The Testaments by Margaret Atwood WITH spoilers

[Pokemontv]

Who is up for a discussion ? What did you like ? What did you hate ?

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-testaments-new-book-sequel-elisabeth-moss-aunt-lydia-a9094171.html

Thanks!

Really enjoyed it. Agreed much lighter read then Handmaids Tale.

I can see how they can get 8-10 series out of it now. Time hops etc.

Did anyone else notice the 3 husbands selected for Agnes - the second was an old commander who was good with numbers, wife died in an asylum - could that be Commander Lawrence?

I just wonder how much discussion there were between MA and Hulu along the lines of keeping certain characters alive in book (so June, Nick, Aunt Lydia, Commander Lawrence etc) so they could be kept in tv series if needed?

Silly question, but I always "cast" actors as the characters in any book I read, even when there hasn't been an adaptation.

Does anyone else do that, and, if so, who did you cast?

Just finished it. I found the 'arranged marriage' parts so realistic as pertaining to cultures where this really happens ie someone supposedly being a 'good catch' because they are wealthy, girls being encouraged to marry well for their families sake.

I think the Gilead ways had become normalised. Any oppressive regime becomes a bit more settled as it goes on and as people have found their place. It's like the lobster analogy that (I think) was in THT - you could be boiled alive and not even know,

The only thing I found a bit odd was that Agnes's step mother wanted her to marry Judd. I get that it was a huge honour and would bring their family up in the world, but there was a hierarchy amongst the wives, so Agnes would become much richer and more important than her stepmother. Perhaps she didn't think she would last long, but still.

I think the Gilead ways had become normalised. Any oppressive regime becomes a bit more settled as it goes on and as people have found their place. It's like the lobster analogy that (I think) was in THT - you could be boiled alive and not even know,

I thought something similar when I read the pp above who said it seemed less shocking, or words to that effect. We, the reader/viewer already have a good idea what Gilead is like.

Also, what we see from Agnes' point of view, as it is all normal for her, is not presented in a shocking way/

Apologies for the poorly written post. I sholdn't do this while at work.

@Andylion Elle Fanning as Nicole

I got the audiobook and that worked really well. The voices fit in.

I thought it was unnecessary to send Nicole to Gilead when Agnes and Becca could have taken the dot (knowingly or not) completely legitimately as pearl girls. I also thought all the identities and connections were obvious from the start. It didn’t really work as a story but gave plenty of answers to interesting questions.

I've just read that Margaret Atwood's husband has died. Very sad news for Margaret Atwood and their family.

He was 85 and also an author.

That's very sad, they'd been together a long time.

MA insisted that Aunt Lydia not be killed off - although it doesnt sound like that was the plan in the tv series anyway.

Aunt Lydia's was clearly the most interesting narrative voice in the book, the richest and most complex. It was about her really. I enjoyed it because her story was so interesting.

I found the girls' stories less compelling and less plausible, although of course the escape was gripping. And it was both striking and sad just how different the sisters were and how they struggled to understand each other.

I’ve just finished it, and surprised myself by completely breaking down when it is revealed that the girls are reunited with their mum. (Its only just occurred to me June still isn’t named) I was proper sobbing !

I liked it. I feel satisfied.
And so so pleased we’ve finally found out about Aunt Lydia’s backstory. And weirdly pleased she had a hand in bringing it down, but when we hear about her arrest her intentions to bring Gilead down are there, and she works a life time to achieve it.

I liked how Agnes saw Becka guiding them at the end, a reminder of all those who never made it out.

So I finished the book last night on a flight and had great big fat embarrassing tears rolling down my face at the hospital reunion scene. The lovely woman next to me was passing me tissues and making sure I was ok! I know it was a bit of a frothy happy ending but I loved it. I feel like I’ve been on a bit of a journey with the book and then three very tense series. I felt very satisfied with series three ending and felt the same sense of relief after reading TT. I’m quite intrigued about Nick and about June’s escape, but I think I’ll bow out of the TV show now and appreciate it for what it was. Well played MA!

I’m only part way through but curious what ‘brand’ Aunt Lydia is named after. I’ve Googled but not managed to work it out.

Me neither! Is Vidala Vidal Sassoon? And elizabeth after elizabeth Arden?

I think it's not all brands though as victoria was named after the queen.

I think that’s because the girls don’t know the brands but have heard of the queen. Not sure what ‘Victoria’ is referring to, Victoria’s Secret maybe???

I didn’t realise TT was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. I’m stunned!

I found an amazon review which summed up my feelings entirely: ‘the book seemed to me as if it had been written by Jessica Fletcher of ‘Murder She Wrote’ after she’d binge watched ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.

I love Jessica and Buffy, but neither are Booker worthy!

The naming of the founding aunts wasn’t explained. One of their strategies was to bring in the list of approved names from former brands that they thought women would find trustworthy.

I thought that Victoria was clearly Victoria’s Secret. It’s ironic that Becka suggests it as a homage to Queen Victoria when in fact the name has come from a lingerie brand that Gilead considers immoral and whorish. You can read it as a metaphor for the many hypocrisies of Gilead.

Of course, I didnt think about Victoria's secret.

Lydia Pinkham??? Not someone I’ve ever heard of but maybe it was well known in the US in the 70s/80s.

This

What was Aunt Lydia's pre-Gilead name when we saw her flashback in series 3? Was she called Lydia then? So she kept her real name??

Almost finished so placemark.

I enjoyed the book but didn't understand why Nicole had to go back to Gilead. Someone else could have snuggled put the micro dot surely? lt was a bit implausible that she would be put at such great risk.
Aunt Lydia was my favourite part. Loved finding out a bit about the coup and how she ended up so powerful.