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idonthavebroadband's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gabepants's review against another edition
4.0
interesting. I really enjoyed the numerous twists and turns. I felt unsettled and odd the entire time. Atwood knows how to make her readers uncomfortable but oddly intrigued enough to keep going, to keep rooting for the characters so honestly flawed.
ellipsiscool's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really not impressed with this one as much as I hoped I would be. The main female character felt hollow and underdeveloped. I found myself routing for Stan despite myself because he felt like a real person. I thought for sure that Charmane was going to turn out to be a robot, because she is just so ridiculous and, frankly, dumb. I also felt as if Atwood was beating things over my head. I'll never be able to look at a blue teddy bear without cringing because they were so pointlessly and obsessively mentioned again and again and . . . again.
However, I did enjoy the world building. The slightly apocalyptic world where the rich have gotten more decadent while the middle class has plummeted into a desperate abyss making them sign on for insane sounding schemes so they can have clean sheets, really seems like something that would happen.
However, I did enjoy the world building. The slightly apocalyptic world where the rich have gotten more decadent while the middle class has plummeted into a desperate abyss making them sign on for insane sounding schemes so they can have clean sheets, really seems like something that would happen.
butchorpheus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ef109's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
What you think of this book will depend on what you expect.
If you don't want to see a dystopian horror comedy, go elsewhere.
If you can't even imagine a dystopian horror comedy, go elsewhere.
Then you have to read the dystopian opening, in which things are quite bad for quite a lot of people.
Much worse than the badness that got Donald Trump elected. So when things start to happen, and you think, "C'mon, THAT would never happen," you have to ask yourself, "Are you sure?"
Suppose it did happen, and a part of it was run by libertarian entrepreneurs who are imaginative but not high in practical intelligence; or perhaps they are just so greedy or desperate that consequences don't matter. Suppose, for example, that a chain of unusual facilities grew up under the management of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Horrible things might happen. They might be hidden by a shiny facade of the 1950s American Dream. And, of course, things might go wrong. At this point Atwood had to decide whether to go for the grim (like McCarthy's The Road) or the slapstick. She chose the latter, and it was the right choice.
Events and decisions and plans become more and more ludicrous, and if I explained some of them you wouldn't believe me. The horror side keeps popping up, but the ridiculous keeps returning.
The plot actually does hold together till the end, not without a few twists.
Be warned, too, that Atwood's humour is dry, dry, dry - dare I say Canadian? (I am one, so yes, I dare)
So, your mileage may vary. But I enjoyed it.
If you don't want to see a dystopian horror comedy, go elsewhere.
If you can't even imagine a dystopian horror comedy, go elsewhere.
Then you have to read the dystopian opening, in which things are quite bad for quite a lot of people.
Much worse than the badness that got Donald Trump elected. So when things start to happen, and you think, "C'mon, THAT would never happen," you have to ask yourself, "Are you sure?"
Suppose it did happen, and a part of it was run by libertarian entrepreneurs who are imaginative but not high in practical intelligence; or perhaps they are just so greedy or desperate that consequences don't matter. Suppose, for example, that a chain of unusual facilities grew up under the management of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Horrible things might happen. They might be hidden by a shiny facade of the 1950s American Dream. And, of course, things might go wrong. At this point Atwood had to decide whether to go for the grim (like McCarthy's The Road) or the slapstick. She chose the latter, and it was the right choice.
Events and decisions and plans become more and more ludicrous, and if I explained some of them you wouldn't believe me. The horror side keeps popping up, but the ridiculous keeps returning.
The plot actually does hold together till the end, not without a few twists.
Be warned, too, that Atwood's humour is dry, dry, dry - dare I say Canadian? (I am one, so yes, I dare)
So, your mileage may vary. But I enjoyed it.
luciedelomez's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.25
sandy1995's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
cowboylikestoread43's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0