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A review by bethanygracious
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It’s an enjoyable book, but it’s no Handmaid’s Tale. Part of what engaged about Handmaid was the mystery—even after you finished the book. This is more of a tell-all. There are no mysteries to uncover—and certainly none lingering after.
The storytelling is also less sophisticated. Supposedly, these are three testimonies written by three different people—but they all have the same narrative writing style, and it’s all very detailed for someone writing this down. Would Nicole really be that intent on telling us about a teenage crush she had for a few days—whether she wrote this as an adult or as a teen? Would Aunt Lydia really mix her current happenings with what happened at the start of Gilead? Would she confess to her crimes knowing that someone could fine them?
Also, Nicole’s character is an idiot. She’s sent into this country where she knows a misstep could get her killed, and yet she mocks everything loudly and goes around swearing. We’re supposed to like this character?
Margaret also seems to be confused about the lifesaving nature of C-sections? If a woman’s life is danger while she gives birth, you WANT them to cut out the baby. The Issue is them not giving her medical care. But if they didn’t give her a c-section, the Handmaid was clearly going to die anyway.
All that said, I did enjoy it… but not like the original.
The storytelling is also less sophisticated. Supposedly, these are three testimonies written by three different people—but they all have the same narrative writing style, and it’s all very detailed for someone writing this down. Would Nicole really be that intent on telling us about a teenage crush she had for a few days—whether she wrote this as an adult or as a teen? Would Aunt Lydia really mix her current happenings with what happened at the start of Gilead? Would she confess to her crimes knowing that someone could fine them?
Also, Nicole’s character is an idiot. She’s sent into this country where she knows a misstep could get her killed, and yet she mocks everything loudly and goes around swearing. We’re supposed to like this character?
Margaret also seems to be confused about the lifesaving nature of C-sections? If a woman’s life is danger while she gives birth, you WANT them to cut out the baby. The Issue is them not giving her medical care. But if they didn’t give her a c-section, the Handmaid was clearly going to die anyway.
All that said, I did enjoy it… but not like the original.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault