The Testaments: The Booker Prize-winning sequel to the bestselling novel The Handmaid's Tale (Gilead Book 2)

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**NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES ON DISNEY+ AND HULU****THE NUMBER 1 BESTSELLER AND WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE**In this electrifying sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood answers the question that has tantalised readers for decades: What happened to Offred?The Republic of Gilead is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, two girls with radically different experiences of the regime come face to face with the legendary, ruthless Aunt Lydia. But how far will each go for what she believes?Now with additional material: book club discussion points and an interview with Margaret Atwood about the real-life events that inspired The Testaments and The Handmaid's Tale.'The Testaments is Atwood at her best . . To read this book is to feel the world turning' Anne Enright_________________________________PRAISE FOR THE TESTAMENTS:'Everything The Handmaid's Tale fans wanted and more. Prepare to hold your breath throughout, and to cry real tears at the end' Stylist'She manages to write about the darkest and most terrifying parts of human psychology in a way that is still deeply funny and full of dark strange hope' Naomi Alderman, author of The Power

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by Margaret Atwood (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

ASIN

B07KRMV57J

Customer Reviews Summary

I was very excited about this book, having read The Handmaid's Tale only a few years ago, followed the TV series and watched many interviews with Margaret Attwood including several specifically about the publication of this book. I'm never keen to read a hardback so had waited until the paperback was available.It's just over 400 pages split into 70 chapters of fairly small type. I had some expectations of the plot but decided not to read any of the blurb.From the start this novel pulled in the reader. It is essential to have read The Handmaid's Tale first in order to be aware of Gilead. Life has moved on since the first book and we are now outside, looking in.There are three narrators, one is writing a secret account and the other two appear to be giving some sort of evidence to court. Everything is disorientating and MA wants the reader to be uncomfortable.The relationship between Canada and Gilead is difficult with the story showing the range of opinions in Canada - differences between the free world and the captive world are shown continually with Gilead being portrayed as evil/corrupt.It's fascinating to learn about Gilead from the very different experiences and understand some of it's history. The three females show their perspectives and varying levels of understanding. Aunt Lydia has adapted to save herself. Agnes is starting to question her environment and her innocence is used to reveal many of the horrors around her. Daisy is confused and unsure of her background.MA has a glorious way that she uses words. She has an extensive vocabulary of which she makes good use.The short chapter format could easily be distracting but isn't at all. The chapters are clustered together and alternate between the women giving the reader plenty of points at which they can stop and think about what is happening.The pace of the plot varies in the three accounts. One is very reflective and gives lots of back story whereas the other two are much more action packed. A huge fascination is that they have all been written retrospectively with many hints about the future of Gilead.As I was reading I have no idea the way that the plot was going to go. Towards the end there were a few plot elements which didn't seem to be necessary (infected arm and the inflatable to give two examples) but the ending was very satisfying and I loved how MA ties this book into the previous book so well.