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The Testaments cover art

The Testaments

Written by: Margaret Atwood
Narrated by: Ann Dowd,Bryce Dallas Howard,Mae Whitman,Derek Jacobi,Tantoo Cardinal,Margaret Atwood
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Publisher's Summary

WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE
LONGLISTED FOR THE SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Margaret Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, The Handmaid's Tale, has become a modern classic—and now she brings the iconic story to a dramatic conclusion in this riveting sequel.


More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results.
 
Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third voice: a woman who wields power through the ruthless accumulation and deployment of secrets.
 
As Atwood unfolds The Testaments, she opens up the innermost workings of Gilead as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes.

"The literary event of the year." —The Guardian
 
"The international literary event of the season." —Globe and Mail
 
"It's terrifying and exhilarating." —Judges of the Booker Prize 2019

©2019 Margaret Atwood (P)2019 Penguin Random House Canada

What the critics say

2019, Booker Prize, Winner

2019, Scotiabank Giller Prize, Long-listed

“A fast, immersive narrative that’s as propulsive as it is melodramatic.” (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

"A chilling invitation no Atwood fan can resist...The Testaments reminds us of the power of truth in the face of evil.” (People

"There may be no novelist better suited to tapping the current era’s anxieties than Margaret Atwood.” (Entertainment Weekly)

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What listeners say about The Testaments

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A more satisfying ending to the Gilead story

Growing up in Canada I had to read The Handmaid's Tale in high school, way back when - and it's not an easy read when you're 16 or so. We had an assignment afterwards to write an additional chapter of the book about what happened next. I wish I could remember what I wrote -- but The Testaments is the author's answer to that same assignment.

Offred of the first book is no longer the narrator, no longer even directly present in the story, which is instead told through the writings of Aunt Lydia and the recorded testimony of two teenage girls, one from Gilead and one from Canada. This gives the book a much different feeling from The Handmaid's Tale, in which we have a much more limited, claustrophobic view as we see everything only from Offred's eyes. In The Testaments we have a much broader view of Gilead now mainly seem from the perspective of the Aunts, which is quite different. Through Aunt Lydia's writing we learn how she came to be in her current position, and we get a much broader view of the workings of Gilead leadership because of her visibility into the Commanders' lives and politics.

Therefore, this isn't as creepy and as terrifying a book as The Handmaid's Tale; it also has a clearly resolved ending, unlike Offred's ambiguous close. It wraps up the bigger story of Gilead in a satisfactory manner, but that also means it will not haunt you as long as its predecessor since there aren't really any unanswered questions left to ponder. So if you're looking for another haunting, thought-provoking narrative with a cliffhanger ending, this isn't the book you're looking for.

However, if you're very attached to Offred, either from the original book or from the Hulu TV series, and want to know more about Gilead society and need a Gilead story with a happy ending (or at least as happy as possible, in Gilead) the you'll enjoy this book a lot. If you enjoy Atwood's writing and were amused by the little jokes in The Handmaid's Tale like "nolite te bastardes carborundorum" then you'll enjoy a lot more in The Testaments also - such as the Aunts' official motto, "Per Ardua Cum Estrus" (likely a play on the Air Force motto "per ardua ad astra"), and the Aunts' admonition against reading and writing, "Pen Is Envy". Also a lot of Canada jokes which made me snicker, being Canadian.

Overall I enjoyed it a lot; I could barely pause the book after starting and finished the entire 13+ hours of it within 2 days. With the current political climate down south, I don't think I really felt up to reading another harrowing Handmaid's Tale style novel of despair, and this was a book I enjoyed reading a lot more, while I can acknowledge it doesn't have the individual impact that its predecessor did. It was a satisfactory wrap up and a little bit of hope in a time that really could use a bit more.

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Brilliant!

I have waited almost 3 decades for answers about The Handmaid’s Tale and this book provides those answers and many more. So abundant are the descriptions of life within Gilead that I feel like it is a place I have visited. I appreciate that the book was divided among several characters and their narrators so we could see a more complete picture of the events taking place. I did not anticipate enjoying Aunt Lydia as one of those characters, but the story could never have unfolded properly without her perspective. The performance of Ann Dowd made the character come to life and I now think of Aunt Lydia in a whole new light.

The Testaments is an outstanding book, and the audio version is perfectly narrated. Thank you Margaret Atwood for returning to this universe to give us another glimpse.

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5 stars for Ann Dowd and cast! Excellent tie in

I read The Handmaid's tale when it came out in the 80s. It's always been a favourite of mine in dystopian fiction.The very first book I ever heard was The Handmaid's tale some years ago. Loved it in audio form too.
I was a fan of the first season, but the show has gone steeply downhill the last 2 seasons, with the exception of some shining stars, one in the form of Aunt Lydia. Love to hate her character, Ann Doyd always knocks it out of the park with her performances. I love Aunt Lydia's TV story, she fascinates me.
So consider me THRILLED that Margaret Atwood decided to reprise both The Handmaid's Tale and to flesh out Aunt Lydia's character in The Testaments. And then to have Ann Doyd narrate her part? 5 stars across the board, just for that!

I'm not going to pick apart or spoil the book, although Aunt Lydia's behavior is surprising in a good way, is all I'll say. This isn't the brilliant literary masterpiece of The Handmaid's Tale, life has changed much since Atwood first put pen to paper for that book. But that's not to say this isn't as brilliant a piece only in a different way. Many of us older Canadians will get the funny/not funny references to "Participaction" commercials of the 70s and 80s on Canadian TV, and quite a few other subtle Canadians.

I enjoyed this book a lot. To me it is a bit too happy ending, I preferred not knowing at the end of The Handmaid's Tale whether Offred survived or not, but that's me. The Testaments is tied up a bit too well but it was enjoyable and really well read by the narrators. Was great to hear Tantoo Cardinal, who I remember from North of Sixty. All the narrators made this a really dynamic audiobook and a great listen.

Buy the book, You will appreciate the double entendre when you hear "PeN is Envy"...

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Brilliant storytelling!

I have not previously read any Margaret Atwood books and discovered what I have been missing. Starting with the Handmaid's Tale, I was completely captivated by the storyline to the point when I finished it, I needed to deep dive into The Testaments.
What a brilliant storyteller Atwood is! I listened to the audiobook version during numerous recent road trips and always eagerly anticipated what was coming next. Brilliant,brilliant, brilliant. Captivating, engaging, and soellbinding.
I can't say enough good things about this Atwood experience. Now I definitely want to discover more Atwood brilliance through her other books. No wonder she has won so many awards!

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Did not want it to end.

No let down to Handmaids Tale. Was nice touch to have the actors in the series read their character. No spoiler here - just buy it you will love it! Just a bummer we had to wait 35 years - but definitely worth the wait!

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Enthralling

I watched the series on TV and this book continues where season 2 left off. The narration is superb! It's such a treat having a full cast to narrate including the same Aunt Lydia voice as on TV. Thoroughly enjoyable. I like how it's all wrapped up completely in the end.

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excellent follow-up

The actor's portal of Aunt Lydia stole the show here her narration was superb she's also amazing in the TV series too

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  • DK
  • 2019-09-13

Perfection

Completely unpredictable and beautifully written. I listened to it in two sessions - it was spellbinding

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Excellent

Throughly enjoyed this audio book after having watched the TV series The Handmaids Tale. The use of different voices for different characters made this truly great to listen to.

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Great follow up to the Handmaid’s Tale

A dark dystopian tale about oppressed women. Not exactly light reading but so well written that you feel it’s worth the subject just for the elegance of Margaret Atwood’s prose. The narrator’s made the book come alive.

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