Happy Holidays everyone. I hope your December has been festive and fun and that you’re able to close out the year with your loved ones. This might be my last post of 2019 since my husband and I will be leaving in a little over a week to spend the Christmas week with family in Southern California. We are looking forward to it and plan to brave a bit of Christmas shopping beforehand. Better late than never.
We’ve had some good snow here lately and the cross-country ski trails are in prime shape. We’ll be out there this weekend, leaving the shopping behind. I never thought I’d like the winter season so much, but after almost 10 years here, I’ve pretty much adapted to the cold temps and white flying fluffy stuff — as long as it’s above single digits Fahrenheit. Meanwhile I’ll leave you with a few reviews of what I finished lately.
Ahh yes, the sequel to Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian classic “The Handmaid’s Tale,” drew me in and pleasantly surprised me (as it did my book assistant, pictured at left). I noticed that “The Testaments” was recently picked as Amazon’s #1 book of 2019 as well as earning the most votes as Goodreads Best Fiction choice of the year. Wow, I didn’t know this at the time I read it, but I’m glad I’m not alone in appreciating the sequel, which also co-won this year’s Booker Prize.
Perhaps it’s sort of a hard tale to actually “like” because of the harsh place it depicts, but you can see what Atwood was portending with her dystopian futuristic story about the Republic of Gilead, where the environment has gone to seed and a totalitarian regime rules in portions of North America that enforces strict social roles and enslaves fertile women.
I had read the original novel in 2017 so I was acquainted with the horrors of living in Gilead. “The Testaments” takes place 15 years after this, and is told in short chapters among three alternating narrators. There’s Aunt Lydia: Gilead’s top female enforcer, who we come to learn was taken in gruesomely at the Republic’s beginning and consolidated her power over many years; then there’s Agnes, who’s born into a well-to do Commander’s family and is trying to figure out her parentage and role within Gilead; and lastly there’s Daisy, a girl living outside of Gilead in free Canada, whose parents aren’t exactly who she once thought they were. Uh-oh.
The three characters’ stories unfold in interesting ways and I was impressed by how each gripped me from the get-go. None of them are really who you think they are at first and they each come to grapple with their own identities and roles in order to get what they want. They all have to bide their time, carry on with the harsh status quo, and hide their true selves … though eventually their motivations and worlds come to collide in a page-turning flurry.
“The Testaments” is quite different than “The Handmaid’s Tale” in tone and style. For one, it seems quicker and faster paced with short chapters — and does not delve into all the harshness of the first one; it’s more escapist. And while the first one was basically Offred the Handmaid’s story, this one revolves around the lives of the three females and seems more hopeful. The sequel doesn’t continue Offred’s story, but it answers questions about her and Gilead. Some purists will probably continue to like just “The Handmaid’s Tale” and not the sequel …. but I ended up appreciating the follow-up as well because it seemed cleverly handled and resolved some things in my mind. I have to hand it to Atwood, who finished writing it at age 79, nearly 35 years after penning her thought-provoking original.
I also loved Kevin Wilson’s novel “Nothing to See Here,” which was funny, quirky, and heartwarming too. As unlikely as it seems at first, Lillian (age 28) comes to work as a governess taking care of her rich former boarding school roommate’s stepkids — Bessie and Roland — who happen to catch on fire whenever they become anxious or upset. That’s right: they’re combustible kids. Say whaaa? It feels pretty normal when you experience the story, which says a lot about how good this novel is.
It engaged me pretty much from the start, and I listened to it as an audiobook read by actress Marin Ireland who made the whole story come alive. It might even be my favorite audio of 2019! It’s a wonderful story about these unusual kids and Lillian, who had a rough childhood herself and becomes their protector and caregiver — as her former roommate Madison marries the kids’ father — a rich US Senator — who keeps the kids at a distance in his guest house on their mega estate. Luckily Lillian really takes to the kids and it’s a transformative journey and ending. You can’t fully explain this one — it’s funnily told and heartwarming without being saccharine. (It’s not exactly Maria in the Sound of Music.) You just need to get it and tap into the fire of these kids. Kudos to author Kevin Wilson.
