Review: The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, I can see why this dystopian classic has made such an impression on so many. This is a book that definitely hangs with you, haunting your thoughts, long after you finish the book. It is thought-provoking and terrifying.

The story centers on the heroine, Offred, who is a “handmaiden” in this futuristic world created by Ms. Atwood. As a handmaiden, Offred’s sole purpose is to produce a baby for the Commander and his wife, Serena Joy. Once she has served her purpose, she will be reassigned to another high-ranking man for the same purpose. This pattern will repeat over and over, until she is no longer able to bear children. What happens then, nobody really wants to talk about. Worse yet, if she fails to produce a child then she will face a fate reserved for the lowliest of women.

This is the world that Offred and others are left with after a brutal civil war stamped out the rights that citizens like Offred had taken for granted. The overthrow of the democratic government was gradual…until it wasn’t. The changes that took place were very insidious.

One moment, people like Offred were consumed with trivial problems, like where they were going to go out for dinner that night. The next thing they knew, a civil war was raging. Soon, their every movement was monitored closely. Of course, this was for their own “protection” and “safety”. Then, women weren’t allowed to hold jobs or manage their own money. (After all, the poor little dears shouldn’t have to bear that burden. A man should handle those sorts of things.) Next, anyone that dared to oppose the new regime was eliminated. Before long, citizens like Offred cannot even recognize their new reality. They are stuck under the rule of an incredibly oppressive, misogynistic regime.

Worst of all, their complacency paved the way for this gradual overthrow. Little by little, they handed over their rights with little resistance. They refused to see the writing on the wall and wanted to believe the lies that they were spoon-fed. Once they wised up, it was too late. Now, they are a people broken. Women, especially, face a grim fate.

This book is remarkable! Although it can be rather slow-moving at times, the message was powerful. This story serves as a cautionary tale and a necessary reminder. Civil rights are hard won and easily lost.

It is easy to draw comparisons to many of this books’ events and the events of the past and present. Ms. Atwood highlights many important issues and offers a great deal of social commentary. There were so many important topics that she touched upon that I can’t even begin to list them.

This book is considered to be a classic for a reason. It is a book that needs to be read and taken in by readers. While it isn’t necessarily the most entertaining read, it is certainly one of the most enlightening and thought-provoking. I highly recommend that everyone read this book, at least once.

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Review: The V Girl: A coming of age story, by Mya Robarts

The V Girl: A coming of age story by Mya Robarts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started this book, I knew it would deal with some pretty “heavy” subject matter. After all, the blurb is pretty forthcoming about the fact that rape is commonplace in this futuristic world that Mya Robarts created. While it proved to be every bit as gut-wrenching as I expected, there were also more moments of simplistic beauty than I had anticipated.

Given the dark, gritty and downright gloomy existence that the heroine lives, these few exquisite moments provided her with the inspiration necessary to keep living another day. For the reader, they served to keep the story from becoming so depressing as to not be enjoyable. Even in the darkest of times, there is light to be seen if you look hard enough. Finding that light is the essence of the human drive to survive against all odds.

Lila Velez was a girl that managed to find the light in a very dark world. Coming of age in her town meant being eligible for recruitment by the army. While this sounds deceivingly honorable, don’t let the fluffy language fool you. “Recruitment” is really a nice way of saying “rape” that is completely legal and sanctioned by the government. There is nothing nice about it or this life that Lila was born into. It is raw, brutal and horrific.

If you can picture that, then you can imagine the morose feeling that pervades this book. The vast majority of this book takes place in the months preceding the recruitment ceremony. (Yes, they actually have a big ceremony to celebrate these traumatic, and very public, mass rapes.) There was a strong sense of impending doom and the clock ticked down to the time that Lila would face a certain and brutal rape.

Fully aware of what the future holds in store for her, Lila is determined to take control of her own first sexual experience–to the extent that she can when she is faced with an ever-shortening timeline. She sets out to lose her virginity before it can be taken from her. She has no illusions of romance, but refuses to let the soldiers take that part of her. At least she can be sure that her first time will be with someone that she cares about, even if it isn’t with someone that she is in love with.

When Lila’s best friend, Rey, first turns her down, she is disappointed but not deterred. She is certain that she will be able to convince Rey before the troops arrive in their town. If she can’t she is sure that she can find somebody. After all, anyone would be better than the soldiers.

General Aleksy Furst immediately takes notice of Lila when he arrives in town. An awkward, rather comical, first meeting ensures that he won’t soon forget Lila. Despite her initial protests, Lila eventually comes to consider Aleksy’s offer to rid her of her virginity.

While reading this story, it was easy to draw many parallels between this fictional futuristic dystopian America and factual past and present war crimes of the world. This book forces readers to evaluate their values and sheds light on many unpleasant truths that are not discussed in polite society. From homophopia, rape, government-sanctioned war crimes, genetic modification, gender-specific roles to hypocrisy, this book touches on so many controversial topics that I couldn’t begin to list them all.

That is really what makes this book so moving and memorable. Of course, I enjoyed the love story that evolved between Lila and Aleksey. However, the beauty of this book was in it’s ability to make readers think about these controversial topics. The best books are those that force us to reevaluate our beliefs and behaviors, sculpting us into better, more compassionate, individuals. This is one such book.

While this book certainly isn’t a feel-good type of story, I highly recommend it. Like ‘1984’ and other dystopian classics, ‘The V Girl’ is a thought-provoking social commentary. I especially liked the questions for discussion that the author included at the back of the book.

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Review: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1), by Amie Kaufman

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow! This book certainly took me by surprise. I’m still digesting exactly what transpired in this book.

‘Illuminae’ was unlike anything that I’ve read before. For starters, I’m not a big Science Fiction fan. However, this story had a strong romance element and so it managed to draw me in and hold my attention. That being said, I was definitely stepping out of my comfort zone with this book.

The writing style was also very unique. The story is told through the transcripts of recordings, e-mails and other communications between various characters. Admittedly, this style took me quite a while to get used to. Yet, once I adjusted to this unique perspective, I was completely hooked on this story.

‘Illuminae’ tells the story of battling mega-corporations in the future. They are fighting over a speck of a planet at the edge of the universe, with little regard for the lives of the people that are caught in the crosshairs.

Kady Grant and Ezra Mason are two of those people. High school sweethearts, the two had just broken up the morning that their worlds would be turned upside down. They find themselves under attack and fighting for survival.

In the wake of the attack, the world that they knew is changed irrevocably. A virus has broken out amongst the survivors, turning friends and neighbors into murdering zombies. Kady and Ezra are separated, but work together to try and save everyone.

As the story progressed, there were plenty of twists and turns. Every time that I thought I had everything figured out, the story would turn in a completely different direction. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.

It did take me a little longer to get into this story, but once I did, it had me completely focused. I even found myself liking AIDAN, the ship’s artificial intelligence that was arguably a “bad guy” for much of the book. This book ended up being surprisingly good for me.

I listened to the Audible edition and I have to give kudos to the narrators. They did a fantastic job of keeping this story engaging and keeping the multiple characters straight. This was a great audiobook selection.

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Review: The Last Girl (The Dominion Trilogy, #1), by Joe Hart

The Last Girl by Joe Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

‘The Last Girl’ is not my usual type of book, but I’ve been branching out a little more lately and trying different genres. I’ve been lucky enough to find some gems recently as I’ve explored other genres. Unfortunately, ‘The Last Girl’ is not one that was a big hit with me. If I had to describe this book in one word, that word would be “underwhelming”.

A dystopian-themed book, ‘The Last Girl’ centers on Zoey, a girl that has been held captive by a militarized, government “research” group. There has been a “plague” that has caused only male babies to be born. The few females remaining are hunted, to be used as guinea pigs…or far worse. Zoey is one of those girls. She has been raised in a research facility as a test subject, in the search for a cure.

Zoey and the other girls at the center have been lied to for all of their years of captivity. They’ve heard rumors about the horrible things that await them on their twenty-first birthdays, but most choose to believe the fairytales that they are fed. Zoey doesn’t believe the lies. She knows that something is amiss and begins to plan her escape.

Eventually, Zoey succeeds and manages to break free of her captors. She joins forces with a group of rebels that want to free the remaining girls at the center. Against all odds, they plan their attack.

While there was plenty of action and suspense in this book, I never really connected with Zoey or the other characters. The story just lacked that special something that pulls you in and holds your attention. I can’t think of any one particular thing to point to, but it just didn’t work for me as a whole. It was okay, but failed to elicit any real emotion from me.

Overall, this was a mediocre read for me. This wasn’t at all my usual type of story, which may have something to do with it. I need a lot more romance and emotion in my stories. This just wasn’t that type of story…at all.

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Review: Crooked Kingdom, by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If I thought that ‘Six of Crows’ was action-packed, I hadn’t seen anything yet! ‘Crooked Kingdom’ followed Kaz Brekker and his gang of misfits as they sought revenge on those who had wronged them, beginning with a plan to free Inej from their grasp. Listening to the Audible version, I again found myself having to rewind on occasion in order to keep track of what was going on.

While this sequel was full of exciting adventures and plenty of scheming, I loved that I felt like I got to know each character better. Glimpses into their pasts are provided, giving readers a more comprehensive understanding of these unique individuals. This served to endear these characters to me, even more so than the first book.

Given the high level of action and adventure provided in this book, it was nice to have those aspects of the story balanced by the more emotional stories of each character. One minute I was on the edge of my seat, hoping they’d make it out of their most recent debacle in one piece. The next, I was fighting back tears as Inej recounted her early days at the brothel.

