The Testaments
5 journalers for this copy...
I was massively excited to read this at last (The Handmaid's Tale is one for my favourite-ever novels) and the first third of it was brilliant. I loved the character creation - especially Aunt Lydia's story. I could have read her bits for hours.
But as the plot developed, it started to stretch a bit thinner. I struggled to appreciate the logic of where the action was going. Some major events just didn't make sense from my reading. This feeling of 'eh?' increased in the final third. By the time of the dramatic climax towards the end, I was distinctly underwhelmed. The characters and writing were still wonderful, it just felt like Atwood didn't know what to do with them.
So I'm not going to keep this copy forever as originally planned. It can go on its own journeys. It's not a bad book at all - I guess it just couldn't live up to my love of the original.
But as the plot developed, it started to stretch a bit thinner. I struggled to appreciate the logic of where the action was going. Some major events just didn't make sense from my reading. This feeling of 'eh?' increased in the final third. By the time of the dramatic climax towards the end, I was distinctly underwhelmed. The characters and writing were still wonderful, it just felt like Atwood didn't know what to do with them.
So I'm not going to keep this copy forever as originally planned. It can go on its own journeys. It's not a bad book at all - I guess it just couldn't live up to my love of the original.
Posted to a friend.
This has arrived safely with me! So excited to read this. I re-read the Handmaid's Tale at the weekend to get me in the zone. Thanks so much for sending it. :-)
I loved hearing the perspective of other people from the Handmaid's Tale in this novel. I think it is really important to see who can become those who oppress others and why this has happens, and what people will do to survive. I didn't feel it packed quite as much of a punch as the Handmaid's Tale, but maybe because that book felt like nothing I'd ever read before. Aunt Lydia's sections feel more like that earlier book. I struggled a bit with Jade's lack of fear about entering Gilead. I did enjoy this book though and am still glad I read it.
And off it goes to Daffodil-2 as a bit of spreading some cheer in a pandemic rabckery. Happy reading!
Received in the post from Bookfrogster and just taken out of quarantine. Thanks very much. I shall look forward to reading the book as soon as it fits one of Plum-Crazy's "What to Read" monthly themes. (See under Book Talk in the Forum-it's great fun-come and join us!). I've already read the Handmaid's Tale and watched the tv series so it will be very interesting to see where the story goes next.
REVIEW:-"A satisfying, if complicated, conclusion to the Handmaid's Tale story. It was good to see Aunt Lydia's character expand and improve. I didn't envy her the "Thank Tank" and even found myself able to forgive her some of her sins for what she went through during this period. I got a little confused from time to time as to who was who and which of them was reporting their experiences but in general really enjoyed the story. A very well thought-out plot from the amazing mind of Margaret Atwood."
Reserved for Emscott10.
Reserved for Emscott10.
This book was passed to Emscott10 this morning in a non-contact swap.
To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.
I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.
When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.
To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.
I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.
When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.
I enjoyed this book to an extent, like the other BC readers my favourite parts were written about Aunt Lydia and I found the book to be overly long.
I have left this in the Rampton book exchange telephone box.
I have left this in the Rampton book exchange telephone box.
Journal Entry 10 by AnonymousFinder at Willingham, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 15, 2021
I received this book from my daughter-in-law. She must have picked it up for me at the Rampton book exchange telephone booth when she was out walking her dog. I read the Handmaid's Tale years ago and discussed the television series with her while visiting in the UK. Neither one of us were interested in watching the series because we felt the story was too intense for viewing. I really enjoyed reading the book on my travel day returning to home in the US. It kept me engaged during the many hours of waiting in airports and riding on the plane. I live in Wisconsin and am passing the book on to my sister. This is my first contact with bookcrossing and it's been fun to be a part of this books journey around the world.