In a recent interview, Margaret Atwood discussed her new memoir, Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, with characteristic sardonic wit. A clip from the interview has gone viral, showing Atwood declaring: “A lot of people have died, so I can actually say these things without destroying somebody’s life. Except for the people whose lives I wish to destroy.” When asked if she enjoys holding a grudge, she replied: “I don’t have a choice. I’m a Scorpio.”
The memoir is filled with such moments of delayed vengeance. Atwood recounts responding to a scathing review with the words: “Piss up a rope, wanker.” She also describes hiring an exorcist to banish the possible ghost of her husband’s ex-wife, who had unfairly labelled her a “homewrecker”. The book’s humour lies in its wry acknowledgment of the supposed wrongness of holding grudges.
Atwood’s willingness to name and shame those who have wronged her challenges the modern therapy-led culture of forgiveness and closure. In an era where resentment is often deemed unhealthy, her gleeful pettiness offers a refreshing alternative. The author notes that death, not forgiveness, ultimately liberates the memoirist, allowing them to speak freely without fear of lawsuits.
Atwood draws a parallel between her memoir and her earlier novel Cat’s Eye, which explored the lifelong impact of bullying between girls. She now admits that parts of the novel were autobiographical, but she avoided saying so because the chief bully, Sandra, was still alive. Now that Sandra and her immediate family are dead, Atwood feels free to tell the truth. The novel’s depiction of girl-on-girl cruelty continues to resonate with readers, many of whom break down in tears when meeting Atwood.
While Atwood plays up the revenge angle for entertainment, she also acknowledges that bearing a grudge is not always attractive. Yet her memoir suggests that there is value in holding onto resentments, especially when they fuel powerful storytelling. As she puts it, understanding a bully’s damaged past does not equate to forgiveness.
