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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this return to Gilead. The 3 protagonists of the novel give a new glimpse into different roles for women within Gilead apart from that of Handmaid, and really make you think about what choices would be available in this world. Another great tale by Ms. Atwood.
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Set several years in the future following The Handmaid's Tale, a teenaged Baby Nicole discovers her true identity and ends up being reunited with her half-sister Agnes. We gain more insight into Aunt Lydia's experiences as well.
Having just finished The Handmaid's Tale series on Hulu earlier this year, this was a worthwhile revisit to the Gilead universe.
Having just finished The Handmaid's Tale series on Hulu earlier this year, this was a worthwhile revisit to the Gilead universe.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you’re pro-Gilead, your (papa)‘s a hoe.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Regardless of what you think about the plot, the fact that Margaret Atwood wrote a fanfiction of the tv show based off of her decades old book is fascinating. Also, audiobook wise, the performances of Ann Dowd and Mae Whitman are excellent, unsurprisingly.Bryce Dallas Howard is also good, though I felt it was kind of weird to cast a white actress for this role and also not address Agnes’ blackness at all in this book. 2019 is late enough into the Handmaids Tale dystopia we are living in to realize the important role that race and anti-blackness play in misogyny and Christian Nationalism. My favorite section was the final chapter - read by Derek Jacobi - which was a fictional historian’s overview of Gilead. Overall I feel like Aunt Lydia is a more interesting character as a compassionate villain than a May Day ally and that politically this novel doesn’t add much to either the show or the original novel, but especially if you watch the show it’s worth a read.
This is definitely more of a page-turner (odd phrase to use, since I listened to the audiobook) than The Handmaid’s Tale, but also feels wholly unnecessary. It seems to do less to add upon the story and the worldbuilding of the universe than the TV adaptation. One nice aspect of the audiobook: Ann Dowd reprising her role as Aunt Lydia.
“I feared I might lose my faith. If you’ve never had a faith, you will not understand what that means. You feel as if your best friend is dying, that everything that defined you is being burned away; that you’ll be left all alone.”
“I feared I might lose my faith. If you’ve never had a faith, you will not understand what that means. You feel as if your best friend is dying, that everything that defined you is being burned away; that you’ll be left all alone.”
emotional
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes