You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
In reality, a 3.5 rating.
Maddaddam is a bit of a hard act to follow, but this book is also a spectacularly messed up dystopia. It's infused with...I don't know...perhaps a little more humor than the Maddaddam trilogy, but still is dark and ugly and filled with the most despicable, unlikable characters. What I found a little tough about this book is that I felt I had nobody to root for. Still absolutely worth a read (especially for Atwood fans).
Maddaddam is a bit of a hard act to follow, but this book is also a spectacularly messed up dystopia. It's infused with...I don't know...perhaps a little more humor than the Maddaddam trilogy, but still is dark and ugly and filled with the most despicable, unlikable characters. What I found a little tough about this book is that I felt I had nobody to root for. Still absolutely worth a read (especially for Atwood fans).
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall it was entertaining. I thought the middle, and some of the end, of the book had pages that only existed to contribute towards page count. It was to the point I would read the first couple paragraphs of a chapter and skip over the rest.
Hm. 2.5 stars for this one. I’m not TOO familiar with a lot of Margaret Atwood’s work... my senior high school class read Blind Assassin and I enjoyed it for the most part, and I got to hear her speak on campus back when I was in college.
I also know Handmaid’s Tale *exists*. Haven’t read it yet.
So with very little background on the author (compared to huge fans that’ve read a whole slew of her books), this was meeeeh...
I wanted to finish it, so I did. A plus! But although I really like the beginning and Stan and Charmaine wanting to live in a utopia... I disliked SO MUCH SEX TALK MY LORD.
I thought it’d be some scandal obviously about cheating, but I felt a lot of the sex ish could’ve been omitted.
And I wasn’t a big fan of how Stan and Charmaine never broke character?? Things break you. So for Charmaine to be told that something horrid is more-than-likely gonna happen to her and for her to say something along the line of, “oh golly gee willikers! No thank you, mamam!” ... really??? Come on now. She can curse and throw fits; it’s justified.
Or how much Stan cursed and seemed angry unnecessary?? I mean I guess...
I dunno. I got kinda sick of some parts for long stints... just... the plot... was hmm... and the ending?
Hm. Wasn’t TOO ominous but kinda summed up the book: lackluster and no thanks overall. 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
I also know Handmaid’s Tale *exists*. Haven’t read it yet.
So with very little background on the author (compared to huge fans that’ve read a whole slew of her books), this was meeeeh...
I wanted to finish it, so I did. A plus! But although I really like the beginning and Stan and Charmaine wanting to live in a utopia... I disliked SO MUCH SEX TALK MY LORD.
I thought it’d be some scandal obviously about cheating, but I felt a lot of the sex ish could’ve been omitted.
And I wasn’t a big fan of how Stan and Charmaine never broke character?? Things break you. So for Charmaine to be told that something horrid is more-than-likely gonna happen to her and for her to say something along the line of, “oh golly gee willikers! No thank you, mamam!” ... really??? Come on now. She can curse and throw fits; it’s justified.
Or how much Stan cursed and seemed angry unnecessary?? I mean I guess...
I dunno. I got kinda sick of some parts for long stints... just... the plot... was hmm... and the ending?
Hm. Wasn’t TOO ominous but kinda summed up the book: lackluster and no thanks overall. 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would've given the first 2/3 of the book five stars, but felt that it lost momentum towards the end. Still, another well-written and thought-provoking novel from Margaret Atwood.
OMG! 5 stars! no diggety no doubt!
I know Atwood does satire and world building; brilliant SF & Fantasy (even if they call it 'speculative fiction') but I didn't know she did screwball! AND it costars Marilyn AND Elvis! this is a hilarious, terrifying, thrilling page-turner. Big Ideas have never been so much fun!
I know Atwood does satire and world building; brilliant SF & Fantasy (even if they call it 'speculative fiction') but I didn't know she did screwball! AND it costars Marilyn AND Elvis! this is a hilarious, terrifying, thrilling page-turner. Big Ideas have never been so much fun!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes