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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
I liked the concept of the idea. Not a fan of the book really. Felt like all the interesting bit was at the end and rushed
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading this was a strange experience: I didn't really enjoy it while I was doing it, but I kept coming back anyway. The main characters are unpleasant and only kind of compelling (Charmaine moreso), but the side characters kept me interested, even if Conor was more repeated deus ex machina than actual character.
Also, this is a petty complaint and not the fault of the prose itself - but the woman on the cover doesn't match Charmaine orJocelyn's appearances at all.
Also, this is a petty complaint and not the fault of the prose itself - but the woman on the cover doesn't match Charmaine or
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Rape
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gaslighting
Minor: Pedophilia
adventurous
funny
medium-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
I really enjoyed this book, but found the ending a little flat.
Actually, i still don't know if I truly liked this book.
I mean, I didn't like the characters or the world, but I liked how this dystopia was approached and the way the story was built.
I treated this book more as an allegory, but i'm still not ok with some actions and I still don't know how to get over them...I liked Charmaine at first, but after some chapters, I can't say I agreed with her actions and she became very unlikable to me. Exactly the same it was with Stan and the others characters, like Jocelyn, Max, Aurora, etc.
The books showed their dehumanization somehow, and that scared me a bit, like their actions were simply horibble and I just can't be ok with them.
Anyways, in big lines, I can say it was a good dystopia, but not one of my favourites.
P.S.
I know I gave her 2
I mean, I didn't like the characters or the world, but I liked how this dystopia was approached and the way the story was built.
I treated this book more as an allegory, but i'm still not ok with some actions and I still don't know how to get over them...I liked Charmaine at first, but after some chapters, I can't say I agreed with her actions and she became very unlikable to me. Exactly the same it was with Stan and the others characters, like Jocelyn, Max, Aurora, etc.
The books showed their dehumanization somehow, and that scared me a bit, like their actions were simply horibble and I just can't be ok with them.
Anyways, in big lines, I can say it was a good dystopia, but not one of my favourites.
P.S.
I know I gave her 2
Things are getting REALLY intense now in Positron (or a mystery location). I'm a bit alarmed that Margaret seems to have written the first for novellas quite quickly but hasn't added to it for a while. Hope there's something in the pipeline! Please don't leave us dangling, Ms Atwood! I saw that there is one called The Moppet Shop on Goodreads, but I have not been able to find it... Keen to find out what happens to Stan and Charmaine!
Free will comes at a hefty price, doesn't it? What a misnomer.
This book did not go the way I thought it would given the structure - a young couple down on their luck in an economically busted dystopia trade living in their car for all the comforts they could dream of. In exchange for a job, a roof and all the joys life can provide, you must spend every other month in jail. Fair enough!
The story quickly devolves into that of complex infidelity, a fraternity of Elvis robots and brain-altered sex slaves. I don't know how we got to that point, but Margaret Atwood must have had a devilishly good time writing this book.
But at the heart of it all, this story will make you think about free will and whether or not you're truly in control of what you do, think and feel. The moment you give power to something - be that your emotions, a governing body or a religion - that's the moment you lose how far your free will can stretch.
Are there real life applications to this? Of course not - it's just fiction!
Oh, I see.
This book did not go the way I thought it would given the structure - a young couple down on their luck in an economically busted dystopia trade living in their car for all the comforts they could dream of. In exchange for a job, a roof and all the joys life can provide, you must spend every other month in jail. Fair enough!
The story quickly devolves into that of complex infidelity, a fraternity of Elvis robots and brain-altered sex slaves. I don't know how we got to that point, but Margaret Atwood must have had a devilishly good time writing this book.
But at the heart of it all, this story will make you think about free will and whether or not you're truly in control of what you do, think and feel. The moment you give power to something - be that your emotions, a governing body or a religion - that's the moment you lose how far your free will can stretch.
Are there real life applications to this? Of course not - it's just fiction!
Oh, I see.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Atwood is my favorite author. I haven't read a work by her in a while, and was excited about this new one. With The Heart goes Last, I enjoyed her familiar writing style and realistic dystopian theme. As I was reading, I kept thinking, "This would make a great movie!" but realized that it's kind of been done with The Truman Show (which I also love). The characters in this story exist in "perfect" world, where everyone gets along and everything is monitored, but, because of the human condition, things don't quite work the way they "should."
While I enjoyed this read, I will say there was something missing. I can't put my finger on it, but I wouldn't recommend it as a must-read. If you're an Atwood fan, you'll enjoy it, but might be slightly disappointed. It doesn't have the thrills of Oryx & Crake or The Handmaid's Tale.
While I enjoyed this read, I will say there was something missing. I can't put my finger on it, but I wouldn't recommend it as a must-read. If you're an Atwood fan, you'll enjoy it, but might be slightly disappointed. It doesn't have the thrills of Oryx & Crake or The Handmaid's Tale.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where do I begin š
While Margaret Atwood is unarguably one of the greats, this book was not one I would ever choose to reread.
Every single character was unlikeable. Every. Single. Character. And not in a way that theyāre a character that you love to hate, so it gives you energy to read more. It was honestly draining.
My thoughts within about 10 minutes of starting this read were that Stan was unable to think for himself and that Charmaine was insufferable and whiny. Sadly, that opinion didnāt change by the end - if anything it was exacerbated.
The story took several bizarre twists but honestly I had guessed the ābig revealsā fairly easily before they dropped.
With Charmaine being a āmedications administratorā, it was quite easy to spot that Stan would be on the chopping block at some point, fake death or otherwiseā¦ I just wish it had been otherwise, as then we could have seen what exactly Charmaine would have done with complete free rein.
The plot felt unfocused and just like there was far too much going on.
Would have been a DNF if this hadnāt been a book club pick!
While Margaret Atwood is unarguably one of the greats, this book was not one I would ever choose to reread.
Every single character was unlikeable. Every. Single. Character. And not in a way that theyāre a character that you love to hate, so it gives you energy to read more. It was honestly draining.
My thoughts within about 10 minutes of starting this read were that Stan was unable to think for himself and that Charmaine was insufferable and whiny. Sadly, that opinion didnāt change by the end - if anything it was exacerbated.
The story took several bizarre twists but honestly I had guessed the ābig revealsā fairly easily before they dropped.
The plot felt unfocused and just like there was far too much going on.
Would have been a DNF if this hadnāt been a book club pick!