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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Incredible and powerful follow up to Handmaids Tale that left me very satisfied and ready to trample the patriarchy! (Come at me, bro!) Last 100 pages were so intense I could barely breathe. Once again, thank you Atwood for creating something so meaningful.
challenging
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well despite the many carping reviews I have read I enjoyed this. I liked the fleshing out of the details I am not wholly sure about Aunt Lydia as a saviour but I can live with it.
As I was reading this whilst ploughing through 500+ year old documents I liked the notion of this being evidence found by historians, although it did make me wonder about some neat tying up of loose ends; there is a lot in common between England 1440 and Gilead and I know that much of what I am looking at has any number of conflicting theories applied to it.
Not to be read if you haven't read The Handmaid's Tale and you need to put the TV series out of your mind but if you are ok with those then it is an enjoyable read.
And for all those who suggest this is not as good as her highpoints such as its predecessor THT or Alias Grace, Ms Atwood is now 80+. Most of us will be lucky if we can still scratch out a signature by then nevermind a fat, speculative novel.
As I was reading this whilst ploughing through 500+ year old documents I liked the notion of this being evidence found by historians, although it did make me wonder about some neat tying up of loose ends; there is a lot in common between England 1440 and Gilead and I know that much of what I am looking at has any number of conflicting theories applied to it.
Not to be read if you haven't read The Handmaid's Tale and you need to put the TV series out of your mind but if you are ok with those then it is an enjoyable read.
And for all those who suggest this is not as good as her highpoints such as its predecessor THT or Alias Grace, Ms Atwood is now 80+. Most of us will be lucky if we can still scratch out a signature by then nevermind a fat, speculative novel.
3.6/5
I wanted to enjoy this as I loved The Handmaids Tale. That is a book that sticks with you long after reading it. This one? Didn't grab me in the same way, nor did it stick with me. It didn't make me stop and think whilst I was reading it. It felt superfluous to requirements if that makes sense.
I get why she wrote this book and I can see why some like it but to me it didn't need to be done. The Handmaids Tale stood on its own. Let the questions go unanswered. That's partly what makes it stick with you. This attempt at answers and closure feels soft.
The teenage perspective feels very YA and yet the Aunt Lydia bits felt like Aunt Lydia. I know that doesn't sound bad but switching up so much between POVs just didn't land for me. I found the YA-esque parts lacking. [For context I love YA books].
I wanted more of Aunt Lydia and less YA.
I wanted to enjoy this as I loved The Handmaids Tale. That is a book that sticks with you long after reading it. This one? Didn't grab me in the same way, nor did it stick with me. It didn't make me stop and think whilst I was reading it. It felt superfluous to requirements if that makes sense.
I get why she wrote this book and I can see why some like it but to me it didn't need to be done. The Handmaids Tale stood on its own. Let the questions go unanswered. That's partly what makes it stick with you. This attempt at answers and closure feels soft.
The teenage perspective feels very YA and yet the Aunt Lydia bits felt like Aunt Lydia. I know that doesn't sound bad but switching up so much between POVs just didn't land for me. I found the YA-esque parts lacking. [For context I love YA books].
I wanted more of Aunt Lydia and less YA.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced