It's tricky to mess with a classic. I think it's mostly because once a piece of art attains "classic" status, almost all of those who have experienced it - in the case of a classic book - read it, now feel like they own it. Books and films in particular have a hard to define participatory effect where the reader becomes part of the story and therefore defines the story and characters according to their own interior perspective and thought process. When it comes to either the most revered classics and/or books that achieve their renown via first person, possibly unreliable narrator who exists in a world not fully sketched out and purposely left hazy as a storytelling device, the more the reader will tend to go ahead and sketch that world out with their own assumptions. This means that said classic book becomes something slightly different for every fan, taking on a particular shape and form that becomes almost talismanic for some, quasi-holy for others. It would be hard to find a book published in the last half century more revered than The Handmaid's Tale, so when we all saw the announcement that Margaret Atwood was bringing a sequel, we also all knew there would much hand-wringing and kvetching no matter WHAT the next chapter focused on. For my money, you couldn't ask for a better continuation of the story.
I first read The Handmaid's Tale last year. It had nothing to do with the TV show or cultural resurgence of the story and it's oh so prescient themes. It was just on my bookshelf of "VERY IMPORTANT BOOKS YOU SHOULD READ SOMEDAY" and I finally got around to it. As a 49 year old white middle-class male raised in a middle-class Mid-Atlantic USA type of world I really didn't think it would be a home run for me. I was wrong. I fell down the same hole that so many others have found themselves tumbling through into Gilead and the murky, strange world of Offred. I love the entire thing, including the post-script... thought about it for about two weeks, then moved on with my life. I haven't ever been interested in the TV show. When I saw The Testaments up for order, I figured I should at least see what shape the story would take and I hit the buy button. Now I have just finished it and not only was it what I was hoping for but I don't think anyone could hope for anything better than this, in regard to gaining perspective and context on what led up to the previous book as well as the fallout of the events that take place in The Handmaid's Tale.
As mentioned, there will always be some that don't WANT perspective and/or context on a classic, timeless allegorical and prophetic novel. For me though, it was fascinating. Seeing motivations peeled back, repercussions revealed and a legacy played out over a new generation added immensely to the previous story and only made it more emotional and tender to me. Sometimes when a story ends you almost don't want to know what happens to a certain protagonist and sometimes you are just itching to know more. I wasn't sure how I felt about Offred and/or the entire cultural landscape in the Handmaid's Tale, but now that I know more, it all just feels deeper and more meaningful to me.
I'm trying hard to not put any spoilers in this review, even light ones, so there's a lot I don't want to say. I will put it like this. If The Handmaid's Tale was a close-up on one character, The Testaments is a panning, wide-shot of an entire culture that encompasses three main viewpoints and ties together in a satisfying and logical way. It does take a few chapters to build up some steam, but trust me when I say, once the story gains momentum - it moves along quickly and flows in some unexpected directions.
Sequels written decades later can end up really crashing hard sometimes, but in the hands of such a talented author, you get a book like The Testaments. It meshes perfectly with the previous story while still being timeless and speaking to current society at the same time. Since I'm just one person, that's just my opinion and many will find fault with this book, believing it's either too much or not enough, or not necessary or whatever. But I think it's a great gift from an author to her fans. Unwrap it and enjoy.
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Margaret Atwood is a bloody genius!
It's so bittersweet to finally be writing a review for The Testaments. I read The Handmaid's Tale earlier this year at the urging of a few members of my mom-tribe. I don't typically read dystopian novels. It takes a lot for me to really dive into them and see what the writer sees. Not the Handmaid's Tale.Like readers who first read The Handmaid's Tale over 30 years ago, I was stuck with the image of June getting into that car, not knowing if she was going to live or die. Not knowing what was going to happen to her two girls, to Luke. After growing to love her, feeling caught in all of the wrongdoings of Gilead with her, I had to wait. I'm glad I didn't have to wait 30 years, like others.I pre-ordered The Testaments from Amazon on April 29th. The wait until September seemed brutal.5 stars. This 5 stars is an easy 5 for me. Everything else should be 4s. My new explanation of 5 stars should be "The Testaments." Why? Well, I was concerned when I realized the narrator was not June. I worried that I wasn't going to find out the answers to my questions. I still have a few about Luke, Moira, and Nick. Did I miss something with those?On the other hand, Atwood's writing was superb. Her ability to transcend the 30 years and take us right back to the Marthas, Commanders, Aunt Lydia, and the Aunts without skipping a beat or changing tone is truly unreal. I read a LOT of books. I am always willing to try new writers. But, after reading the way Atwood writes, it is not an exaggeration to say that very few people can write like Atwood. The vocabulary used in her novels is so descriptive, so unusual and fresh, it feels like you're reading something both ancient and futuristic.This book was suspenseful and packed with details. In the afterward, Margaret writes about how she wrote The Testaments in many different places. I just don't know how she did it. Did she work from the ending she wanted, backwards? Did she write all of Aunt Lydia's chapters first and then go back to the other narrators? I mean, it was seamless. It was genius. And, in my opinion it's one that you should have a 3D copy of that you can own and possess. It's a book of a different kind. It's rich with quotes that you'll want to highlight and reflect on, and one to pick up again in a few years.5 stars to Margaret Atwood! Thank you @MargaretAtwood, for doing justice for the women of Gilead. by writing through their voices and their eyes. Remarkable! And, can we talk about the power of the book jacket? I didn't notice the back until I was about halfway through it. Beautiful, cover to cover.
