Jayson’s Reviews > The Handmaid's Tale > Status Update
Jayson
is on page 259 of 320
Notes:
(1) Even this far into the book, I don't know that I can identify a definite plot.
- This whole book has been the main character either telling things or learning things.
(2) This may possibly be the most passive protagonist I've ever read.
- More noticeable since it's a dystopian story.
- She doesn't actually rebel at all, except perhaps in her head. Really, she's coerced into breaking rules by everyone else.
— Jan 05, 2023 09:40AM
(1) Even this far into the book, I don't know that I can identify a definite plot.
- This whole book has been the main character either telling things or learning things.
(2) This may possibly be the most passive protagonist I've ever read.
- More noticeable since it's a dystopian story.
- She doesn't actually rebel at all, except perhaps in her head. Really, she's coerced into breaking rules by everyone else.
71 likes · Like flag
Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is on page 299 of 320
Notes:
(1) I don't know what to make of this book. Going into the last few short chapters, I thought to myself that this better end with some oomph because there's been very little of that so far.
- I can't say it ultimately did, though I can't say it was disappointing either.
(2) The ending's meant to be ambiguous, which I can appreciate. Though the epilogue tells you what happened, which takes some steam out of it.
— Jan 06, 2023 08:45AM
(1) I don't know what to make of this book. Going into the last few short chapters, I thought to myself that this better end with some oomph because there's been very little of that so far.
- I can't say it ultimately did, though I can't say it was disappointing either.
(2) The ending's meant to be ambiguous, which I can appreciate. Though the epilogue tells you what happened, which takes some steam out of it.
Jayson
is on page 199 of 320
Notes:
(1) When I said before that the inciting incident didn't come until a third of the way into the book, I was wrong. That was a false start. It actually comes halfway through the book.
- It's been all world-building until then.
- In a twist on convention, "the rebel" isn't so clear cut.
(2) Part of the reason why I don't read much literary fiction is precisely because plot often plays second fiddle to symbolism.
— Jan 04, 2023 10:10AM
(1) When I said before that the inciting incident didn't come until a third of the way into the book, I was wrong. That was a false start. It actually comes halfway through the book.
- It's been all world-building until then.
- In a twist on convention, "the rebel" isn't so clear cut.
(2) Part of the reason why I don't read much literary fiction is precisely because plot often plays second fiddle to symbolism.
Jayson
is on page 151 of 320
Notes:
(1) "All I can hear now is the sound of my own heart, opening and closing, opening and closing, opening"
- This last line of Chapter 24 doesn't end with a punctuation, which is interesting, as well as perplexing.
- To me, it could either mean that her heart stayed open after that third round, or that, since the sentence has no end, the pattern keeps repeating indefinitely. I suppose either theory is plausible.
— Jan 04, 2023 01:00AM
(1) "All I can hear now is the sound of my own heart, opening and closing, opening and closing, opening"
- This last line of Chapter 24 doesn't end with a punctuation, which is interesting, as well as perplexing.
- To me, it could either mean that her heart stayed open after that third round, or that, since the sentence has no end, the pattern keeps repeating indefinitely. I suppose either theory is plausible.
Jayson
is on page 103 of 320
Notes:
(1) Around 100 pages in, and finally we have the inciting incident.
- In dystopian stories, it's usually the main character daring to undertake an act of rebellion, risking their life in the process: think Winston writing in his diary or Katniss volunteering as Tribute.
- Here's it's a pair of chapters where you have the expected/shocking duty of a handmaid, contrasted with the aforementioned act of rebellion.
— Jan 03, 2023 05:30AM
(1) Around 100 pages in, and finally we have the inciting incident.
- In dystopian stories, it's usually the main character daring to undertake an act of rebellion, risking their life in the process: think Winston writing in his diary or Katniss volunteering as Tribute.
- Here's it's a pair of chapters where you have the expected/shocking duty of a handmaid, contrasted with the aforementioned act of rebellion.
Jayson
is on page 50 of 320
Notes:
(1) This threw me for a bit of a loop with its use of selective quotation marks.
- Only words spoken in the immediate present get quotation marks. Anything else, be it written or a recollection, doesn't get them.
(2) Chapters 1-8 involve a trip to buy groceries.
- Definitely more about the journey than the destination.
- It does a great job at worldbuilding. Immersive and memorable, albeit somewhat uneventful.
— Jan 02, 2023 03:25AM
(1) This threw me for a bit of a loop with its use of selective quotation marks.
- Only words spoken in the immediate present get quotation marks. Anything else, be it written or a recollection, doesn't get them.
(2) Chapters 1-8 involve a trip to buy groceries.
- Definitely more about the journey than the destination.
- It does a great job at worldbuilding. Immersive and memorable, albeit somewhat uneventful.
Jayson
is starting
Notes:
(1) It's been New Year tradition for me to have either my first book of the year or the last book of the preceding year (some years both) be a super-popular novel.
- "The Handmaid's Tale" was on clearance!
(2) When I say "super-popular," I don't mean the YA novel de jour that practically no one outside Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has even heard of. I mean books that everyone knows, possibly a classic or due to a hit adaptation.
— Jan 01, 2023 12:15AM
(1) It's been New Year tradition for me to have either my first book of the year or the last book of the preceding year (some years both) be a super-popular novel.
- "The Handmaid's Tale" was on clearance!
(2) When I say "super-popular," I don't mean the YA novel de jour that practically no one outside Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has even heard of. I mean books that everyone knows, possibly a classic or due to a hit adaptation.
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Robin
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Jan 05, 2023 12:21PM
I don’t think I would have enjoyed this book as much as I did if I hadn’t read it in a class with class discussions.
reply
|
flag
I felt this way when I read the book as well.
Robin wrote: "I don’t think I would have enjoyed this book as much as I did if I hadn’t read it in a class with class discussions."Yeah, being able to discuss books in a group read is always nice and adds a lot to the experience. My issue with reading fiction for school has always been in it being compulsory and also the assessment aspects of it. Having to read a book, as opposed to choosing to read a book, takes all the recreational enjoyment out of it and makes it feel all the more like the homework it is. As well, being graded on your personal interpretations of a book, or worse, telling you that your view of a book is wrong or not as good an others, just sucks the life out of the reading experience. But the discussion part is always good and beneficial.
Mike wrote: "I felt this way when I read the book as well."Glad to know I'm not the only one :)
TMR wrote: "Yeah she’s a real pushover."She's very resigned to her fate and to a degree content in her servitude. She wants things to change, but puts all her hopes in other people to change things for her. (view spoiler)
