At yesterday’s Celebrated Writer Series in Stratford, Margaret Atwood entertained us with her readings and her special brand of humour.

As I listened to her read excerpts from Gertrude Talks Back and Oryx and Cake, I could feel her passion for the written word. The feisty septuagenarian is definitely a force in English literature, having written more than fifty volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction and non-fiction.

When asked about her reading preferences, Atwood told us that she reads everything she can get her hands on, even In-flight Magazine. And she enjoys watching a wide range of movies, among them Kung Fu Panda and Mirror Mirror.

While growing up, Margaret Atwood was never told what to read.  She knew that certain books were not appropriate, but that didn’t stop her. She recalls climbing up on the garage roof to read Peyton Place.

Other interesting tidbits…

She never throws out books. Instead, she inserts name plates with the message—This book is yours—and leaves the books on park benches throughout the city.

The only books she did not enjoy writing were those she did not finish.

She has her own attitude about semi-colons.

While she prefers print books, she has tried e-readers and believes they have their place.

She has read every trashy book about Mary Queen of Scots.

She encourages everyone to visit Wattpad for information about a digital poetry award called “The Attys.”