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bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure how I feel about this. Will need to marinate on it a bit.
Full review:
Having recently read The Handmaid's Tale, I was very intrigued when I saw this on the Kindle Singles list. Though I've owned a Kindle for some time, I'd yet to try a Single, so what better than one by the author of the phenomenal Handmaid's Tale? Unfortunately, this story doesn't live up to its predecessor. Spoilers to follow.
I really loved the initial concept of this book. The way Atwood frames it, it seems like the perfect dystopian setting. Take some people, deceive them into believing that a prison exchange scenario is brilliant and voila! As with The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood does a good job of taking something that seems a little far fetched but manipulating it in such a way that it eventually sounds pretty reasonable. I really bought this aspect of the work because I could imagine that, with the proper branding, people who are struggling might just buy into such a concept.
However, I think the work lost focus from here. It seems to be two things at once: a dystopian view of the solving of social inequalities that is also a work about obsession. The more Stan fixated on Jasmine, the more this work lost me. I could see where Stan's longing for Jasmine was symbolic of his longing to break out of his seemingly perfect world, his longing for a spice that was lacking from his bland existence. But the balance seemed off to me, to the extent that the work ending up feeling more like a work of sexual obsession than one making a statement about society at large.
Full review:
Having recently read The Handmaid's Tale, I was very intrigued when I saw this on the Kindle Singles list. Though I've owned a Kindle for some time, I'd yet to try a Single, so what better than one by the author of the phenomenal Handmaid's Tale? Unfortunately, this story doesn't live up to its predecessor. Spoilers to follow.
I really loved the initial concept of this book. The way Atwood frames it, it seems like the perfect dystopian setting. Take some people, deceive them into believing that a prison exchange scenario is brilliant and voila! As with The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood does a good job of taking something that seems a little far fetched but manipulating it in such a way that it eventually sounds pretty reasonable. I really bought this aspect of the work because I could imagine that, with the proper branding, people who are struggling might just buy into such a concept.
However, I think the work lost focus from here. It seems to be two things at once: a dystopian view of the solving of social inequalities that is also a work about obsession. The more Stan fixated on Jasmine, the more this work lost me. I could see where Stan's longing for Jasmine was symbolic of his longing to break out of his seemingly perfect world, his longing for a spice that was lacking from his bland existence. But the balance seemed off to me, to the extent that the work ending up feeling more like a work of sexual obsession than one making a statement about society at large.
angelicide's review against another edition
4.0
Weird dystopian.
No one does it quite like her.
Ready for part two.
No one does it quite like her.
Ready for part two.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy all of Atwood's work. Such clear ideas & unique thoughts and style. Perfect that the ending surprised me and had me wishing for more.
margyly's review against another edition
4.0
This novela (a Kindle Single) is another of Atwood’s dytopias, based on the premise that economic issues could be solved by employing everyone as prison guards, with the guards taking turns as prisoners. She’s a wonderful writer, so even though the premise is thin, it was a fun read.
andrea_c's review against another edition
4.0
Very much reminded me of a JG Ballard short story, particularly the Twilight Zone-esque ending.
I'm not sure the colour of lipstick on the Byliner cover is the right shade (could always be my monitor of course). I only noticed because Atwood went to such effort describing the specific hue.
I'm not sure the colour of lipstick on the Byliner cover is the right shade (could always be my monitor of course). I only noticed because Atwood went to such effort describing the specific hue.
melissabrokaw's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this single - I wished it was a whole book.
ivanssister's review against another edition
4.0
I could have read a book-length version of this. As it was, I felt the ending was rather abrupt. MOAR, MARGARET!
beentsy's review against another edition
4.0
I love it when Atwood does dystopian fiction. She's just really good at it. The little nuances of and details of what it means to be human even when everything is falling apart. This first volume in the serial has laid the groundwork, it will be interesting to see what happens in the next two installments.