The Handmaid's Tale

Author: Margaret Atwood
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 1 out of 5
Pages: 315
Date Started: 2 November 2023
Date Finished: 18 November 2023

 In "The Handmaid's Tale," Margaret Atwood paints a chilling picture of a dystopian society where women are reduced to mere vessels for reproduction, stripped of their rights, education, and autonomy. The story revolves around Offred, a Handmaid, who exists in a world ruled by oppression and control.

While the premise of the book is undeniably thought-provoking and reminiscent of oppressive regimes like the Taliban's rule, the execution falls short. Atwood's narrative style, unfortunately, fails to captivate and maintain the reader's engagement. The pacing of the story feels sluggish, and the plot lacks a sense of direction or progression.

One of the book's major drawbacks is the lack of significant character development. Offred and the supporting characters remain stagnant throughout the narrative, leaving readers disconnected and unable to empathize or relate to their plight. There is a noticeable absence of growth or evolution within the characters, contributing to the sense of stagnation in the story.

Furthermore, the book struggles to provide a clear understanding of the events and the world it portrays. The narrative leaves readers grappling with confusion and an incomplete understanding of the society, hindering their immersion into the story.

Despite the intriguing concept and its parallels to real-world issues, "The Handmaid's Tale" ultimately disappoints with its sluggish pacing, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of clarity in storytelling. It regrettably fails to live up to its potential, resulting in a narrative that feels stagnant and unfulfilling. As such, it's understandable why this book received low ratings among readers seeking a more engaging and cohesive story. 

Orphan Train

Author: Christina Baker Kline

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 out of 5

Pages: 278

Date Started: 27 April 2022

Date Finished: 1 May 2022

This book was recommended by a member of the book club I follow. I did not even read the synopsis before I started reading this book!

This is a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan train rider and a teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from "aging out" of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life - answers that will ultimately free them both. (Excerpt from Goodreads)

Both Vivian and Molly have lived a tough life. Vivian's character was the most influential one. Having survived moving to America losing her family to living in foster homes, Vivian went through a lot. Her ordeal second family she lived with was extremely heartbreaking. Even with everything she went through, the way she made peace with her past was a great read.

I had no idea about the 'Orphan Trains' and I am glad I picked up this book. The story of Vivian and Dutchy was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I felt it is easier to blame things on the past and the trauma we go through, but it is more important how we get out of the past! I was happy that Molly was able to help and bring closure to the loose ends in Vivian's life. As much as I loved the story, I liked the end too.

Favorite lines from the book:

• Sometimes these spirits have been more real to me than people, more real than God.

• "I suppose this is why people have children, isn't it?' she muses. "So, somebody will care about the stuff they leave behind."

• How strange, I think - that I am in a place my parents have never been and will never see. How strange that I am here and they are gone.

• It is a pitiful kind of childhood, to know that no one loves you or taking care of you, to always be on the outside looking in.

• I feel abandoned and forgotten, dropped into misery worse than my own.

• I learned long ago that loss is not the only probable but inevitable. I know what it means to lose everything, to let go of one life and find another. And now I feel, with strange, deep certainty, that it must be my lot in life to be taught that lesson over and over again.

Oh William!

Author: Elizabeth Strout

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 1 out of 5

Pages: 240

Date Started: 8 January 2022

Date Finished: 9 January 2022

This book was recommended by Goodreads, and with the rating and reviews I saw, I thought it would be an interesting one!

The book is about empathy, children growing up, the differences we have with others and our own spouses, and friendship.

What did I just read!!! The entire book was plotless and had absolutely no substance! The entire book was a mish-mash of words and sentences. None of the sentences and the story made any sense to me. It started off well, but there was neither a direction to the book nor an end! Luckily it was a small one and I was able to finish it within a few hours.

Favorite lines from the book:

• The wish never dies.

• This is the way of life: the many things we do not know until it is too late.

• These deprivations never leave us.