Scan barcode
charlietuna92's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. That being said, it is definitely a continuation of the Hulu show and not just a sequel of the first book. I liked seeing different lives inside Gilead and not just those of Handmaids. I thought the ending was a bit happier and more finalized than I expected, but I’m not mad about it. I read through this book so quickly and loved it!
fedak's review against another edition
3.0
Fan service novel after people pestered Atwood for 30 years about what happened after the Handmaid's Tale. Quite good for about the first 3/4 with a couple big reveals (one of which I saw coming a mile away, one I didn't)
In the last part, Atwood clearly wanted to bring two of the protagonists together and clearly couldn't think of a way to do it. So we ended up with a nonsensical plot sequence for the latter third.
It was also disappointing that Atwood basically added nothing to Gilead that wasn't in the first novel- and I was hoping to see more about how the US devolved to the point where the Gilead revolution was possible.
In the last part, Atwood clearly wanted to bring two of the protagonists together and clearly couldn't think of a way to do it. So we ended up with a nonsensical plot sequence for the latter third.
It was also disappointing that Atwood basically added nothing to Gilead that wasn't in the first novel- and I was hoping to see more about how the US devolved to the point where the Gilead revolution was possible.
erikajoy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.75
alisarae's review against another edition
uhhhh I cannot believe this won the Booker Prize. It would be like if Go Set a Watchman won the National Book Award.
The Testaments is more action-packed and faster paced, much more explicitly didactic, and... mainstream... than The Handmaid's Tale. I'm not a lit snob, but I am judgey. I had different expectations for this book. At several points I honestly wondered if this had been ghostwritten because of how by-the-book (sorry, couldn't help myself) the plotting and timing was. It seems scripted for TV episodes—like maybe Atwood had written the outline but someone familiar with screenwriting developed it.
First, though I have read a few novels by Margaret Atwood, her strength really lies, imho, in her poetry. Too bad none of her clever wordplay made it into this book. It's very straightforward, functional writing, focused on explaining "why" or moving the plot forward as quickly as possible.
Second, the chapters are all first-person and switch between the perspectives of three different women. Sometimes the chapters end with dramatic pauses and a cliffhanger-structure, but none of the reveals are facts that I didn't figure out from the first pages of the book. I think it would work on-screen, but it takes more work to grab readers with emotional reveals than it does to grab viewers—this is a nature of the medium, not a reflection on the intelligence of the audience.
Third, a few ongoing elements in the book did not actually pan out to bring anything explosive to the plot. It's Chekhov's gun—if the reader's attention is constantly drawn to an element or object, there better be some major plot purpose that happens because of said element. This is fiction writing 101. There's one thing in particular, no spoilers, that I think would work on-screen by adding drama but it only serves the plot a big fat plate of empty air.
To end on a positive note: I liked that a lot happened, never a dull moment in Gilead. And also I liked that RBG is a main character in this book ;)
The Testaments is more action-packed and faster paced, much more explicitly didactic, and... mainstream... than The Handmaid's Tale. I'm not a lit snob, but I am judgey. I had different expectations for this book. At several points I honestly wondered if this had been ghostwritten because of how by-the-book (sorry, couldn't help myself) the plotting and timing was. It seems scripted for TV episodes—like maybe Atwood had written the outline but someone familiar with screenwriting developed it.
First, though I have read a few novels by Margaret Atwood, her strength really lies, imho, in her poetry. Too bad none of her clever wordplay made it into this book. It's very straightforward, functional writing, focused on explaining "why" or moving the plot forward as quickly as possible.
Second, the chapters are all first-person and switch between the perspectives of three different women. Sometimes the chapters end with dramatic pauses and a cliffhanger-structure, but none of the reveals are facts that I didn't figure out from the first pages of the book. I think it would work on-screen, but it takes more work to grab readers with emotional reveals than it does to grab viewers—this is a nature of the medium, not a reflection on the intelligence of the audience.
Third, a few ongoing elements in the book did not actually pan out to bring anything explosive to the plot. It's Chekhov's gun—if the reader's attention is constantly drawn to an element or object, there better be some major plot purpose that happens because of said element. This is fiction writing 101. There's one thing in particular, no spoilers, that I think would work on-screen by adding drama but it only serves the plot a big fat plate of empty air.
To end on a positive note: I liked that a lot happened, never a dull moment in Gilead. And also I liked that RBG is a main character in this book ;)
kwacky's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
21jaeharlan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.5
mollyhee's review against another edition
2.0
This is the sequel that we never needed. After finishing the book, I have to agree with many Goodread reviewers, as much as I did not want to when I started this book.
Maybe if I had not had The Handmaid's Tale to compare to, this book would not have been the disappointment it is. If The Handmaid's Tale is a literary masterpiece, this book feels like the beach read you might grab at the airport Hudson News. The Handmaid's Tale was my introduction to Atwood and was my motivation to read more of her work, and this book kills that motivation completely.
Oh the overuage of the F word. I will venture a guess that Atwood herself is not a fellow F word user. The fact the F word is used so much for one of the characters to show the "edginess" is cringe and diminishing.
All in all, if this book has to be published, it should be 200 pages shorter with one narrator at most (and if you've read this book you know which one would be considered remotely worth keeping).
Maybe if I had not had The Handmaid's Tale to compare to, this book would not have been the disappointment it is. If The Handmaid's Tale is a literary masterpiece, this book feels like the beach read you might grab at the airport Hudson News. The Handmaid's Tale was my introduction to Atwood and was my motivation to read more of her work, and this book kills that motivation completely.
Oh the overuage of the F word. I will venture a guess that Atwood herself is not a fellow F word user. The fact the F word is used so much for one of the characters to show the "edginess" is cringe and diminishing.
All in all, if this book has to be published, it should be 200 pages shorter with one narrator at most (and if you've read this book you know which one would be considered remotely worth keeping).
bottlereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0