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Original poster

The Testaments - Margaret Atwood

50 replies

nettie434 · 09/09/2019 18:22

The sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale is being published later today. She famously said:

Some feminists have historically been against lipstick and letting transgender women into women’s washrooms. Those are not positions I have agreed with.

I just wondered whether anyone plans to read it (or not) and why. I plan to myself but that’s more to be able to have an opinion.

OP posts:
missnevermind · 09/09/2019 18:25

Do you think it's the sequel to the book or the series?

FWRLurker · 09/09/2019 18:27

I think she has some great ideas - obviously she understands the relavence of women’s bodies to feminism, even if we disagree on that particular issue. I haven’t read HMT. I plan to after series is finished so I can enjoy it.

I think she chose her words relatively carefully there, by the way. Bathroom is something that I think we ultimately cannot keep trans women out of if they pass, so to that extent I agree (usually people defending trans women in women’s spaces they mean passing trans women and ignore the 90% that don’t pass. I suspect she will not for example speak out in support of males in women’s sports or “centering” males in feminism.

Nuffaluff · 09/09/2019 18:28

I’m going to read it because she’s a brilliant writer and I love the first one. Also, I’m reading the Booker nominated books this year before the prize is announced.

FWRLurker · 09/09/2019 18:28

Sorry for the Americanism - I mean washroom / loo.

Original poster
nettie434 · 09/09/2019 18:29

I think it’s the sequence to the book but I know she wrote the script for the latest series so I could be wrong.

OP posts:
Pokemontv · 09/09/2019 18:59

I have pre ordered her book, if there are any transwomen shoe horned into the story line for woke points in it...I will be very annoyed :( The whole point was that handmaids were chosen because of their fertile biological female bodies and nothing else mattered.

PencilsInSpace · 09/09/2019 19:21

I'm looking forward to reading it. I don't have to agree with everything an author says to appreciate their writing, especially an author as great as Margaret Atwood.

Pokemontv · 09/09/2019 19:22

This new book is set 15 years when the last book ended.

Apparently all three female characters are linked to June.

So order wise is first book, tv series 1 to 3 gap of approx 12 years, new book.

OhHolyJesus · 09/09/2019 19:36

Copies were leaked by Amazon and the Guardian covered the story. My copy is on order and I can't wait!

If anyone wants a feminist bookshop to rival Amazon try

www.newsfromnowhere.co.uk

morningtoncrescent62 · 09/09/2019 20:02

Thanks for the link, OhHolyJesus. Can I take it that your feminst bookshop is truly a feminist bookshop? My local one actively persecutes GC women in the dogged pursuit of trans inclusivity. If News from Nowhere is properly feminist then they can count on my custom.

Goosefoot · 09/09/2019 20:04

I don't know that I will read it. Not really because of any opinion she has, I am hit or miss with a lot of her political views. More than I usually can't stand her books, THT is about the only one I enjoyed at all.

OhHolyJesus · 09/09/2019 23:02

I think so Morning - heard about them through a feminist network. It's run by a collective of women in Liverpool who are 'committed to social justice', been running since the 70s I think and they have quite a good website. They post books out to everywhere and I'm pretty sure they pay their taxes so better than amazon!

They sell books of the rainbow variety but they have a book about Freddie Mercury highlighted in the LGBT section as well as the batshit stuff. I think this is more balanced than banning the sale of certain books, so you would still need to be wary and selective.

Pieceofpurplesky · 09/09/2019 23:12

I wonder if one character will be Hannah ...

Original poster
nettie434 · 10/09/2019 00:06

Also, I’m reading the Booker nominated books this year before the prize is announced.

Very impressive. I have only done that once nuffaluff and I felt so pleased when the result was anounced - even though I completely disagreed with the judges!

OP posts:
2Rebecca · 10/09/2019 08:31

Cat's Eye is my favourite book of hers, more a coming of age book about teenage girl friendship and bullying than a feminist trope though.

Babieseverywhere · 10/09/2019 11:22

Interesting book 'The Testaments'

No spoilers here, it was worth reading, there was one plot point which was a little silly but I didn't care.

Ending made me smile and cry at the same time.

Overall. Worth reading :)

Pieceofpurplesky · 10/09/2019 12:19

I am half way through. It's been a long time since I read THT (I wrote my dissertation on it and several other books).
It is what I wanted it to be.

ThePankhurstConnection · 10/09/2019 13:10

I'll be reading it - as soon as I have the time tonight. One thing though, if I couldn't read authors because they had views I disagreed with I'd be very short on things to read. I even have friends I disagree with! Crazy.

Atwoods books are always worth reading for me, 'The Handmaid's Tale' has been one of my most favourite books since I first read it years ago.

ElfrideSwancourt · 10/09/2019 14:08

I've just finished it and totally loved it. Really looking forward to going to hear her talk at the cinema tonight.

Cohle · 10/09/2019 14:35

I've also finished it and loved it.

It seems a shame that some feminists would choose not read her work because of her views on trans issues.

Girasole02 · 10/09/2019 14:38

Halfway through. Can't put it down. Looking forward to the cinema live stream tonight.

perarduacumestrus · 10/09/2019 14:47

Trying to find some peace and quiet to carry on reading.
I can't believe some of you are halfway already.Smile
My copy only arrived at 10.30 this morning.

Babieseverywhere · 10/09/2019 16:06

Advantage of kindles, my book was here at midnight ! Though I didn't wait up for it.

missnevermind · 10/09/2019 16:30

What ebook reader do people use?
I am moving from apple to android and have always used iBooks. I have no idea which to download, so cannot start my book 🙄😁

Nuffaluff · 10/09/2019 17:54

nettie It’s a challenge, certainly, as I’m reading the one that’s 1000 pages with one sentence at the moment. Slow going. Argh!
Interestingly three of the Booker longlisted books have trans characters in this year. None done for ‘woke points’, but all good characters. It’s topical, innit?
Jeanette Winterson’s Frankisstein has a transman
Bernadine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other has a non binary female character
Elif Shafak’s novel has a transwoman.