The Testaments - Margaret Atwood

[nettie434]

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.

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.
Absolutely. The point of reading books (one of them) is to be exposed to different ideas.

I’m thinking about reading it. Maybe later.
I dropped the Handmaids Tale mid second season because it had diverged from the book into gratuitously violent illogical extremes. It had become like misogynist masochist porn in a way and I found it too sickening.

So, I am honestly filled with trepidation at reading Testaments if it is in the same spirit as the series devolved to.

From what I have read so far Id say that the sequel is far closer to the original book than the TV series in tone.

I haven't watched the series but have read the book - will the Testaments still make sense to me without knowing the tv series?

Yes. It's the sequel to the book. The TV series is a completely separate (and different) beast.

Great thank you!

I loved it.
It's what it needed to be and was worth the wait.

Did anyone watch her?
She did make a reference to not being able to change sex so I'm hopeful that she is just being careful

Loved the cinema live stream. It really bought both books to life for me and pointed out a lot of things I hadn't realised eg every punishment mentioned in the books has actually happened somewhere over the course of history. Ann Dowd reading extracts from the new book was a highlight. Love her portrayal of Aunt Lydia.

She was absolutely amazing at the live stream last night. Looking forward to reading The Testaments.

Just finished it. I loved it, it was exactly what I wanted it to be.

Really enjoyed it. The Robber Bride is still my favourite though.

My favourite is The Blind Assassin. Plan to order The Temptations from the shop recommended by OhHolyJesus. I am a huge fan of A Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 and the continuity announcer has just said they will be reading The Temptations next week. It will be on from 10.45-11 pm and of course also on Sounds/Radioplayer. They do have to do a bit of abridging but, in my opinion, it is done really well.

Will buy this.

Transwomen in Gilead would be 'gender traitors'. Biological reality is foremost. It's possible Atwood might introduce a transwoman character in the Colonies, but to be realistic that person wouldn't be 'living as a woman' because that wouldn't be tolerated.

Maybe one of the Commanders will be secretly trans and will go about at home in a dress. The narrative would have to treat him sympathetically.

Jus heard it will be Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 next week.

Love her work, made a huge impression on me as a teen and opened my eyes

It's a good sequel to the first book - answers quite a few questions, especially about The Aunts who I've always wanted to know about.

I think it's a mistake to be looking for 'trans issues' everwhere - not impressed by Atwood's thoughts on stripping but the level of 'purity of thought' being demanded from opposing camps on many things today is the precursor to book burnings in Gilead.

I'm gender critical as hell and sit under the 'rad fem' label, however if I only read books by people with my worldview I wouldn't learn anything or have my own perceptions challenged. Do we avoid Dickens because he was an adulterous twat?

Finished it. Really enjoyed and now want to re read Handmaid’s Tale.

Good back story on Aunt Lydia.

Parts of the girls’ “adventure” were v far fetched, probably in order to get to the ending she wanted.

The men somehow loomed less large in this one.

V shocking sexual assault of a child, and very young teen girls being married to horrible old men.

For anyone who doesn't have the book it is being serialised on Radio 4 with an omnibus at the end of the week on Radio 4 Extra.

The Testament starts today on radio 4 - 15 episodes
12:04pm or 22:45pm weekdays or on iPlayer
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008hk0

Omnibus Sunday 15th 2:30pm on Radio 4 Extra or on iplayer www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008pq5

Having just listend to the omnibus edition of the Handmaid'sTale I really do hope it is a continuation of the book. The tv series had little in common with the tone of the book, let alone the characters.

I think it is still available to listen to on radio 4 extra – 2 omnibus broadcasts www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008f8jf

And someone on telly addicts has started a thread for the broadcast of the Testament on radio 4 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3689941-The-Testaments-on-Radio-4

Do you need to have finished season 3 of the TV series to start The Testaments? DH and I have increasingly found the grindingly bleak TV series hard to stomach, so haven’t caught up on episodes since our summer holiday.

I’ve just finished it. Really enjoyed it. Couldn’t put it down. I have watched all the TV series and do wonder if those who haven’t will have bits missing from their understanding.

Do you need to have finished season 3 of the TV series to start The Testaments?
No, not at all. You'll know the characters and everything else you'd need to be aware of for The Testaments to make sense.

Thanks Betty.

Loved the book despite a rather convenient character arc for one of her protagonists.
She's so good at writing and voicing women defined by oppression.

I'm not sure I like it ... I think as a independent book fine but as a following to the quiet intelligent handmaids tale it doesn't work well