It’s hard to believe that’s already time for another Margaret Atwood Reading Month #MARM in November 2021.
“Time is not running at its usual unvarying pace: it makes odd lurches.”
(From 1996’s Alias Grace)
For many, 2020 and 2021 have been challenging years; for many, looking ahead seems to hold even more challenges.
“I’m developing a knack for this, I can sniff out hidden misery in others now with hardly any effort at all.”
(From 1988’s Cats Eye)
But, here we are again. So, come inside, make yourselves at home.
Leave your footwear with Marian’s and Peter’s:
“Marian took off her own boots and stood them neatly beside Peter’s overshoes. ‘I hope they’ll follow our example,” Peter said. “I just had the floors done, I don’t want them getting all tracked up.’ With no others beside them yet, the two pairs looked like black leathery bait in a large empty newspaper trap.”
(From 1969’s The Edible Woman)
As usual, you can choose any way you like, to participate in #MARM, which might mean playing along with last year’s BINGO, or following along with older posts about books and stories, planning new readalongs with one another, watching a video, or simply chatting along in the comments, here or elsewhere.
Whether you’ve always meant to read her work, but haven’t begun, or you’ve read it all and enjoy rereading: find your way, with company.
“Did Shakespeare always know what he was doing, or was he sleepwalking part of the time? In the flow? Writing in a trance? Enacting an enchantment he himself was under?”
(From 2016’s Hag Seed)
As for me, I’ll be posting five times in November. I do have a theme in mind, which came to me during last year’s MARM, but I’m holding that as a surprise. (I’m still doing some reading for it. I hope it’s as enjoyable for you, when November comes around, as it has been for me.)
“Waiting is also a place; it is wherever you wait. For me it’s this room. I am a blank, here, between parentheses. Between other people.”
(From 1986’s The Handmaid’s Tale)
If there is a specific title you’re interested in reading, during the month, and would perhaps like some company, feel free to share your possibilities below: maybe some eager readers can make plans together for the month. Maybe someone will convince you to read some other title of hers instead. Or to venture into graphic novels or poetry.
“Leading her astray for motives different from the ones you’re supposed to have when you lead someone astray.”
(From 2015’s The Heart Goes Last)
Or, maybe you just want to view the MARMing from the sidelines. Be a spectator.
“When her grandmother died, Lesje felt she should be put into the Museum, in a glass case like the Egyptian mummies, with a label where you could read about her. An impossible idea, but this was the form her mourning took.”
(From 1982’s Life Before Man)
At the end of this month, I’ll compile participants’ links and add them to a new page for the event that will live here year-round. You can leave a link on this post, or on any of the November posts, and I’ll watch for them along the way.
“Important things often come into stories later, but also at the beginning. And in the middle as well.”
(From 2013’s Maddadam)
There have been some great discussions in the past and, for the most part, we MARM-readers are a well-behaved bunch. #realrecognizereal
“I even instructed them to stay rude and disrespectful things about me and Telemachus, and about Odysseus as well, in order to further the illusion.”
(From 2005’s The Penelopiad)
I couldn’t choose between that quotation and this one, for this transition! (They describe such different bookgroups! LOL)
“If you look like them and talk like them and think like them then you are them, I was saying, you speak their language, a language is everything you do.”
(From 1972’s Surfacing)
So, if you’ve participated before, you know what to do. And, if you’re new to the group, it’s simple, really.
“Where to start is the problem, because nothing begins when it begins and nothing’s over when it’s over, and everything needs a preface: a preface, a postscript, a chart of simultaneous events.”
(From 1991’s The Robber Bride).
We begin on November 1st! Start planning, share your plans, we’ll enjoy each other’s company!
“Time, however, is different when you’re shut up in the dark alone. It’s longer.”
(From 2019’s The Testaments)
[…] #MARM2021 […]
[…] the season of many wonderful reading events. Margaret Atwood Reading Month is being hosted by Buried in Print; What’s Nonfiction is hosting Nonfiction November; AusReading Month is being hosted by Brona at […]
Thanks for hosting this reading challenge! Time to read my copy of Penelopiad, I think. I make no promises but this looks so appealing…
It’s such a treat and, as I mentioned about HagSeed to MmeBibi below, so much funnier than I would have guessed: enjoy!
[…] time to welcome November and with another reading event, Margaret Atwood Reading Month hosted by […]
[…] Margaret Atwood Reading Month, hosted by Buried in Print […]
[…] is both Margaret Atwood Reading Month (BIP) and AusReading Month (Brona). But, a week or so ago, it suddenly popped into my head that the […]
Definitely plan to join in this year. I am going to reread The Blind Assassin since it’s been AGES since I’ve read it and I do remember loving it. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s posts!
Ohhhh, I love that one. I don’t *think* I’m going to reread this year but, if I do, that would probably be my choice. I’ve been hankering…
I’d be up for a buddy re-read!
I can’t believe its MARM time already! I’m excited to see what your theme is this time around. And I must say, I’m quite impressed with your ability of matching her quotes to your blog post – how long did that take you? Were you flipping through books for hours?
How do you know that I didn’t simply pull them all from memory? *insert nerdy emoji*
OMG Did you???????
