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raesengele's Reviews (320)
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I REALLY loved just about everything about this book up until the actual "mystery" came into play. There was a point where the story became less about Reeve, her recovery, and her helping the other girls to recover and more about the author moving through the typical thriller paces with Reeve magically overcoming her six year, crippling psychological issues with little repercussions in way of her mental health.
I will especially say, avoid the audiobook if you can. The narrator would practically whisper at points so you'd have to crank up the volume to hear her then yell the next second so your ears get blasted off.
**SPOILERS**
I especially did not like the entire final show down (I mean, I didn't like a lot of what led up to the final show down either, but I was willing to forgive all that as debut novel endings are hard so I'm going to wrap everything up with a neat little bow, corny dialogue and all, syndrome). It wasn't realistic for the Reeve that I followed through the entire rest of the book to fall for such an obvious ploy so easily and then jump into action so level headed without a single instance of real, true, PTSD kind of panic.
I realize what I'm about to say is a nitpick, but I feel it's proof of the degree to which this entire ending felt unrealistic and frustrating: after waking up nude and cuffed to a bed, escaping said cuffs, then making and enacting a plan to get out, Reeve decides there's "no time to get dressed."
............Woman.
You're not in Victorian England. It takes 5 seconds to pull on jeans and less to pull on a shirt. You're escaping a sexual sadist, not looking cute for a date. Not to mention, it's stated on multiple occasions that Reeve is uncomfortable with being nude in even a consensual manner. It's hard for me to imagine that someone like her (or anyone in this situation for that matter) would come up with a plan to escape before taking a few seconds to put her clothes on especially since her captor LEFT HER CLOTHES IN THE ROOM WITH HER. Hell, you can get dressed AND devise a plan at the same time. The author has told me numerous times how super smart you are. Multitask, damn it.
Like I said, I recognize that it's a nitpick, but by the time I got to that line I was already so absolutely frustrated with how simultaneously unrealistic and prototypical everything that was happening was that I just couldn't take it anymore.
And this was made even worse, I think, because the beginning had so much promise. I would have loved to read a book that was about a survivor's recovery and seeing her guide others through their own while proving to herself that those six years of hard work were worth it and that she was ready to take the next step forward, but unfortunately the "mystery" had to go and get in the way.
(Also, there was literally no point to the character of Poe. I kept waiting for him to do something that the other characters couldn't have done themselves. It didn't help that, because of the way the first chapter was written, I thought for most of the book that he and Duke were the same person.)
I will especially say, avoid the audiobook if you can. The narrator would practically whisper at points so you'd have to crank up the volume to hear her then yell the next second so your ears get blasted off.
**SPOILERS**
I especially did not like the entire final show down (I mean, I didn't like a lot of what led up to the final show down either, but I was willing to forgive all that as debut novel endings are hard so I'm going to wrap everything up with a neat little bow, corny dialogue and all, syndrome). It wasn't realistic for the Reeve that I followed through the entire rest of the book to fall for such an obvious ploy so easily and then jump into action so level headed without a single instance of real, true, PTSD kind of panic.
I realize what I'm about to say is a nitpick, but I feel it's proof of the degree to which this entire ending felt unrealistic and frustrating: after waking up nude and cuffed to a bed, escaping said cuffs, then making and enacting a plan to get out, Reeve decides there's "no time to get dressed."
............Woman.
You're not in Victorian England. It takes 5 seconds to pull on jeans and less to pull on a shirt. You're escaping a sexual sadist, not looking cute for a date. Not to mention, it's stated on multiple occasions that Reeve is uncomfortable with being nude in even a consensual manner. It's hard for me to imagine that someone like her (or anyone in this situation for that matter) would come up with a plan to escape before taking a few seconds to put her clothes on especially since her captor LEFT HER CLOTHES IN THE ROOM WITH HER. Hell, you can get dressed AND devise a plan at the same time. The author has told me numerous times how super smart you are. Multitask, damn it.
Like I said, I recognize that it's a nitpick, but by the time I got to that line I was already so absolutely frustrated with how simultaneously unrealistic and prototypical everything that was happening was that I just couldn't take it anymore.
And this was made even worse, I think, because the beginning had so much promise. I would have loved to read a book that was about a survivor's recovery and seeing her guide others through their own while proving to herself that those six years of hard work were worth it and that she was ready to take the next step forward, but unfortunately the "mystery" had to go and get in the way.
(Also, there was literally no point to the character of Poe. I kept waiting for him to do something that the other characters couldn't have done themselves. It didn't help that, because of the way the first chapter was written, I thought for most of the book that he and Duke were the same person.)
Since everyone and their Martha has most likely reviewed this book before me, I feel like I'd be more suited addressing some of what I've seen other reviewers commenting on because I feel they may have missed some of the point that Atwood has presented.
Having said that, I will add, leave your expectations at the door before opening this book. Though it is in the world of The Handmaid's Tale, I would argue that it is less a sequel and more a continuation. We get three new perspectives in a new era of Gilead plus a new setting (Canada). We are not in the Gilead of Offred's time and we are not hearing her voice.
Remember that.
