Book Review: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Testaments

Author: Margaret Atwood

Series/Standalone: The Handmaid's Tale Series (Book #2)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Feminism 

Pages: 422

Publisher: Nan. A. Talese

Year Published: 2019

Format: Hardcover Copy (Library)

"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 of her- freedom, prison or death.

With The Testament, 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 it's inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in.' - Margaret Atwood"

My Rating: 4.25/5

This was not what I expected from the second book in this duology. The different perspectives, the different narratives and an inner look at how Gilead became what it was in the first book. I also didn't expect to see the specific characters we heard about. While it answers a lot of questions, I was hoping to see the direct fallout of the narration and the fall of Gilead overall. That being said, it doesn't appear to be Margaret Atwood's style to write the dystopian rebellion stereotype. I can respect that. If more were to come from this series, I would certainly read on. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo

Title: Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve

Author: Drew Afualo

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Feminism, Self-Help

Pages: 256

Publisher: AUWA

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook

"Drew Afualo is best known as the internet's 'Crusador for Women' and is the head of a new generation of entertainment's rising stars, with more than nine million followers across her social platforms. She soon realized that men on social media were creating sexist content aimed at disparaging women, and also containing rampant fatphobia, racism and other forms of bigotry with very real-life consequences. It didn't take long for her to step into the role of unofficial watchdog for misogyny, and her signature laugh is now recognized as a feminist call to arms. Loud is part manual, part manifesto and part memoir. It is a summoning cry to rid the internet (and our hearts, minds and lives) of 'terrible men' and create a space to fight outdated patriarchal ideals. Above all, it makes it clear that behind Drew's fearsome laugh is a mission and a life philosophy, a strategy for self-confidence from the inside out, and a pathway to once and for all remove men from the centre of how women and fems think about themselves."

My Rating: 5/5

This is a book I would strongly recommend if you've watched any of Drew Afualo's content or if you are curious about how standing up to patriarchy can look. It gives tips and tricks to begin, how to spot red flags, but also has admissions of times that in her past she was not as strong in her ideals as she is today (teenage years, etc) That admission in itself helped me to feel more confident in the stance I take now, despite how I acted when I was in high school, because let's be honest, in high school, we're all just trying to survive and figure everything out. Bonus, if you listen to the audiobook, Drew is the narrator, and it gives the same energy as her content, and feels personable in a way that is genuine. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny