Books: July 2003 Archives

Finished up the Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood. It was o.k. I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't live up to the hype. It was creepy, but I sometimes felt like the reader was being strung along by the author. By strung along I mean the following; sometimes there are details missing initially, which are not available until later in the text, even though it seems awkward and unnatural that they aren't included until later. I liked the theme of what happens when people and/or government become perverted into very strange entities sometimes with very good motivations. I liked the theme of power and subservience. The sex scene still creeps me out when I think about it. It doesn't replace George Orwell's, 1984 as far as I am concerned. It doesn't even come close. Perhaps I just didn't like the style and pacing. The end was a really unique twist on the age old, "I found this diary in the attic" meme.

I give it three of five stars. I enjoyed reading it. I am glad I borrowed it instead of buying it. I don't think I would read it again unless there were no other books.

It might make for a good movie.

Robert McCloskey, 88, author of "Make Way For Ducklings" died yesterday. (As I famously said when Eugene Ionesco died, "I didn't know he was alive.")

Wherever you are Robert, I hope Clancy is holding traffic for you while you cross over the street.