I think a lot of the reviewers have forgotten the format of the book: it is an epistolary novel in the form of two transcripts and what is part journal, part letter to the reader. Also remember that The Handmaid's Tale was intended to be a transcript from a series of cassette tapes (this is stated in the symposium section of both books).
These different narratives aren't just from the point of view of four characters, they are the literal voices of these characters. It's therefore not unintentional that this book reads different from its predecessor because none of these characters are Offred.
The thing that has bothered me the most to see is other reviewers complaining that Testaments is "too YA." I would argue that this is intentional seeing as one of the view points is from a teen and the other a young adult recounting her life from preteen to early/mid twenties. These are narratives in the voices of young adults, Atwood would have done herself a disservice to make them talk and view the world as adults.
Another comment I've seen repeated is that Atwood is just selling out and marketing off the show. Please give this woman more credit than that. It's not like she's a has been who's desperate for cash. Her last book before Testaments was published in 2016 and was a New York Times best seller. I'd say she's doing pretty good without the success of the Handmaid's Tale adaptation.
That being said, does Testaments follow some of the show's plot? Yes, but you have to keep in mind she's also been working closely with the show runner and was even sharing with him plot points of Testaments as she was writing it. Not only is it in her best interest to maintain that relationship and allow the show to be canon with the books, it's also a smart move on her part. Atwood has now established both the beginning and the end of this story. The show must now stitch those two together if they want to remain loyal to her and the established fan base. This is, in a way, her locking in where SHE wants these characters to end up.
That is her right as the creator of this world.
If you go into this book expecting a Handmaid's Tale 2.0, you'll be disappointed.
If you go into it trusting that Atwood will continue the story of Gilead in a way that is entertaining and loyal to the already established world and characters, then you won't be.
Having said that, I will add, leave your expectations at the door before opening this book. Though it is in the world of The Handmaid's Tale, I would argue that it is less a sequel and more a continuation. We get three new perspectives in a new era of Gilead plus a new setting (Canada). We are not in the Gilead of Offred's time and we are not hearing her voice.
Remember that.
I think a lot of the reviewers have forgotten the format of the book: it is an epistolary novel in the form of two transcripts and what is part journal, part letter to the reader. Also remember that The Handmaid's Tale was intended to be a transcript from a series of cassette tapes (this is stated in the symposium section of both books).
These different narratives aren't just from the point of view of four characters, they are the literal voices of these characters. It's therefore not unintentional that this book reads different from its predecessor because none of these characters are Offred.
The thing that has bothered me the most to see is other reviewers complaining that Testaments is "too YA." I would argue that this is intentional seeing as one of the view points is from a teen and the other a young adult recounting her life from preteen to early/mid twenties. These are narratives in the voices of young adults, Atwood would have done herself a disservice to make them talk and view the world as adults.
Another comment I've seen repeated is that Atwood is just selling out and marketing off the show. Please give this woman more credit than that. It's not like she's a has been who's desperate for cash. Her last book before Testaments was published in 2016 and was a New York Times best seller. I'd say she's doing pretty good without the success of the Handmaid's Tale adaptation.
That being said, does Testaments follow some of the show's plot? Yes, but you have to keep in mind she's also been working closely with the show runner and was even sharing with him plot points of Testaments as she was writing it. Not only is it in her best interest to maintain that relationship and allow the show to be canon with the books, it's also a smart move on her part. Atwood has now established both the beginning and the end of this story. The show must now stitch those two together if they want to remain loyal to her and the established fan base. This is, in a way, her locking in where SHE wants these characters to end up.
That is her right as the creator of this world.
If you go into this book expecting a Handmaid's Tale 2.0, you'll be disappointed.
If you go into it trusting that Atwood will continue the story of Gilead in a way that is entertaining and loyal to the already established world and characters, then you won't be.
I wasn't convinced at first, but wow, this novella's good. Great tension, great twists. There were a few points with a bit too much dialogue and not enough action cues (I like "seeing" what characters are doing while talking. Gives just a bit more insight into the intentions behind their words), but everything else was great enough to overlook that.
Let me start off by saying that I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. When it was chosen as the February read for the Read Women group, I was admittedly disappointed to be reading a kid's book and saved it for the last minute to read. My god, was I wrong.
Entertainment: 1 star
I was entirely entertained by this book, which was a complete shock to me. Between the characters and the events, there was never really a point where I was bored and the pages went by more quickly than I wanted them to at times. Though it isn't exactly an action packed story, the events and development of the characters keep you wanting to move forward.
Story: 1 star
On the surface, there isn't much of an overarching story to Anne of Green Gables, it' more of a slice of life story made up of a series of vignettes showing Anne grow up, but, in truth, this is the overarching story. The reader watches as Anne shifts from an untamed orphan girl to an educated teen that everyone in the community respects. Though she does become more subdued in the later chapters of the book, we can see that she is still the same Anne, it's just that now she has carved herself a place in the world around her.
