A review by jamkinn
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

5.0

So hard to put down!! Loved the way these three narratives were woven together and was very impressed how this book built off the first. Can’t really think of any critiques tbh. If you’re a fan of the show I highly recommend, even if you didn’t love the first book.

Some of the reviews really ding Atwood for the more action driven narrative in comparison to The Handmaid’s Tale, and accuse her of “cashing in” to mainstream The Testaments to be more like the TV show. This is true, but I think this is also what gives the novel its strength. The world needs more hope, and these strong, female characters are exactly who I needed to read about right now. Also, I think it rounds out Aunt Lydia’s character- her actions make much more sense to me in this context vs. the tv show and the first novel. People are not black and white and it was nice to see behind the monster that she is still struggling for survival as a human being in her own way.

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