The Time Traveler's Wife & The Handmaid's Tale Reviews

Another two reviews for the SRT. Stop by at Katrina's blog to get the details and free book give-aways!
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

This was added to my SRT list after I saw it on another list. I scooped it up from the library, eager to begin it. However, it quickly became clear that I wouldn't be devouring this one in the usual way. I had to read this in doses, the prose especially drove me a little crazy. Even then, I couldn't stop reading, it had me hooked.

The story opens in a chilling scenario of our world in the future. It is bleak and meaningless. After the deterioration of society-increasing rapes, pornography, violence and the rise of the women's movement, a regime of religious fanatics called the Republic of Gilead take over the government and control of America. Men have all the power, women are reduced to groups. The Wives are respectable women, married only once, the Aunts are older women who train the others, the Marthas as well are older or cannot produce, the Handmaids are women taken and distributed for their viable ovaries. The spirited ones, the resistant, are Unwomen, sent to live in colonies saturated with nuclear waste. Also, not known to all, are the Jezebel's, women used for their bodies.

The regime tries to eradicate the horrors of the past with control. Pictures are used in place of words since women are no longer allowed to read. People who do not follow the regime's rules end up on "The Wall" hung in public for all to see what crimes they are guilty of by a sign hung around thier neck with a picture to signify the offense. Only those worthy may have the privilege of children. Due to nuclear spills and toxins among other things, many babies do not survive. So Handmaids are distributed to the Commander's and their Wives where they are attempted to be impregnated by the Commanders once a month. No touching, no passion, no love is allowed in these relationships, so far in fact, that the wives are present during the "ceremony." And this very thing is where the regime finds it's fault line; for nothing can deter the force of human nature. And to be human is to feel, to pursue relationships of love.

Margaret Atwood has written a very believable and horrifying tale. It certainly gives you the heebie jeebies just thinking that it is not altogether impossible that fanatical groups could go so far as to destroy our society and strip us of control. Overall, I think that I did take something away from this book and recommend reading it. It is one that will take a while to dissipate....






The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Neffenegger


This turned out to be a book I can add to my favorites list. I will say though, that after loving it and recommending it to a friend, she did not like it at all. I was so puzzled, we like many of the same books. For her, it was the time travel. So I will prelude my review by echoing a reviewer I read on Amazon; if you do not like time travel in a book, this one will not change your mind.

That said, I cannot emphasize enough that in my opinion, this book is the furthest thing from science fiction. I think that for time travel, it was altogether unique and unprecedented.

The Time Traveler's Wife is the story of Henry and Clare De Tamble. Henry has a chrono-displacement condition that causes him to time travel when he is nervous, anxious or upset. Usually he travels to his own past-particularly places or events that are significant to him, like his beloved mother's death or his wife's childhood. This is in fact how they meet-Clare meets Henry as a child over the course of her childhood he will appear and she eventually finds herself so comfortable with their unusual relationship, she isn't surprised when she falls in love with him. She knows this is how it will be, since this is what eventually happens.

Later, Clare finds Henry in the "present" time, where he is meeting her for the first time; and so it goes. However, although you see them in different times, the novel manages to progress beautifully. Henry is unable to change or alter the future, so he can only accept events as they occur. The story chronicles their marriage and frustrations as he and Clare seek medical help for his condition, struggle through failed pregnancies, navigate through every day situations which are more unorthodox than most couples. The author's depth and reality of the characters is fresh and believable. Although it was a story about the stresses and commitment of love and marriage, it also examined the frailty and complication of other relationships between people in the story; family and friends. I truly loved this story and will probably be reading it again soon. Highly recommended.

**And here's a litte fun trivia: this movie is in production for the big screen. For details go here. Even better? Rachel McAdams, the up and coming beautiful actress that starred in The Notebook is casted as Clare. It is scheduled to be released in 2008. I will definitly be seeing this one!

Book Reviews on 1st Three Completed SRT Books

I have finished three books from the Spring Reading Thing! I am having so much fun reading non stop, and I can clearly see I will have to add A LOT more books to my list which will not be a problem after reading all those lists! I have done reviews on the ones I have finished.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon This one had me hooked from the first paragraph which made me laugh out loud. See below:

"It was 7 minutes after midnight. The dog was lying on the grass in the middle of the lawn in front of Mrs Shears' house. Its eyes were closed. It looked as if it was running on its side, the way dogs run when they think they are chasing a cat in a dream. But the dog was not running or asleep. The dog was dead. There was a garden fork sticking out of the dog. The points of the fork must have gone all the way through the dog and into the ground because the fork had not fallen over. I decided that the dog was probably killed with the fork because I could not see any other wounds in the dog and I do not think you would stick a garden fork into a dog after it had died for some other reason, like cancer for example, or a road accident. But I could not be certain about this."

The main character of this book is a 15 year old autistic boy named Christopher who decides to investigate the murder of his neighbor's dog. As he maps out his reason and logic, you are able to glimpse into his very practically thinking mind. Sometimes he explains how he doesn't understand gestures, facial expressions and generally can not relate to other people's emotions, instead he trusts facts. As Christopher uncovers clues, he also discovers some truths about the demise of his parents marriage. The reader watches him put all the pieces of his life together and ascertain what they mean to him. Mark Haddon has given us a truly unique narrator and it is funny, sad and touching to hear Christopher's thoughts. I really enjoyed it.

The Rapture of Caanan by Sheri Reynolds This is the story of Ninah Huff who is the granddaughter of the founder of the "Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's almighty Baptizing Wind." Her grandfather doesn't give an inch for any infractions on his compound which consists of his extended family. Worse, he makes the rules and sets humiliating and terrible punishments for those found guilty of breaking them. Ninah is a wonderful character who has the sense to question some of the practices and beliefs of her family and the church. However, when she gets pregnant by her prayer partner, she is in new territory and her secret, when found out rocks the community and brings members of the church to a close self-examination. The characters are flawed but likable. I really liked the Grandmother's character and her relationship with Ninah. This was a quick read, just a couple of days, and I enjoyed it, but was a little disappointed with the ending. You know those books where there isn't really closure and you are left to imagine the end? It's one of those.

Marley and Me by John Grogan

You know those books you can't put down? I finished this book in one day! It was a wonderfully light read and had me laughing so much in the first few chapters my husband finally said, "WHAT is so funny?" Dog lovers will love all of Marley's antics, my favorite being his episodes at Obedience Class. It is also a sweet chronicle of a couple just beginning a family. A wonderful novel about a capricious pet and the family who loves him. Definitely recommended! More about the book can be found at www.marleyandme.com.