The Testaments
Margaret Atwood
2019, 415 pages
Fiction
Margaret Atwood’s long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale does not disappoint. After 15 years, readers are again plunged into the familiar brutality of Gilead, with its hangings at “the wall” and monthly “ceremonies” between commanders and handmaids. Atwood intelligently and seamlessly weaves in tidbits of current events — alarmingly making this dystopian nightmare seem all too real.
The story is told via three voices — those of Aunt Lydia, the disciplinarian who violently keeps handmaids in line; Agnes, the daughter of a powerful commander who grew up in Gilead; and Daisy, a teen who grew up in Canada. Through these women, readers learn the inner workings of Gilead.
This anxiety-inducing page-turner offers something a bit different — hope. While The Handmaid’s Tale painted a picture of absolute darkness, The Testaments presents a dim glow of the future.
Ashley MillerConcord Public Library
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