Lastly I finished the audiobook of Ann Patchett’s recent novel “The Dutch House,” which I liked well enough but did not love. I know I’m in the minority since many seemed gaga over this one. I was keen on the beginning with the big estate that their real estate investor father purchases outside of Philly and Danny and his sisters’ youths and caregivers there. But once their fortunes change, the story seems to spin its wheels a bit about Danny and Maeve’s long lost mother and their stepmom who keeps the mansion for herself and throws them out. It’s a book with a lot of reminiscing in it and is a lot about Danny and Maeve, a brother and sister who rely closely on one another as they grow up, age, and commiserate about their parental circumstances.
It’s a sad, regretful and nostalgic story, but I didn’t find a lot more necessarily happened in it. I listened to the novel as an audiobook read by Tom Hanks and I thought he was wonderful narrating as Danny. Towards the middle though I found it a bit slow and had to push myself a little to finish it. There’s some development at the end that changes the dynamic about the mother and stepmother in the siblings’ lives … so that made me wake up a bit but didn’t fully redeem much about them for me. It seems a novel about family mistakes, forgiveness, and the bonds of a sister and brother. I commiserated with them and wish their lives in the Dutch House, a mansion worthy of their strong childhood bonds, had never changed.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these, and if so, what did you think? Wishing you all very happy holidays!
Oh my, closing out the year sounds so final but I guess that is where we are. Since I have only two events coming up in life, I have been reading as much as I can to complete my Number of Books Read goal. I think I will make it!
Yay on your Testaments review. I felt the same about Atwood’s way with this sequel.
You have convinced me that I must read Nothing to See Here. It sounds like a clever twist on the nanny tale.
I just finished The Dutch House a couple days ago. The tone of the book was sadness for me and I had mixed feelings. In fact I had to call my friend who lent me her copy and discuss on the phone for a good long while.
Wishing you a warm and happy time with your family. See you next year!
Thanks Judy. I hope you have a great Christmas too. The Kevin Wilson novel (which I keep forgetting the title of) is pretty short so I think it would boost your reading total over the top! Maybe my Closing Out the Year title sounds a bit harsh for this post … who knows maybe I could do a post next week …. but it’s likely I’ll be too crazed. Enjoy your reading over the holidays.
I really need to re-read The Handmaid’s Tale before reading The Testaments. I seriously do not remember Handmaid at all.
I am excited for your Christmas in California! Yesterday we had a balmy, 75 degree day. Felt like spring. It was nice but I was so overheated walking to lunch in my layers.
Thanks Ti, I’m excited about our Christmas too. I think it’s always pretty nice at the OC. I hope your whole family is home & you have a wonderful Christmas. & Perhaps you’ll see the new Star Wars. I sort of think The Testaments can be read without The Handmaid’s Tale / people would get it as a standalone, but I know what you mean about wanting to read both for the whole background etc. Enjoy your holidays!
I will eventually read The Testaments. It sounds very interesting. I think that I will reread The Handmaid’s Tale first.
We have had only a dusting of snow here on Long Island. I fear that there will be more here soon.
Hey Brian: how have you only had a dusting of snow?! We’ve probably had 10 storms of it already. Somehow I think you’ll probably have a white Christmas. You might end of liking The Handmaid’s Tale better but it seems harsher and this new one was interesting. Enjoy your holidays.
I’ve never lived anywhere that gets much snow and don’t think I would adapt well to it. Kudos to you for doing so!
I loved Nothing to See Here as well. I’ve got The Testaments on audio but haven’t been drawn to it for some odd reason.
Thanks Kathy. Adapting to these cold temps has not been easy over the years! But now I just wear a lot of layers and walk the dog same as before. I’m so glad you loved Nothing to See Here too. It seems the sleeper hit of the Year! It was very enjoyable. The Testaments is a bit mysterious about who is narrating the chapters at times & so that is one area readers get a bit confused about. In time, it becomes more clear who each are. Happy holidays.
I haven’t read The Testaments yet because I didn’t want to be further depressed, but based on your assessment that it is more optimistic in tone, maybe I’ll move it up a few steps on my TBR list. I think I liked The Dutch House more than you but I agree that its tone is sad and regretful. Not at all a light-hearted read!
I hope you have a joyous holiday season with your family and I’ll look forward to your posts in the coming year.
Thanks Dorothy. I hope you have wonderful holidays as well. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to read The Testaments after Christmas … it has some dark elements to it but luckily is not from a Handmaid’s point of view like the first book. Yeah the Dutch House was a bit of a downer … I couldn’t really forgive the mothers either.
