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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Very different from the film. Almost no action, instead a lot of introspection. Nevertheless, it's still a suspenseful and intriguing read.
In a dystopian look at a world where men and women are no longer fertile and the human race is slowly dying out, pregnant Julian becomes a valuable commodity, protected by the activist group she is a part of, hidden and coddled. Those in power learn of her condition and set out to find her to enable the country's dictator, Xan, to claim her son as his own.
This narrative is a bit of a departure for the well known author of the Adam Dalgleish mystery series, and it is compelling, but The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, published several years earlier, presents a much more vivid picture of what happens to women when their reproductive capabilities are co-opted by men. I believe the Atwood book must have informed James' story and it remains the definitive fictional account that predicted the reproductive healthcare horrors women are enduring today.
This narrative is a bit of a departure for the well known author of the Adam Dalgleish mystery series, and it is compelling, but The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, published several years earlier, presents a much more vivid picture of what happens to women when their reproductive capabilities are co-opted by men. I believe the Atwood book must have informed James' story and it remains the definitive fictional account that predicted the reproductive healthcare horrors women are enduring today.
This book started so slowly, so drily, and then got better, but it was an effort to finish. The dystopian setup was good – I love me a good dystopia – but the story wasn’t good enough to match it. I have read P D James before, and her detective writing is far better. The film of this book was also far better than this book, which had an excellent, if slightly unlikely ending, but really struggled to get going.
I should reread this one. I picked it up in my youth, expecting an SF story and was disappointed. Now i think i should have another go in my dotage, to see if it's any better with some lived experience for relish.
This book was a chore to finish! I could not deal with much of the boring stretches and found myself skimming. Then, just as it was getting interesting, it was over.
The premise sounded so very interesting. The book was not. I should have just read the synopsis and moved on.
The premise sounded so very interesting. The book was not. I should have just read the synopsis and moved on.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are so many passages in this book that are brilliantly insightful about the world. This is science fiction written as literary fiction. It's fairly short, with what seems to be a rushed final act, so I felt it left a little on the table when I finished. Still, I was engrossed and finished the vast majority of it in one sitting.
It very loosely resembles the events in the movie of the same name (also a brilliantly-made, serious take on an oft-maligned genre) so do not go into it with high hopes of seeing the same story play out on the page (or vice versa). Still, this book has plenty to offer on its own.
It very loosely resembles the events in the movie of the same name (also a brilliantly-made, serious take on an oft-maligned genre) so do not go into it with high hopes of seeing the same story play out on the page (or vice versa). Still, this book has plenty to offer on its own.
I really love Alfonso Cuaron's adaptation of this novel; I actually wasn't even aware of the book until just this year. The original text was very enjoyable to read. Though most all of the characters are retained in Cuaron's version, their functions are pretty radically different from how they appeared in the book. It was interesting to get what felt like an alternate version of the story I was familiar with.
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked it way more than I thought. It starts really slow and continues on slowly as well, but I've come to terms with the fact that maybe I enjoy books like these more thant I thought.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes