Take a photo of a barcode or cover
786 reviews by:
wren_in_black
This book undertakes a monumental task and does so in a way that is easily understandable, despite the often gruesome subject matter.
Finally, not everything is perfect for our heroes as it seems to have been in the past installments. It's good to see some tension in the narrative beyond just running around the countryside. Don't get me wrong; I've enjoyed it so far. But I'm much more excited to see where this goes!
Although not as dark as its predecessor, The Testaments does not disappoint.
As [a:Margaret Atwood|3472|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282859073p2/3472.jpg] says in the closing pages, the path for Gilead has changed in the 35 years since the original publication of [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546031886l/38447._SY75_.jpg|1119185]. As our nation has "progressed", so too has the path Gilead could have plausibly taken and the resistance movements our characters could have mounted.
The Testaments doesn't quite have the same gravity as The Handmaid's Tale. Only one of the three POV characters is sufficiently developed to provide this kind of narrative. The things that she sees and says are more reminiscent of the original tale. Only she is is morally gray. I found myself mostly interested in her story, even if the introduction of the other two younger narrators (probably 23ish and 16ish) does broaden the scope of the story. I believe Atwood leaned heavily on the success of the show and its multiple narrators when writing this book, and correctly so.
The book does serve as a sequel to both the original book and the Hulu television series. It was fun to see elements unique to both pop up in this work.
History doesn't repeat itself with this book, but it does rhyme. The Testaments doesn't fit exactly with its predecessor, but it does follow nicely, especially if you're in the mood for a story of fight instead of a tale of only horrors.
As [a:Margaret Atwood|3472|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282859073p2/3472.jpg] says in the closing pages, the path for Gilead has changed in the 35 years since the original publication of [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546031886l/38447._SY75_.jpg|1119185]. As our nation has "progressed", so too has the path Gilead could have plausibly taken and the resistance movements our characters could have mounted.
The Testaments doesn't quite have the same gravity as The Handmaid's Tale. Only one of the three POV characters is sufficiently developed to provide this kind of narrative. The things that she sees and says are more reminiscent of the original tale. Only she is is morally gray. I found myself mostly interested in her story, even if the introduction of the other two younger narrators (probably 23ish and 16ish) does broaden the scope of the story. I believe Atwood leaned heavily on the success of the show and its multiple narrators when writing this book, and correctly so.
The book does serve as a sequel to both the original book and the Hulu television series. It was fun to see elements unique to both pop up in this work.
History doesn't repeat itself with this book, but it does rhyme. The Testaments doesn't fit exactly with its predecessor, but it does follow nicely, especially if you're in the mood for a story of fight instead of a tale of only horrors.
I’m thoroughly enjoying this series. This seventh installment goes further into character development, which is something that I feel has been lacking to this point. Now I’m starting to feel attached to the characters.
I completely ship Daryun. Not with anyone; just by himself. Because he's amazing. As always, he shines in this one.
I'm loving the parallels between Jaswant and Arslan, as well as the contrast between Rajendrah and Arslan.
I'm excited to keep reading.
I'm loving the parallels between Jaswant and Arslan, as well as the contrast between Rajendrah and Arslan.
I'm excited to keep reading.
Great, as always. It was good to see the characters in the capitol again, even if I don't like them. I think we are about to get side plots on side plots on side plots, and I'm here for it.
Oh. My. Heart.
This story is so sad. I've hidden this entire review, because I don't think I can talk about it without spoilers.
Avery is a breath of fresh air. I've been reading too much YA and it's nice to read about a 30 year old woman, especially one who isn't married and doesn't have children yet. At 28 I am married, but don't have children. My ten year school reunion is in less than a month and I'm one of the very few without kids. It feels good to see this portrayed as normal. Her tenacity and nosiness remind me of myself as well.
Rill's story might be the most heartbreaking. She's the only one who really remembers Arcadia and also has the knowledge of how the "kingdom" fell. I wish she knew if Briney actually died on the river or not. Her final chapter of what-ifs, of what might have changed if she grew up on the river were haunting and beautiful. I am so glad that she was able to stay with Judy at the end. Would she have given it up to stay? Rill Foss would have. Mae, probably not. She is in some ways two people, but in many others, still just one.
Judy's story wasn't as sad to me while reading, but now that I'm finished it does weigh on me too. She had no memories of Queenie. Her birth set this all in motion. She never met her twin brother. She never met her other brother or one of her sisters. She must have been a wife already, and maybe even a mother, when she learned her true birth story.
I've always searched through my genealogy. And I will push anyone who knew my grandmother for stories of her. She had Alzheimer's like Judy and I was in junior high when she lost most of herself. What questions I would ask her now if I could. I imagine this might be a touch of how Judy would have felt.
I can't imagine how the real children and women and fathers and siblings behind this story felt. Briney's story is perhaps even more sad than that of the sisters. He was so broken he would have killed two of his daughters without understanding it because he lost his wife and other children, and with them his entire life. He must have felt like a failure.
I'd love to have someone to discuss this book with at length, so send me a message if you'd like to do the same.
This story is so sad. I've hidden this entire review, because I don't think I can talk about it without spoilers.
Avery is a breath of fresh air. I've been reading too much YA and it's nice to read about a 30 year old woman, especially one who isn't married and doesn't have children yet. At 28 I am married, but don't have children. My ten year school reunion is in less than a month and I'm one of the very few without kids. It feels good to see this portrayed as normal. Her tenacity and nosiness remind me of myself as well.
Rill's story might be the most heartbreaking. She's the only one who really remembers Arcadia and also has the knowledge of how the "kingdom" fell. I wish she knew if Briney actually died on the river or not. Her final chapter of what-ifs, of what might have changed if she grew up on the river were haunting and beautiful. I am so glad that she was able to stay with Judy at the end. Would she have given it up to stay? Rill Foss would have. Mae, probably not. She is in some ways two people, but in many others, still just one.
Judy's story wasn't as sad to me while reading, but now that I'm finished it does weigh on me too. She had no memories of Queenie. Her birth set this all in motion. She never met her twin brother. She never met her other brother or one of her sisters. She must have been a wife already, and maybe even a mother, when she learned her true birth story.
I've always searched through my genealogy. And I will push anyone who knew my grandmother for stories of her. She had Alzheimer's like Judy and I was in junior high when she lost most of herself. What questions I would ask her now if I could. I imagine this might be a touch of how Judy would have felt.
I can't imagine how the real children and women and fathers and siblings behind this story felt. Briney's story is perhaps even more sad than that of the sisters. He was so broken he would have killed two of his daughters without understanding it because he lost his wife and other children, and with them his entire life. He must have felt like a failure.
I'd love to have someone to discuss this book with at length, so send me a message if you'd like to do the same.
This was cute. I put it down several times in favor of other books, but I'm still glad I read it. I think if I had been closer to the narrator's age it would have been much more profound to me. I can't fault the book because I'm older than its target audience, though. It was a fun story with multiple plot threads and wonderful questions at its core.
Definitely read the author's note at the end. It puts a great personal perspective with this story.
Definitely read the author's note at the end. It puts a great personal perspective with this story.
This was cute.
My first thoughts of the book were that it was probably the most ADD book to have ever ADDed. The random descriptions of objects and the constant interrupting of slogans for Brotien items, along with the constant shift in narrator were hugely distracting for me.
But, it got better as I got used to those things. I began to see them more as quirks than distractions. I can definitely see how the target audience would simply be amused and not annoyed by these quirks.
My only true problem with this book is that it steals a major plot event from [b:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|136251|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)|J.K. Rowling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474171184l/136251._SY75_.jpg|2963218]. I know there's nothing new under the sun, but come on...
Overall, much better than I expected it to be. I wouldn't have chosen to read this book on my own, but since one of my seventh graders read it for his book project and it didn't have an AR test, I had to read it to make a test. It was definitely a great fit for him. I would recommend this for your reluctant readers, male or female, who like video games, twitch streams, or adventure stories.
My first thoughts of the book were that it was probably the most ADD book to have ever ADDed. The random descriptions of objects and the constant interrupting of slogans for Brotien items, along with the constant shift in narrator were hugely distracting for me.
But, it got better as I got used to those things. I began to see them more as quirks than distractions. I can definitely see how the target audience would simply be amused and not annoyed by these quirks.
My only true problem with this book is that it steals a major plot event from [b:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|136251|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)|J.K. Rowling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474171184l/136251._SY75_.jpg|2963218].
Spoiler
Three kids (two male and one female) have to face a dragon in a deep, dark cave. They wind up saving the dragon and then fly out of the inescapable dungeon on the dragon's back. The dragon flies off home. Sounds very familiar...Spoiler
The elevator with the sour ooze was at least original.Overall, much better than I expected it to be. I wouldn't have chosen to read this book on my own, but since one of my seventh graders read it for his book project and it didn't have an AR test, I had to read it to make a test. It was definitely a great fit for him. I would recommend this for your reluctant readers, male or female, who like video games, twitch streams, or adventure stories.