To think Margaret Atwood is amazing

[Bibijayne]

Just that really.

Well, it does cut both ways! Can't argue with her there!

But...

Did you read the bottom of that article?

Did you read the bottom of that article?
The bit where someone signed a letter about free speech then realised someone else whose speech she didn't agree with had signed it, so said sorry I don't want to sign it anymore? Great stuff!

The bit where someone signed a letter about free speech then realised someone else whose speech she didn't agree with had signed it, so said sorry I don't want to sign it anymore? Great stuff!

Both dissenters cited were transactivists.

Yep! That bit. I was drinking tea.. didn't quite spit it out, but did have to blow my nose

She did do a segment on a Canadian tv show on how to stop a puck getting in the net.

Metaphor?

I've always loved her work and still do, but I met her at a signing once and she was a bit of a cow.

@ShebaShimmyShake

I've always loved her work and still do, but I met her at a signing once and she was a bit of a cow.

Yup. I was with a friend who asked a question about a text (that he was using for a thesis) and she was utterly dismissive. I thought it was very interesting - her work was a huge part of his study - and she basically rolled her eyes at him, huffed, and said ‘how should I know? I wrote it years ago’ and waved him away with contempt. Now while I fully agree that women don’t need to pander to men’s feelings (!) and that ‘be kind’ is a pile of hooey, I couldn’t help but feel that there were other ways of dealing with questions at a fecking literary festival q&a. (That he had only gone to to hear her read)

Yep, she was rude and dismissive when I told her I really enjoyed her work. I realise I'm just a stranger, she meets a lot of people and she was probably bored and tired, but it was a promotion and signing for her new book and that's part of her job. What was I supposed to say? "Your work is shit and I hope you tread on a Lego brick, you talentless cow"? All she had to do was say thank you!

I still read her books but she is off my Christmas card list.

This is the woman who literally invented a device so that she wouldn't have to go to signings - I'm not sure she goes in much for schmoozing her public en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LongPen

I get it when "celebrities" are arsey with fans who disturb them while they are at the dentist/eating at a restaurant/playing with their kids at the park. But to treat people with contempt when you're at a book signing, the entire point of which is for you to self-promote and make a few extra bob out of your fans, is just outrageous. Really twatty behaviour.

@IWantT0BreakFree

I get it when "celebrities" are arsey with fans who disturb them while they are at the dentist/eating at a restaurant/playing with their kids at the park. But to treat people with contempt when you're at a book signing, the entire point of which is for you to self-promote and make a few extra bob out of your fans, is just outrageous. Really twatty behaviour.

That's just it. She hardly needed the publicity, but even if she was obliged to be there because of her contract...well, that's just part of your job, Maggie. Just smile and say thank you. You think you're the only person who is expected to be polite at boring events? And this is one where people literally paid you to tell you how great they think you are!

[quote sleepyhead]This is the woman who literally invented a device so that she wouldn't have to go to signings - I'm not sure she goes in much for schmoozing her public en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LongPen[/quote]
This is amazing

I met MA through her daughter several times and didn't warm to her at all as a human being, despite the fact that I admire some of her novels. Admittedly more then than I do now -- I don't care for Oryx and Crake and subsequent books.

She was the first author I'd ever met...I was a bookish, starry eyed teenager at the time and she damn near put me off trying to meet any other writers whom I admired. Horrible.

Luckily the others have all been lovely. I could tell a couple of them were a bit tired and would rather have been at home, but they still smiled and said thank you when I told them how much I loved their work.

@BaronessBrighterThanYou

She did do a segment on a Canadian tv show on how to stop a puck getting in the net.

Metaphor?

It's the people who are pushing for the removal of all single-sex provision and for the sterilisation of children who need to justify themselves. How very true.