The best part of this month’s event has been hearing about other readers’ reading and rereading. With every mention, I want to return to that poem, to that story, to that novel, to those characters, to those worlds. So, what’s next?

An additional layer to that pleasure has been the discussion of the other ways in which Margaret Atwood’s stories and roles are reaching readers.

Coming of age in the 1980s, there was a film of The Handmaid’s Tale which you could rent on a video cassette. The Robber Bride was produced for Canadian television, and a short story was produced as part of a series of works by women writers.

Occasionally you might catch an interview on public television (although descriptions of these broadcasts were rarely included in the newspaper write-ups of upcoming shows, so you either watched loyally, and often repeatedly, or you missed out).

Even when videos of public performances began to be made available on the ‘net, video and audio players would crash more often than not, dashing the initial excitement of a glimpse of something previously thought out-of-reach (which, indeed, remained so).

Now there are endless videos online: interviews and speeches, readings (by the author and by enthusiastic performers), and compete productions available with a few clicks and a readily executed payment. And, even more exciting, new serial adaptations of her novels.

Although I am chronically behind with limited and ongoing TV series, I avidly watched both seasons of  The Handmaid’s Tale as soon as the episodes were available, occasionally even rewatching. And, oh, the thrill of anticipating the adaptation of Oryx and Crake, which sounds astonishingly good. (And, just announced yesterday, the news of a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale.)

So, you have probably already guessed that my “next” is to finish watching Alias Grace, directed and adapted by Sarah Polley, which Margaret Atwood as a supervising producer. I’ve only seen the first episode, but it’s very well done so far, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

And, how about you?

The Schedule for Margaret Atwood Reading Month:

Today: Naomi is also posting about Beginnings at Consumed by Ink.

November 8: Cover Images (hosted by Naomi at Consumed by Ink)

November 15: Favourites (hosted by Marcie at Buried in Print)

November 22: Quotations (hosted by Naomi at Consumed by Ink)

November 29: Endings (hosted by Marcie at Buried in Print)

November 30: A Round-Up of links collected from participants

You can find more information about this event in our announcement post here and here.

Remember: These weekly themes are in addition to any book, story, poem, essay, interview, article, etc. you want to read (or watch) over the month and discuss on your blogs or on Twitter.  #MARM

Happy Reading and Watching!