The primary thing that I love about the story is the fact that there are lessons to be learned through out it, but the reader is never beaten over the head with them nor are they ever preached at. The reader learns the lesson through Anne and by watching her work through the lesson herself and grow from it. It helps, as well, that Anne never deals with anything lightly and every lesson is just as entertaining for the reader as it is helpful for Anne's development.
Character: 1 star
The thing I loved most about this book was the treatment of the characters. Every character is flawed in some way and yet they each have their own arcs and developments. I enjoyed Anne as a character thoroughly and, much like Matthew, fell for her from the moment the ride back to Green Gables began. Her imagination and persistence to get through whatever life threw at her won me over entirely. At the same time, I loved Marilla, even if she is a bit too hard on Anne in the beginning, then again, it was exactly what Anne needed as she grew older. Matthew was just wonderfully endearing and I loved the dynamic between him, Marilla, and Anne. Even Anne's classmates, who don't have arcs that are nearly as pronounced as Anne, are still three dimensional characters with wants and goals of their own.
Writing Style: 1 star
Though Montgomery's writing style isn't as poetic as I usually like, the words take a back seat to the characters and allow them to breath life into the narrative. Had Anne not been as tenacious, had Marilla not had the same grit, had Matthew not had the same heart, had Anne not had such reverence for the world around her, the book wouldn't have been half as good as it was. At the same time, the writing was never dry or without wit, but it is the characters that give this book life (as it should be).
Descriptions: 1 star
If Montgomery's characters grabbed my attention, her descriptions held it firmly in place. Despite Montgomery never describing anything with poetics, Anne's ability to view everything around her with such passion amplified the settings and descriptions in a way that poetics weren't needed.
Total: 5 stars
Overall, the best thing about this book is the fact that it's well written despite being "for kid's." Something that bothers me is the dismal of poorly made entertainment with the excuse of "it's for kids." That just shouldn't be an excuse. Just because something is made for kids shouldn't be a free pass to not put the same thought and care into it that you would if it was for adults. Anne of Green Gables never falls into this trap. The book was clearly written with care and intention without being bogged down with being didactic or talking down to the reader. I'm a bit sorry that I never read Anne as a child, I don't doubt I would have been the better for it, but what am I to do about it.
Entertainment: 1 star
I was entirely entertained by this book, which was a complete shock to me. Between the characters and the events, there was never really a point where I was bored and the pages went by more quickly than I wanted them to at times. Though it isn't exactly an action packed story, the events and development of the characters keep you wanting to move forward.
Story: 1 star
On the surface, there isn't much of an overarching story to Anne of Green Gables, it' more of a slice of life story made up of a series of vignettes showing Anne grow up, but, in truth, this is the overarching story. The reader watches as Anne shifts from an untamed orphan girl to an educated teen that everyone in the community respects. Though she does become more subdued in the later chapters of the book, we can see that she is still the same Anne, it's just that now she has carved herself a place in the world around her.
The primary thing that I love about the story is the fact that there are lessons to be learned through out it, but the reader is never beaten over the head with them nor are they ever preached at. The reader learns the lesson through Anne and by watching her work through the lesson herself and grow from it. It helps, as well, that Anne never deals with anything lightly and every lesson is just as entertaining for the reader as it is helpful for Anne's development.
Character: 1 star
The thing I loved most about this book was the treatment of the characters. Every character is flawed in some way and yet they each have their own arcs and developments. I enjoyed Anne as a character thoroughly and, much like Matthew, fell for her from the moment the ride back to Green Gables began. Her imagination and persistence to get through whatever life threw at her won me over entirely. At the same time, I loved Marilla, even if she is a bit too hard on Anne in the beginning, then again, it was exactly what Anne needed as she grew older. Matthew was just wonderfully endearing and I loved the dynamic between him, Marilla, and Anne. Even Anne's classmates, who don't have arcs that are nearly as pronounced as Anne, are still three dimensional characters with wants and goals of their own.
Writing Style: 1 star
Though Montgomery's writing style isn't as poetic as I usually like, the words take a back seat to the characters and allow them to breath life into the narrative. Had Anne not been as tenacious, had Marilla not had the same grit, had Matthew not had the same heart, had Anne not had such reverence for the world around her, the book wouldn't have been half as good as it was. At the same time, the writing was never dry or without wit, but it is the characters that give this book life (as it should be).
Descriptions: 1 star
If Montgomery's characters grabbed my attention, her descriptions held it firmly in place. Despite Montgomery never describing anything with poetics, Anne's ability to view everything around her with such passion amplified the settings and descriptions in a way that poetics weren't needed.
Total: 5 stars
Overall, the best thing about this book is the fact that it's well written despite being "for kid's." Something that bothers me is the dismal of poorly made entertainment with the excuse of "it's for kids." That just shouldn't be an excuse. Just because something is made for kids shouldn't be a free pass to not put the same thought and care into it that you would if it was for adults. Anne of Green Gables never falls into this trap. The book was clearly written with care and intention without being bogged down with being didactic or talking down to the reader. I'm a bit sorry that I never read Anne as a child, I don't doubt I would have been the better for it, but what am I to do about it.
I can see why it's a classic even without the Disney cartoon, but Peter is an abusive asshole. Just saying. Wendy deserved better.
