The Testaments: A Novel (The Handmaid's Tale)
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE - A modern masterpiece that "reminds us of the power of truth in the face of evil" (People)--and can be read on its own or as a sequel to Margaret Atwood's classic, The Handmaid's Tale. "Atwood's powers are on full display" (Los Angeles Times) in this deeply compelling Booker Prize-winning novel, now updated with additional content that explores the historical sources, ideas, and material that inspired Atwood. More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results. Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third: Aunt Lydia. Her complex past and uncertain future unfold in surprising and pivotal ways. With The Testaments, Margaret Atwood opens up the innermost workings of Gilead, as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes.
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Community Reviews
This book is definitely for those who are familiar with the set up of the Handmaid's tale and Gilead as it is a follow up over a decade after. Bouncing between the point of view of Aunt Lydia and two teenage girls on either side of the Gilead border, it gives the struggles of each perspective and their conscience on Gilead and own independent desires. If this was written right after, I think it would have been more praised but I feel like it was not moving or revolutionary enough as the initial book.
I think this one was better than Handmaid's Tale! Maybe Atwood's writing skills have improved in the 30 years since the first book. I liked the format of storytelling from three different main characters and that they eventually converged (kind of like in the Witcher tv show). The story closed a lot of loops and offered satisfying closure to the horror story of Gilead. It was especially rewarding to learn about the two daughters of Offred, it was pretty obvious from the start of the story that the two girls were going to be the daughters of the protagonist in the first book. Like the last book though, I kind of didn't like the lecture-style historical review in the future because it's so distant and almost distracting? I don't know, it seemed a bit silly and random, after all the horrible stuff that happens in Gilead, only a few decades later people are talking about it normally and studying it impersonally, and not a lot of information is available about what happened - it just all seemed a little forced and far-fetched. But then again I guess the whole story is super dystopian. I really enjoyed reading it!!
The story was not that exciting as I anticipated all the twists and the style was very underwhelming. The best parts were those narrated by Aunt Lydia whose voice has more more depth than the teenage narrators and offered a new view on the first days of Gilead.
I had no particular expectations so I cannot blame those. I just think it is far from extraordinary.
I had no particular expectations so I cannot blame those. I just think it is far from extraordinary.
Atwood did what was requested: she wrote a follow up to The Handmaid's Tale. This book was best when it wasn't focused on a plot. The last quarter or so could have been left out and made this a stronger book.
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