Is it that time again already? I had hoped to read her poetry book last year but due to COVID weirdness, I didn’t get my turn at it from the library until months later. I do have her short story book The Stone Mattress that I have not read yet. I will have to locate it and start looking ahead to fit it in for November.
Rebecca is considering that one as well. There are some exceptionally good stories in that collection for this time of year. Enjoy!
I’m hooked: an undisclosed theme! My participation may be spotty but this novice is in. I have Dearly unread (but peeked into) at the ready.
Ooooh, that’s such a great choice. Naomi is eyeing that one as well, I believe. (Also, lovely to see you here, or, at least, commenting, if you were secretly lurking. Heheh)
I love all the quotes you peppered into your post! And, yes, I will be following along and hoping to participate! Your Maddaddam reference made me chuckle. 🙂
Phew, I’m glad. I wasn’t sure if you’d rather’ve been Toby. But Snowman IS THE STAR. ✨
Lol
I’d forgotten about MARM! A lovely reminder. I have Hag Seed in the TBR hich I shall dust off ready 🙂
That would be an excellent choice, seasonally and length-wise! There’s a great interview with her on The Next Chapter from CBC (that does not spoil anything either), released to coincide with its publication and still available via podcast.
So excited to see this. I missed participating last year and now that I think about it, it’s certainly been a while since I’ve read any Margaret Atwood. I have several of her books on my shelves to choose from so I’m looking forward to this!
Now that I mention it, it does seem like a long time since I’ve seen you discussing one of her books. Feel free to comment here, about the ones calling out to you most loudly…others here might be eyeing one of them too.
I’m glad you’re doing this again! I have a few Atwood books on the TBR so will try to schedule one in for November.
If someone else here has mentioned one of your TBRs, feel free to reach out: it’s always nice to have company with a chosen read!
My, is it that time again? I was planning to reread The Blind Assassin (my fave) and possibly get Stone Mattress out from the library. I’ll see what I can fit in around Novellas commitments.
Stone Mattress is one that I thought Bill might like, except for the tiny detail about it being a story collection. It has some of my favourites! I know it’s a busy month with your hosting too.
If I get time in a busy, busy reading month, I’ll tackle MaddAddam (MaddAddam Trilogy, #3)
I know, it’s an overwhelmingly busy season. I feel like I’m swimming in pages right now. Maybe you’ll just choose to comment. I’ll try to have some in-the-moment options for each week.
I managed to read something each of the last two years (Cat’s Eye, Survival) but then didn’t manage to blog about either one…This year I’m blogging it for sure. Maybe Life Before Man which I’ve never read. I’ve also got an unread Graeme Gibson around here.
Looking forward to the secret theme!
Hahaha, I know what you mean. I just wrote up my previous #club read a few weeks ago and the next one is due to start. Ohhh, that’ll be fun: the ROM! Sounds like you might be close to finishing a BINGO line if you’ve got GG in the wings…
Oh, a couple of year #club reads went by the wayside, too…I’ve got a pile stacked up for 1976, but we’ll see! But I am looking forward to your thoughts on Roots.
Initially, I was focussed on filling a gap in my reading experience, with Roots, but it’s a great read. I’ve even requested the sequel which, yes, is almost that long.
I will definitely try to join in again, I am a big fan. It might be a re-read this year or some poetry. I shall see how I feel nearer the time.
You’ve got lots on hand to choose from. Looking forward to it!
Ironically, I’ve just started on an Atwood which I will need to review before November. But I will try to join in if I can!
Oooooh. Am I jealous or am I envious? I can never remember the distinction offhand. I’m very happy for you that *you* are reading it AND I simultaneously also wish that *I* was reading it too.
I’ve read a few MAs in the past. I enjoyed Cat’s Eye last year. Have less than liked Handmaid, the follow up and Alias Grace. I read another, odd one, during the year – Angel Catbird – but will definitely dig something out of the library for MARM.
I’m not convinced audio shows off her talents. Have you ever considered The Heart Doesn’t Last? It’s shelved with the sci-fi because of the, oh, I better not say, in case you don’t know the plot.
I have downloaded from the library (BorrowBox) Surfacing and On Writers & Writing. I will definitely review the former and maybe the latter. I also have Such is Life and Brona’s AusReading Month to deal with, but not Novellas in Nov. or 1976 Club – how does one keep up!
The library has plenty of other MAs as audiobooks, including The Heart Goes Last, so that will keep me going for a few more MARMS.
Of course you have those quotations in your head. If it’s anything like me and Miles Franklin it’s just a matter of locating them again (which of course takes all day).
I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on Surfacing; based on other conversations we’ve had about relationships between nations, I think you’ll pick up on her commentary on Canadian/American relations quite easily. (How does one remain distinct when there’s an overbearing, all-consuming influence nearby, etc.)
There’s definitely more story to The Heart Goes Last, which is what makes me think it might work well on audio, but I’m sure you’d already know not to expect a NICE story.
How does one keep up? I have no idea. Mostly, I don’t!
It’s great to see MARM return in 2021. Is Naomi still hosting the event with you, Marcie?
Naomi’s the Snowman to my Toby (Maddaddam series reference, for the die-hards), but I’m hosting alone. You might see Naomi reading along/participating though! 🙂