I’ve read them all except for Nothing to See Here, but you’re the third blogger I trust who enjoyed it so I’m putting it on hold at the library!
Have a wonderful warm holiday- I’m jealous. I’m not living in temps like what you experience but we are getting white fluffy stuff as I type. Sigh. And I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the cold.
Thanks Catherine & you have a great Christmas there! Cold temps are never easy. I’m afraid it’ll take years for you. I hope you enjoy Nothing to See Here — it’s a quick read — and the audio is terrific. The author is totally new to me.
All three of your books have been listed on the end-of-the-year best books lists. THE DUTCH HOUSE 16 lists, THE TESTAMENTS 12 lists, and NOTHING TO SEE HERE 6 lists. You pick good books to read. I, on the other hand, keep finding myself reading books that I don’t particularly like and neither does anyone else. Ha! Though I did read DUTCH HOUSE and liked it a lot, especially the ending. And INLA.ND (12 lists) which I also loved the ending. I think this was a spectacular year for good books as the lists cannot agree on one or two favorites. I hope to get to THE TESTAMENTS soon as it won the Booker Prize and TRUST EXERCISE the National Book Award winner.
Hey Anne: thanks for your info on the book lists. I read Inland and Trust Exercise too … so I guess I’ve covered some bases. There were some strong novels this year for sure. Trust Exercise is a bit tough & grim … but see what you think of it. I will stop by your site to see what you’ve been reading. Hope your holidays are filled with joy.
Hard to believe it wrap-up time, but here we are. I recently finished listening to The Dutch House and loved it. Tom Hanks’s narration added so much. But I can appreciate your criticism, too.
Like Ti, I want to reread The Handmaid’s Tale before The Testaments. It’s been 30 (!) years and the details are long gone. Had hope to get to it this year, but you know how that goes.
The premise of Nothing To See Here just sounded too weird for me to even consider, but you’ve got me rethinking it. Guess it belongs on my list after all.
Safe travels. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Thanks JoAnn: great to hear from you. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas in Florida. Kudos to you for making such a big, successful change this past year. I think you might like the audio of Nothing to See Here … a heartwarming (and funny) story in the end. Marin Ireland’s narration of it is excellent and it goes by quickly. Tom Hanks certainly did a fine job narrating The Dutch House. Happy Holidays!
I’m so glad to hear you liked The Testaments so much. I just finished doing a reread of The Handmaid’s Tale (on audio) and have a library hold on the audiobook of The Testaments coming up in a couple weeks. I’ve seen some mixed reviews, but am looking forward to it.
Loved Nothing to See Here and The Dutch House!
Have a great Christmas in So. Cal. You’re escaping to warmth and I’ll be taking off for a week of cold in Denver. (Though honestly, you never know with Denver!)
Hey Susie: Have a wonderful Christmas in Denver! I think you told me about Nothing to See Here first … so thanks for alerting me to the novel. I really enjoyed the audio. The only thing a minor concern about The Testaments is that sometimes it can be a bit confusing on which narrator is speaking or starting the chapter … but then as it goes on you become more aware of which one it is. I hope the audio won’t be too confusing like that. Other than that I thought it was pretty clever & a good wrap-up.
I also enjoyed The Testaments and felt more hopeful about the lives of the characters in this one. As if we (they) could overcome the horrific Gilead and move on. (Like people in the US can overcome what is happening now?).
I have The Dutch House, but haven’t read it yet. Soon, I hope.
Hi Laurel: I’ll be interested to hear what you think of The Dutch House and I’m glad you felt similarly about The Testaments. Interesting observations you have about what Atwood was saying of Gilead etc. I think she was writing about what is going on now … and maybe she’s saying we should keep up the fight against intolerable governments & administrations. With pressure, they will eventually crumble from within!!
Thanks for sending me the link to this post, Susan. I agree with you on both The Dutch House and Nothing To See Here. I loved listening to both of these books, but I can’t say I loved Patchett’s book. It was quite good, but not a 5-star for me. Nothing To See Here will probably go down as my favorite audio of 2020. It was SO good!!!
Hey Lesley … I completely agree … I loved the audio of Nothing to See Here by actress Marin Ireland … wow! It was one of my favorites of 2019. The Dutch House sort of grated on me … towards the end … I liked the beginning. I liked them living in the mansion. But after it lost its allure for me. Hope you are well.