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avocadotoastbee's review against another edition
3.5
In the acknowledgements, Atwood says that The Testaments answers questions left by The Handmaid's Tale and shows what happened after the novel. In my opinion, however, it doesn't do that at all.
Don't get me wrong, there was definitely more information about Gilead and what led to its downfall, although it is never really said how Gilead collapsed.
Another thing that really bothered me was that it basically stuck to the extended storyline and characters from the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale. I would have liked the book much more if it had been narrated by other characters and abandoned the plot of The Handmaid's Tale's nameless narrator (June) completely, or at least partially.
All in all, I think Margaret Atwood did a great job of building this dystopian world (some of which, unfortunately, isn't that far from the reality we're living in right now), but The Testaments didn't meet my expectations and was predictable, and kind of unnecessary.
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Incest, Classism, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Infidelity
Minor: Murder
jayley's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, and Rape
theallmightyme's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Murder, Incest, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide attempt
tangerinekorma's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Murder, Incest, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Sexual violence
uhm_kai's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Torture, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Rape, and Pregnancy
hurricaneflora's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault
emilymckay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Violence, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Child death
imreallyraven's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Rape, Incest, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Murder, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death