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The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Review by Sidra Javed
I had heard a lot about Handmaids Tale and about how sad and dark it is. Although The Testaments is also on our bookshelf, I have not yet given it a shot. I would dust it and put it back. As I read mostly for pleasure and to distract my mind so I used to opt for light fiction. A few months back I started reading different books on self help, biographies and history etc.
The Testaments is a work of fiction which is not my usual type but I picked it up. I’m glad to do so as it’s a worthy read for sure. The story is about a new country that is actually a coup in the USA by crook commanders like Gilead. Rest of the world resented it particularly Canada. Many undercover operations are ongoing to sabotage it. The organisations have links in the upper hierarchy of the government of Gilead.
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This new governing body is a bunch of fanatics and extremists. They select their workers who pass through brutal torture and mind grinding. Interestingly while reading The Testaments I was constantly reminded of the torture cells they claim to have found in our region. Moving on the rules of the state are what they accuse Muslims of. There are highlights of their treatment to females. They deny basic human rights to women like their will, education, marriage etc. all of which they associate with muslims. Ironically they do it to their own women.
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There are a few main characters in The Testaments. Aunt Lydia, who runs the affairs of a very important institute for women. She has a girls scout service with the name of Pearls. It recruits and plots schemes in foreign lands. She overlooks the Marthas and Handmaids used for specific requirements in households of high ranking officials. There is baby Nicole, who was kidnapped and smuggled out of Gilead by her handmaid mother. Daisy, who is a Canadian and totally oblivious to her roots and history. Jemima, who belongs to a high ranking official family. She is the child bride of a commander but opts to be an Aunt (nun). How these characters bind together? What twists and turns their stories have? It is worthy of every minute of your time.
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The writing style of The Testaments is very simple, nothing is dramatic or fancy. The narration of events and character building is amazing. Margaret Atwood blends and develops characters into a thrilling adventure both surprising and interesting. I’m sure you will close this book with a feeling of astonishing relationships, devotion to the cause, sacrifice and complete revenge. I totally recommend the book.
Read the previous review by the same author Bad Luck And Trouble
