Margaret Atwood at Frye Festival 2011

I saw Margaret Atwood tonight.  It was a thrill!

I’ve loved her books for years, studied them in university, read nearly everything she has ever written, envied her artistry with words, but have never seen her live.

My niece and I ventured out to Soirée Frye at the Capitol Theatre, part of the Frye Festival in Moncton.  The Soirée Frye provides a taste of the festival, great literature, music, awards and a reception following to meet the authors.

This is the 12^th year of this bilingual, international literary festival and Margaret Atwood is the star attraction.

Margaret Atwood is funny and articulate, entertaining and engaging.  She read an excerpt from her novel Oryx and Crake, a tongue-in-cheek look at a post apocalyptic world in which all humans, except one, are gone.

Margaret Atwood describes herself in her Tweets:   

“Dress-as-me tips:

1. Wear Black.
2. With a broad-brimmed hat if you like
3. Be short
4. Wear pink accent scarf
5. And weeny earrings
6. Grey fright wig”

Though she is petite and does have challenging hair, she is delightful, warm, personable and self-effacing.

It was a thrill to see her in person.