Overall, I thought that this was a fantastic book. It had plenty of twists and turns along the way. If you like a suspenseful action/adventure story, this is a wonderful choice. Although it was far more sentimental than the first book for me, I still needed a little more of a focus on the romance…but that’s just me. I’m looking forward to being reunited with these characters in the future, as I’m pretty positive we’ll be hearing from them again.

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Review: Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘Six of Crows’ is the first Leigh Bardugo book that I’ve read, but it won’t be my last. I found myself lost in the fictional world of Ketterdam that Ms. Bardugo created, completely enthralled with this grim, yet fantastical place. I have heard that this story is connected to other series that she’s written, but as this is the first book of hers that I’ve read, I cannot offer any observations in that regard.

Like the world that she created, the characters were equally intriguing. They are flawed and often behave in cruel ways, making tough choices and often having to choose between morality and survival. They are a group of anti-heroes, villains that I grew to love.

‘Six of Crows’ tells the story of a group of street kids, working together to pull off a dangerous heist. The leader of the group, Kaz Brekker, is infamous in Ketterdam. He has feared and respected on the streets, climbing his way to the top of the criminal hierarchy through sheer force and determination. To mess with him is to meet a swift end.

Kaz assembles an unlikely group of outcasts for the job, each with their own motivations for accepting. Their personalities and talents are diverse, but together they compliment each other perfectly. Some have special powers. All are outlaws.

Right from the start, I was drawn in to this paranormal adventure/fantasy. There was never a dull moment. From prison breaks, to combat, to complex heist schemes, I never knew what was going to happen.

I also found myself enjoying the individual stories of each character. I couldn’t help but love each of them, despite their sometimes infuriating actions. Given the reality with which they were faced, it was easy to see why they made the decisions that they did. I couldn’t judge them harshly for some of their cruel behaviors, because they were often forced to choose between the lesser of two evils.

After finishing this first book, I will certainly be continuing this series. This book ended with an upset. I have to know how things work out and what the future holds for this endearing cast of misfits. If you’re looking for a great adventure/fantasy, look no further. ‘Six of Crows’ was fantastic!

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A Cautionary Tale Fit For All Ages

The Giver by Lois Lowry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yesterday, I took a road trip with my two daughters to get pick up my 88 year-old grandmother, who will be staying with us through the holiday season. At 5 and 9 years-old, my usual audiobook choices were clearly not an option. So, I found myself listening to some books that definitely are not my usual type, yet again.

With over 4 1/2 hours in the car each way, we were able to finish 2 audiobooks from start to finish. By pure coincidence, they both ended up being authored by Lois Lowry. I have never been more engaged in a children’s book than I was during this road trip. I was completely lost in these stories, as were my children.

The first book that we listened to was ‘The Giver’. What a captivating, albeit bleak, fictional world Ms. Lowry has created! I was absolutely spellbound by her storytelling.

Set in the future, Jonas lives in a community that has traded their humanity for the illusion of safety. They block anything that would trigger the emotional highs and lows that define a person’s life as we now know it. They don’t experience the heartache of loss, but they never give in to the joys of life either. They are shells, robotic in their day to day existence and devoid of emotion.

Although this is a children’s book, it had a feeling eerily similar to George Orwell’s ‘1984’. Independent thinking was non-existent. People “confessed” their thoughts, dreams and rule violations. The presence of the omnipresent leaders in their homes, ruling their lives, was pervasive and all-powerful.

Jonas is getting ready to experience the ceremony of 12. This particular ceremony is an important one in the community, a rite of passage into adulthood. It is at this ceremony that each child is assigned their job within the community. They will remain in their assigned role until they are no longer productive and they are “released”.

Unlike the other children, Jonas is unsure of his calling within the community. He doesn’t feel a clear draw to one occupation or another. He is worried of what the future holds for him and he is beginning to notice some unusual things that others do not.

Jonas is ultimately assigned a very prestigious role within the community. It is perhaps the most important role in the community, but comes with a tremendous burden. He cannot share his experiences with anyone other than the man that he will be replacing, the current “receiver”. As his training progresses, Jonas comes to question everything that he has ever been taught.

From beginning to end, this book held my rapt attention. It was beautifully written and thought provoking. ‘The Giver’ serves as a cautionary tale to the human race, warning of what can become when we censor our very emotions and blot out all of the differences that make us unique individuals.

There was plenty of action and suspense along the way. It was also a much more emotional read than I had anticipated. I’ll never forget the look on my 9 year-old’s face when some of the true meanings of different phrases, like “released”, truly sunk in. Don’t even get me going on baby Gabe! Luckily, I think most of that went over the head of my 5 year-old.

Overall, I thought that this was a spectacular book! It is one that I would not have normally read, but I’m so glad that I did. I can only hope that the lessons learned will resonate with my daughter and the other children that read it. An all-around great story! I’ll probably download the next books in the series for our next road-trip to take “Nana” home after the holidays.

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