How to shuffle Atwood

This is weird. I have an iPod, see, and am addicted to books on CD. First it was Harry Potter, books 4 and 5. Book 5 made me cranky for a whole month as I listened to it, but I had to finish it. Grr.

The latest is Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake. But I'd been listening to heaven knows what the week before. So I select the book, hear the introductory music and start listening. It's clever, enigmatic and confusing, but as the chapters unfold, I start to get a picture of this world she's created. I tell hub how much I like the book so far.

This morning, I go to pick up where I've left off and am surprised to note that I haven't heard chapter 4. Each chapter is 4-6 minutes long and I listened for more than half an hour. This doesn't add up.

Then I realize: I'd left the iPod on shuffle. Which means I was hearing chapters OUT OF ORDER -- only from the first three discs, since that's all I'd imported to the iPod before the weekend. And I still liked the book.

Now that I'm listening in order again, it's making more sense and is easier to grasp. What does it say about me that I was enjoying a mixed-up Atwood? [i'm weird] What does it say about Atwood? [her writing is so good, it doesn't matter if you listen to it in order.]

Anyway, that's all. Just wanted to share. BTW, I've been near Ms Atwood twice. Both while shopping at Holt Renfrew [the posh Toronto department store]. As any good Canadian, I merely witnessed her walking by and said nothing. She has very fuzzy hair.