If you’re a fan of dystopian novels, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood might be good fits for you! Check out #4 of the Bibliophile Book Review series all about the world of Gilead from Margaret Atwood’s binge-worthy book series.
For those of you who don’t know, I am Canadian.
Here in Canada, Margaret Atwood is a prized author that we like to remind people is Canadian.
Her book The Handmaid’s Tale is one that was often highlighted amongst her many achievements, especially now that it is an award-winning television series.
But let me be honest with you- when I first heard of Margaret Atwood, I was not a fan.
In grade 10, we studied dystopian novels in English class. Everyone was given the option to read either Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale or George Orwell’s 1984. And honestly, Atwood’s book looked a little boring, so I picked the ever-popular 1984 as my book.
I’m so happy I did.
Everyone I know who read The Handmaid’s Tale had trouble with it. Either it was too boring, too disturbing, too hard to understand, or too graphic. And who could blame them? It has some serious subject matter that adolescents simply aren’t ready for, yet.
I think, had I read this novel in high school, I would have forever been turned off of Margaret Atwood’s books.
Luckily, this is not the case!
In university, I had another opportunity to read her book in my Canadian Literature course, and this time I was ready!
The response to her book from university students was vastly different from that of a high school student.
Instead of boring, her book was thorough. Her story was no longer hard to understand and certainly no more graphic than the other books we had access to by then.
And me? I was hooked!
Overall, I felt that Margaret Atwood’s book was a fantastic cautionary tale about the dangers that might lead to societal downfall.
But enough about my own personal experience. Let’s take a look at some of the details.
But first…
Before you move on, click these links to get a hold of your own copy of Margaret Atwood’s books!
What are these books about?
Margaret Atwood has written many books but the two I want to tell you about are The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments.
Both books take place in the world of Gilead, a place where men make the rules and women are given support roles to help create a functional society.
“Wives” are the highest-ranking females and are responsible for being faithful to their husbands. “Marthas” are in charge of the maintenance of each household, cooking and cleaning as needed and raising the children of the house. “Aunts” are “Instructors, chaperones, and enforcers” to the women in Gilead and are the only women allowed to read. And the “Handmaids” are in charge of birthing children for whichever household they belong to.
The Handmaid’s Tale is a story told by one of the handmaids of Gilead, whereas The Testaments is written by an Aunt. Both books complement each other and offer more scope and understanding about the world of Gilead.
Both stories show how the women of different ranks and roles fight back against the totalitarian system that has removed all voice and power from the female gender. It is a great book for those who enjoy feminist literature or dystopian novels.
Overview
Narration
Both books are written similarly. They are both presented as documents found long after Gilead ceases to exist and they are written by characters who have holes in their understanding of the society they live in.
They also both use flashbacks to tell their story, so if you need your stories to be chronological, this might not be a good fit for you. The narrators from both books have entertaining personalities and the story picks up the pace very quickly as you read.
One difficult thing about the narration is that, since this is a world with different rules, there are also different vocabulary that might take a while to get used to.
In the first few chapters, you might find yourself confused by the terminology but it doesn’t take too long to start connecting the dots and understanding the language.
Character Design
Every character in this book is full of personality. I personally love how much of a mystery each person is. It seems that, no matter how detestable any one character may seem, they have redeemable traits that help you understand what brought them to become who they are.
You will definitely find yourself holding strong opinions about each and every person in Gilead, whether you read The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments, or both.
Character Development
This was one of my favourite parts about the way Margaret Atwood writes. Most of her main characters experience traumatic events that drastically change their development in life.
She writes many moments that leave you thinking, Well, there’s no turning back now…
Atwood is skilled at writing about characters who, over time, start to unravel and it is so fun to read!
Holistic Storyline
In both books, the story ends with a bit of a question mark.
You won’t know anything for sure because of the style of narration. Remember, this book is a fictional document that was supposed to be found centuries after Gilead stopped existing.
We only catch a brief glimpse of the story and only as much as our faulty narrators are able to divulge. It makes for a fun story, but certainly a frustrating one if you are someone who needs a clear ending.
Bonus Features
Something fun about both of Margaret Atwood’s books is that she writes them as if they are historical documents discovered years after the events occurred. It makes the story much more fun to read and creates a sort of unreliable narrator for the readers.
In a previous interview, Margaret Atwood also explains to her audience that she never creates a scenario in her book out of thin air. Every idea came from a collection of articles she has read over the course of her life.
She does this to make a point to the reader to say that everything that happens in these books has a piece of truth to them. Society is not new to any of these ideas, though it may be a new combination. In reference to her book, she says, “Nothing goes in that there isn’t backup for.”
Her stories are cautionary tales, of sorts, to show us what could happen in our society if we remain ignorant of the problems that already exist.
Top 5 Quotes from Margaret Atwood
- “Such regrets are of no practical use. I made choices, and then, having made them, I had fewer choices. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I took the one most travelled by. It was littered with corpses, as such roads are. But as you will have noticed, my own corpse is not among them.”
- “One person alone is not a full person: we exist in relation to others.”
- “Where there is an emptiness, the mind will obligingly fill it up. Fear is always at hand to supply any vacancies, as is curiosity.”
- “No one wants to die. But some people don’t want to live in any of the ways that are allowed.”
- “Like any human technology, there’s a plus side, a minus side, and a stupid side you didn’t anticipate.”
Who should read this book?
Both The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments are similar in scope, so if you liked one, you will definitely like the other!
If you enjoy dystopian novels, then this is a great pick for you. It is also good for anyone who might like to dip their toes into feminist literature as these books explore feminist ideas without being hard to follow or too aggressive.
I would like to note, however, that these books are both graphic in nature. If you are uncomfortable with violence and sexual themes, then this is not the best choice for you.
Recommended reading atmosphere
The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments both have an intense way about them.
Every page is vital and urgent and every situation is high-stakes.
A quiet space is ideal so you can work through some of the new concepts of this dystopian world in peace. I would recommend you pair it with sort of tense music, however, so that you don’t feel too calm while you’re reading it.
Lucky for you, there’s a television show with a fitting soundtrack that can be found on YouTube! I’d recommend you use that playlist, as it is perfectly suited to the book.
With this music and a simple cup of tea (no extravagant snacks- they don’t have those in Gilead!), you are all set for the perfect reading atmosphere.
Want to learn more about Margaret Atwood and her books? Check out these links:
- Margaret Atwood’s official website
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – Book Review
- Book Review: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Did you know there’s a show?
Margaret Atwood’s books were such a hit that Hulu picked it up and turned it into a television series. If you like to watch movies and shows that came from books, this is a great one to check out here: The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
Want more book Reviews from In Its Season?
Check out the Bibliophile Book Review Series on the site for more reading inspiration!
I hope that these book reviews of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments helped you decide whether or not to read it. Happy reading!
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