Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

Fiction Winner


The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale #2)

When the van door slammed on Offred's future at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead for her--freedom, prison or death.

With The Testaments, the wait is over.

Margaret Atwood's sequel picks up the story more than fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.

In this brilliant sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, acclaimed author Margaret Atwood answers the questions that have tantalized readers for decades.

"Dear Readers: Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in." --Margaret Atwood

I was so excited about this book (being a lover of both the original book and the TV show). I ended up pre-ordering it which I haven't done since Harry Potter's last book came out.

I really enjoyed this book as a follow up to the original. Atwood answers a lot of questions and ties everything up nicely. The plot moved well and I appreciated the story told from the three unique POVs.

That said, I don't think this was a showstopper like the original. I didn't think the writing style was as hauntingly beautiful as I found The Handmaid's Tale to be. I also think fans of the TV show will like this book more than people who only liked the first book.

i enjoyed this book. loved the show and thought this gave more insight to how the characters were developed.

I’ve been reading this. I’m about 40% in and enjoying it so far. It’s nice to see the story unfold from different perspective.

The Testaments

I did have a hard time getting into this book, but I think it was because I was trying to figure out the point of view of each female narrative and I didn't quite pick this up until about 25-30% of the way through the book. Once I figured out the feel for the book, I really enjoyed it. I think I entered this book thinking (view spoiler)[ it would pick up where the Handmaid's Tale had left off (hide spoiler)]. I ended up enjoying the direction of the book and there is still room for another book with further explanation of the events that followed where the story ends.
I have not watched the show consistently and every time I watch I just find it very slow and so weird. The world that Margaret Atwood created is so weird, archaic, and difficult to wrap my head around that such a drastic thing would happen. It is such a great example of dark orwellian creativity. I would recommend especially after reading The Handmaid's Tale.

Glad to read you are all enjoying this one. I loved it. Atwood is so good at showing how subversive resistance to tyranny can be. I found this to be a very satisfying sequel to the first novel and also loved the TV series.

Lesley wrote: "The Testaments

I did have a hard time getting into this book, but I think it was because I was trying to figure out the point of view of each female narrative and I didn't quite pi..."

You can watch this show inconsistently? Does that mean you don't watch ALL the episodes? I just could not do that.

I really enjoyed the Testaments and could not put it down.

Kirsten wrote: "Lesley wrote: "The Testaments

I did have a hard time getting into this book, but I think it was because I was trying to figure out the point of view of each female narrative and I ..."

You can watch this show inconsistently? Does that mean you don't watch ALL the episodes? I just could not do that.

Kristen,
I have never been able to fully engage in the show. It seems so dragged out and slow. I have to admit that my attention span for television is that of a gnat. I become easily distracted...it's sad but true. I might have to make another effort to watch the show.