At the beginning of her testimony she acknowledged it, and at another point she says something about wanting to remember the good parts of Gilead, while she’s clearly struggling to reevaluate those experiences. I’d quote exactly, but my copy is back at the library. There’s something interesting (almost artificial feeling) about seeing Nicole and Agnes’ journeys as mirrors, but Nicole’s re-evaluation of the world is highly personal, while Agnes has to re-evaluate her whole worldview. The opening and several other points capture the voice her in the midst of that trauma, which is very different from the way such transformations are usually explained in retrospect in memoirs or such
I noticed also, and then the more I thought about it, the more I came to suspect that the patriarchal overthrow invented the infertility out of whole cloth as a cause- a reason to "save the babies" and oppress women. Since there are, indeed, fertile women, it is not a huge stretch to guess that the powers that be entirely invented the disease as a justification.Course, that could be my imagination, but I wouldn't put it past em.
There are black handmaids and even a black commander (rising up from the ranks) in the hulu series. Lot of mixed race kids if that were allowed in Gilead! I think the TV people must've made a conscious decision to make the cast (hence the world of gilead) diverse.
Surprise owls are best owls. There's a Great Horned Owl in the 'hood that likes to stretch out on a neighbor's fence in the gloaming before going hunting. Some great pics are circulating by email.
IDK if you'll find them. Least, I didn't on first read XD Might be time for a re-read. The voices she is using are not people who would necessarily be in the know, you know what I mean? Lydia would be the closest to knowledge, but without spoilering, you kinda learn why she indeed would not be told the first causes, as it were.It is more just me going huh, why is this thing not affecting everyone else in the world as we sorta thought from the first book? And then I went...huh. What if it DIDN't affect the whole world? What if it were made up entirely? We see our own fundamentalists even now employing such tactics to scare up power- why not those who founded Gilead?Prolly just me ramblin.
We got a barred, I think. He goes woo wooooo woooot nightly, lives in the woods next door. Once in a while, he flies to our silver maple and glances in the window at the cat.
Yes - I was trying to put my finger on it. Shallow is the closest word to it. But still so very enjoyable that I feel bad saying shallow! There were some parts that just didn't ring true to me -- not quite Atwoody. Like when Lydia reveals the big thing she got done to her commander (It's second-half material so I don't want to spoil). His response was "What a coup!" and that's kind of it. It seems like such a silly, not-right response to what she was telling him.
The Palace Eunuch, in the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires among others , was a very high official, sometimes eclipsing even the Grand Vizier in power; being disqualified by their disfigurement to aspire to the throne, they were the most trusted and/or the most powerful officials of the state, under the Sultan or Emperor. In addition to this commonality with Aunt Lydia's position in the Gilead power structure, there is the fact that the Palace Eunuch's office grew out of a beginning as supervisor of the harem. No "sexualizing of the Aunts" was intended, or even thought of- simply the parallels of Lydia's position, both near the top of, yet to one side of, the hierarchy of Gilead, plus her managerial role in the domain of women.
God, I loved the hymns of the gardeners in MaddAddam. Did you ever listen to the audiobooks? The second one is particularly well performed, with the hymns actually set to music. Such great world-building. And one I feel could actually happen (minus Crake's children) with what is basically the takeover of government and its activities by corps.
I had the impression that this might be the case when I read the first book. The television series is another case. Mexico is clearly affected by the low birth rates.
At the beginning of her testimony she acknowledged it, and at another point she says something about wanting to remember the good parts of Gilead, while she’s clearly struggling to reevaluate those experiences. I’d quote exactly, but my copy is back at the library. There’s something interesting (almost artificial feeling) about seeing Nicole and Agnes’ journeys as mirrors, but Nicole’s re-evaluation of the world is highly personal, while Agnes has to re-evaluate her whole worldview. The opening and several other points capture the voice her in the midst of that trauma, which is very different from the way such transformations are usually explained in retrospect in memoirs or such
seriously that turns you on? are you that fragile and silly?
oh, and since you did not show your work you also lost
I noticed also, and then the more I thought about it, the more I came to suspect that the patriarchal overthrow invented the infertility out of whole cloth as a cause- a reason to "save the babies" and oppress women. Since there are, indeed, fertile women, it is not a huge stretch to guess that the powers that be entirely invented the disease as a justification.Course, that could be my imagination, but I wouldn't put it past em.
Interesting idea. When I get around to reading Testament, I'll keep that in mind and look for hints.
There are black handmaids and even a black commander (rising up from the ranks) in the hulu series. Lot of mixed race kids if that were allowed in Gilead! I think the TV people must've made a conscious decision to make the cast (hence the world of gilead) diverse.
Surprise owls are best owls. There's a Great Horned Owl in the 'hood that likes to stretch out on a neighbor's fence in the gloaming before going hunting. Some great pics are circulating by email.
IDK if you'll find them. Least, I didn't on first read XD Might be time for a re-read. The voices she is using are not people who would necessarily be in the know, you know what I mean? Lydia would be the closest to knowledge, but without spoilering, you kinda learn why she indeed would not be told the first causes, as it were.It is more just me going huh, why is this thing not affecting everyone else in the world as we sorta thought from the first book? And then I went...huh. What if it DIDN't affect the whole world? What if it were made up entirely? We see our own fundamentalists even now employing such tactics to scare up power- why not those who founded Gilead?Prolly just me ramblin.
We got a barred, I think. He goes woo wooooo woooot nightly, lives in the woods next door. Once in a while, he flies to our silver maple and glances in the window at the cat.
Yes - I was trying to put my finger on it. Shallow is the closest word to it. But still so very enjoyable that I feel bad saying shallow! There were some parts that just didn't ring true to me -- not quite Atwoody. Like when Lydia reveals the big thing she got done to her commander (It's second-half material so I don't want to spoil). His response was "What a coup!" and that's kind of it. It seems like such a silly, not-right response to what she was telling him.
The Palace Eunuch, in the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires among others , was a very high official, sometimes eclipsing even the Grand Vizier in power; being disqualified by their disfigurement to aspire to the throne, they were the most trusted and/or the most powerful officials of the state, under the Sultan or Emperor. In addition to this commonality with Aunt Lydia's position in the Gilead power structure, there is the fact that the Palace Eunuch's office grew out of a beginning as supervisor of the harem. No "sexualizing of the Aunts" was intended, or even thought of- simply the parallels of Lydia's position, both near the top of, yet to one side of, the hierarchy of Gilead, plus her managerial role in the domain of women.
God, I loved the hymns of the gardeners in MaddAddam. Did you ever listen to the audiobooks? The second one is particularly well performed, with the hymns actually set to music. Such great world-building. And one I feel could actually happen (minus Crake's children) with what is basically the takeover of government and its activities by corps.
I had the impression that this might be the case when I read the first book. The television series is another case. Mexico is clearly affected by the low birth rates.
I'm not in the book club, but I can't wait to read this book. Thank you.
I think it works either way, but adding it can't hurt!
Thanks, I meant to include that early bit. Hitler Youth kids loved their parents, after all.