill the top RH corner BINGO square. But I also want to read Graeme Gibson’s The Bedside Book of Beasts, and I’ve requested copies of the Catbird graphic novels and some older poetry books that are new-to-me. And I’ve delayed my “Handmaid’s Tale” viewing, thinking that November would be the perfect time to play catch-up (I posted about the first episode last year, and it’s spoilery, so take care).
I seem to be aiming for random squares all over the grid: if there was a confetti option, I’d be set. Also in the stack pictured below, you’ll see that I’m thinking of reading Payback. When this series of five lectures was first broadcast on CBC’s Ideas, I listened to some and missed some. Back then, you had to listen to the radio in the evenings, whereas podcasts are more convenient. (You can listen to them here. If someone who lives outside Canada, could let me know if these are available internationally, I will include that information here. Thanks, Kaggsy, for confirming that they’re available to listen to in England!)
A single story that I am keen to reread is “Bluebeard’s Egg”. It’s one that I remember reading when I was first stepping into the world of short stories, and trying to meet them on their own terms, and I thought it was e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Since then, having read through Alice Munro, Mavis Gallant and Edna O’Brien, I wonder if I will be so impressed.
I’m also planning to reread some of the essays in Moving Targets; I remember thinking, when I first read it, that she was writing about a lot of things I didn’t recognize, so I wonder how many of them will be familiar to me now. I’ve not revisited Conversations in more than ten years, but I remember really enjoying those interviews, so I’ll be pleased to take another look.
That’s what I’m thinking about, for this year’s MARM. Check out Naomi’s plans too! And, how about you?
Margaret Atwood Reading Month is hosted here and by Naomi at Consumed by Ink and inspired by decades of reading Margaret Atwood’s words. From Sunday November 1st to Monday November 30th, we’ll be reading Margaret Atwood, and we invite you to join in! (And, don’t forget, the 18th is Margaret Atwood’s 81st birthday. We’ll be celebrating with books, quotes, and cake!)
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[…] week, wanting to read Cat’s Eye for MARM (which has co-hosts, so here and here) I downloaded it and went out and bought expensive noise cancelling headphones. Noise cancelling! I […]
Isn’t it fun to reread and discover new things about a good book? I will have to try and read Hagseed. My library still lists her new poetry book as on order, and I am 4th or 5th in line for it so I doubt it will make it to me in November. I had high hopes!
Whenever I’m rereading, I think that maybe I should have a year of just rereading, but, then, the new books start preening at the margins of the room, flashing their new-book smiles at me, and I’m pulled back to their charms.
Hagseed has been a popular choice during MARM and Naomi just read it too. You might prefer that one anyway, given all the election-related stress everyone is experiencing right now, because there’s a lot of sharp and wise wit to enjoy.
There’s an interview with her on The Next Chapter CBC (here’s the show’s link, for some reason it won’t supply the specific one, but it is listed way down there) which is also very entertaining; I believe they only spoil the general plot elements that are from “The Tempest” directly, but not the specific decisions related to retelling that Atwood makes, so if you are looking for inspiration to read, and you enjoy podcasts, this might appeal to you even before reading.
To your point re: reading moods, I SO feel this. I found myself with the delightful opportunity to choose some books to read on my shelf with no real deadline for a review, just for blogging purposes. I wanted to read something non-fiction, so looking at what I still had left to review of non-fiction, I wanted to choose something a bit more serious. I ended up reading “Big Friendship”, which isn’t really that serious, but I’m enjoying it nonetheless.
Yes! Last week, I took a couple of days off and read…a book JUST BECAUSE. I didn’t take notes. I didn’t use sticky notes. I didn’t flag my favourite parts. (It was the new Allie Brosh collection, if you’re curious.)
Big Friendship is on my list of kinda-interested-if-a-copy-falls-into-my-lap reading; the last one that was on that list was Lisa Taddeo’s Three Women, and a copy did fall into my hands unexpectedly, so we’ll see. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts when you’re done!
I started Wilderness Tips last night and might go all out for short stories this year as Stone Mattress has also been calling to me from the library shelves (I’ll do one last stock-up on Tuesday during my volunteering session, before a one-month lockdown begins on Thursday). And then the review copy of Dearly that I didn’t think would ever appear has recently been confirmed, so I’ll have some new poems on the pile. But I don’t think these options will get me a Bingo, alas!
That would make a great theme, and could potentially check off three squares, as I think Wilderness Tips was published in 1991 and maybe 1992 overseas? so single short story, story collection, and 1991? (X’ing out the pre- or post- and just claiming the year itself?) Who knew reading Bingo would be so addictive?
One of the books I have is Bluebeard’s Egg, so now I’m excited to read the title story – I hope you still love it as much as you first did.
It’s so much fun that you can compare your re-read notes with your first time notes. I doubt many of us are able to do that!
You’ve got a mini-theme within your theme then, the idea of retellings/revisionings!
I just wish I’d kept my notes from each time, but there’s more than enough paper in folders and boxes around here, so perhaps that’s just as well…
I had been thinking about re-reading Cat’s Eye and finally getting around to MaddAddam but long books are not doing it for me at the moment. So I have bought a copy of Moral Disorder which I may get to later this month. I started reading Surfacing this morning a re-read though I remember nothing about it. Enjoy MARM and thanks for hosting again.
I admit, I was a little uncertain about picking up Cat’s Eye, too, but one thing is that the chapters are much shorter than I remember, so I found it much easier to resume with it than I thought it might be. (My problem is not so much the longer books right now, but the library duedates I’ve accumulated, which makes it harder to pick up longer books without duedates attached.) Thanks for taking part!
Cat’s Eye is my target as well. I own it & I’ve never read it (so I may not read your posts until I finish.)
I’ve got an unread Graeme Gibson (Five Legs) which I must have picked up at U of T charity sale. This could be the motivation to finally read that.
I’m unlikely to spoil anything as my weekly updates will be more about the other, shorter things that I’m reading alongside that (at least until I’m done Cat’s Eye, that is). And I think it’ll take me most of the month to finish with my reread. Somehow the fresh reads always claim the top of the stack!
I have a feeling you’d enjoy Five Legs, based on some of your comments about Hopscotch as we were reading along together (not that there’s anything specifically similar between the books, but I feel like they both raise a lot of questions in the reader? or, maybe that’s just me LOL).
I certainly can here those broadcasts so that you for sharing! I reckon I will end up with non ficton, but we shall see!
OOOooo, thank you for checking. I’m so glad to know they’re available. (I often, but not always, have trouble with BBC offerings and love it when they come through!)
I have read/listened to a number of Attwood’s, maybe half a dozen. But now the month’s upon me I feel rushed, what will I read. I thought I had Cats Eye on my shelves but right now I can’t see it. Maybe I’ll catch the flu. A month in bed should see me through all my November commitments.
Hah–I hope you don’t! You’ve been very fortunate so far and despite the additional reading time, there’s a definite down-side! If it doesn’t work to enjoy her work this November, you’ll enjoy it another time, I’m sure. Whether reading or listening, rereading or relistening!