Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

54 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

It took a minute to realize there were three POV but when I did, the story started coming together so nicely. I really didn’t want to put this down. I’m a sucker for a dystopian, corrupt-government tale, and this, much like The Handmaid’s Tale, didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed getting a peek into Aunt Lydia’s mind. Atwood’s work continues to be timely and relevant and this sequel to the 1985 Handmaid’s Tale was equal parts fascinating and horrifying. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kileyjojo's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a pretty good follow up to The Handmaid’s Tale. It wouldn’t make much sense as a stand-alone novel so if interested in reading it, the first should be read.
I didn’t expect to have a lot of sympathy for some of these characters and I didn’t at the beginning of the book, but Margaret Atwood surprisingly makes that possible. This goes the opposite way as well, though. This book is a triple perspective one and I found myself disliking characters that are meant to be flawed but liked. Overall, it’s a great follow up to the first book and definitely worth a read if you’re a fan. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

gretareadsbooks's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, and Religious bigotry

amfrtsedi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Torture

loxeletters's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was so, for a lack of a better word, fun! Of course it was quite depressing at times, and often infuriating. But since we were mostly "spared" the perspective of handmaids and wives, it was somewhat less grim than the first book. I guess that is also why it had less of an emotional impact on me, though it was still so captivating and immersive that it feels wrong to give it any less than five stars. I enjoyed all three perspectives, and again found the primary source concept fun and interesting. Some more elaboration on the actual downfall of Gilead would've made me happy, but the vagueness gives room to think and speculate, which I always appreciate. Interestingly, I perhaps connected most with Aunt Lydia, since I found her characterisation to be the most fleshed out and compelling. 

All in all, this is not the kind of literary fiction that the Handmaid's Tale was - and that's fine by me. I enjoyed both it's literary and thriller aspects a lot.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity

luyc's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A deeply satisfying follow up to the handmaid's tale. I highly recommend listening to this as an audiobook.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry

samshort's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.75

It was enjoyable, although I think some plot points took away from the message of the first book. I think I prefer THT as a standalone. I did appreciate the exploration into new aspects of Gileadean society, although I would have enjoyed seeing different demographics represented. All the protagonists are white women.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

czoltak's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“Beneath its outer show of virtue and purity, Gilead was rotting.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“”She's always been a respectful child."
What a liar she was. She knew how much rage was seething inside me.”
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
I absolutely loved this book. I am honestly surprised since I thought The Handmaid’s Tale (Book 1) was just okay. For some reason, this one just had such a greater impact on me. I loved getting to see different perspectives on the society and learning more about how it came to be the way it was. Aunt Lydia, Agnes, and Daisy were all incredibly compelling, and I loved seeing the world through each of their own experiences. Basically, this took all the elements I enjoyed in the first book, added aspects I love and just more general info about the actual world, and made one amazingly heartbreaking, impactful story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

eilidhmacq's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Incest, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicide and Murder

theimposter's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism