Next we discovered books by Margaret Atwood. It was her MaddAddam Trilogy that got us hooked. Then we discovered The Handmaid's Tale.
When it was announced that she would be releasing a sequel, we were ready to get it for our Kindles. In the meantime, we reread the original in anticipation.
In both books, Gilead is a Puritan theocracy located in the New England region of the United States. The Testaments is set sixteen years after The Handmaid's Tale. It's based on past accounts from three women that were presented at the 13th Symposium on Gileadean Studies International Historical Convention.One narrative was taken from a manuscript presumably authored by highly positioned Aunt Lydia, a woman significantly responsible for the structure governing women in Gilead Society. Two additional narratives came from young women's witness testimonies, one who grew up in Gilead and the other in Canada. The three testaments provided different perspectives of life in and beyond Gilead.
In her October 2019 Maclean's Magazine interview, Margaret Atwood gave the reasoning for publishing a sequel thirty-four years after the original. Readers and TV series viewers asked for a sequel, but that wasn't enough. Then Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, followed by Women's Marches with some protestors dressed as Offred from the Handmaid's Tale, and then there was the #MeToo movement. Atwood felt it was time because “we were going towards the world of The Handmaid’s Tale rather than away from it”
Whatever her reasoning, it's an exceptional book. I enjoyed the inclusion of Canadian values in comparison to Gilead society. The books may be fiction, but having lived in both countries, I too have seen a definite shift in attitudes and beliefs, especially south of the border.
And what an honour. The Testaments has just shared winning the prestigious 2019 Booker Prize for Fiction.
If you haven't read either book, I recommend starting with The Handmaid's Tale. It's currently free with Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 for purchase, and $15.99 for hardcover. The Testaments is for $14.99 for Kindle, and $16.99 for hardcover. Both books are also available at most online and brick and mortar booksellers.
Have you read either book yet? What did you think? -- Margy
I have the Handmaid's Tale and hope to start reading it as soon as my cataract surgery this month. Can't wait...Thelma..
ReplyDeleteIt is a far out premise, especially when it was written, but now? - Margy
DeleteThank you for the recommendations, I have not read these books.
ReplyDeleteShe is an excellent writer. I love all of her books that I've read so far. - Margy
DeleteOh you've got me hooked now, I want to read both. Margaret Attwood's reasons for writing after such a big gap are interesting. Did you enjoy one more than the other?
ReplyDeleteWren x
It's hard to tell. You really need to read them in order to get the full story. Testaments doesn't tell as much about the life of the handmaids. - Margy
DeleteMargy - I have not read them, and they are now on my list!
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think after you've had a chance to read them. - Margy
DeleteRead the Handmaid's Tale when it came out and it seemed very unlikely then. Now, not so much.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I read it many years after it first came out, so times were quite a bit different by then. For sure, by now things have gotten even stranger. - Margy
DeleteI'm going to wait to read your review until after I've read the book. I loved the Handmaid's Tale and am curious to read the sequel the author had once swore she'd never write. It's the sign of these dark times that she felt it was necessary now.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in your thoughts after you get a chance to read it. - Margy
DeleteHmm, maybe I need to read these after all ...
ReplyDeleteThey are a bit dark and heavy, but well written. - Margy
DeleteLike Thelma, I have The Handmaid's Tale but haven't read it yet. I agree that her reasoning for writing the sequel during Trump's presidency is fascinating. We do seem to be going backwards in some areas of the country. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI think things going backwards has touched many parts of the country, and lots of places throughout the world. - Margy
DeleteI attended the live Sept 9 book launch from London, England for The Testaments at a local movie theatre. (sorry for the convoluted sentence!) What a fantastic evening! Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd, who played Aunt Lydia on the Hulu Handmaid's Tale's series) read from her narrative. Two other women read from their respective narratives. Margaret Atwood chatted. AMAZING! I've read The Handmaid's Tale a couple of times. Reading The Testaments will be my prize for finishing the revision on my current ms. :) Glad to hear you loved it. Thank you for reviewing!
ReplyDeleteOh I would have loved to go to that. How lucky you were. I reread The Handmaid's Tale just before reading The Testaments. There were a few years lag in between so it was good to get a refresher before diving into her sequel. I didn't read the Maclean's review until after reading the book. That way I didn't have any hints about what would happen. - Margy
DeleteI read the Hand Maidens Tale long ago. Given our pathetic excuse for a PRESIDENT its definitely time for a sequel (update)
ReplyDeleteI see from your review that you are reading about topics related to our current situation. - Margy
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