Review: The Handmaid's Tale

Title The Handmaid's Tale
By Margaret Atwood
Genre Adult dystopian
Pages 311
Recommended by Book Club

First sentence We slept in what had once been the gymnasium.


Synopsis
As a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, Offred lives her life quite differently then she once did. She used to have a husband and child, now she has neither. Woman are no longer allowed to read or own property. Her entire existence depends on getting pregnant by the Commander. She should forget her past, she should accept her fate, but can she?


What it has going for it
I've wanted to read this one for along time based on its popularity and synopsis. When my book club decided to read it I was excited to finally be getting to it. I'm not sure what I was expecting but what I got wasn't it. But I'm trying to say nice things...um, the writing was disjointed and eerie yet wonderful in its way. It wasn't particularly hard to read and I liked the tiny but beautiful message of love...um, yeah, that's about it.

What's lacking
Truthfully I just didn't like this one because it was way too disturbing at first and then just plain depressing. I hated that there were things that were never explained  about the world and how it really came to be and how things worked. I felt like the author just ignored those things because she just wanted an excuse to write about the way woman are used and how we could be used. But mainly I just hated that I had no freaking idea what the author was really trying to say and why she even bothered in the first place. Ugh, I can't even say anything more without being attacked so I'll just shut up now. I'll just end by saying I wasn't impressed....at all.  

Favorite moment
I liked the glimpses into the past but that's probably just because the future in the book was so bleak.

Yea or Nay
I'm finding that, once again, (surprise, surprise) I'm in the minority in my dislike so, yeah, go ahead and read it. And when you love it will you please tell me why? Why the heck did you like it!?

Is That Love or Fear?

Some fans at Real Madrid thought they were just going to have their picture taken with the club's new shirt...they didn't think they were going to get to meet some of my boys. (the handsome men in white are my boys, btw)

Here we see Arbeloa (the vampire) leaning down and saying something to this little girl but what???

You be the judge of that. Is that fear or love in her eyes? Either way she sure won't take her eyes off him, will she? 

Review: The Forever Contract

Title The Forever Contract
By Avery Sawyer
Genre YA dystopian
Pages 46
Recommended by Jessica

First sentece All anyone ever talked about these days was going into the system.

Synopsis
Told from alternating POVs, comes a novella about a very scary future world. Water is rationed, and people spend all their time digging wells,  but there's a chance to get out. Enter the system a computer program that offers whatever you can imagine. The problem? There's no coming out again.


What it has going for it
I was ready to really enjoy this one. I really loved Avery Sawyer's Notes To Self. The idea was, no, not unique but scarily realistic. It dragged up some interesting questions about how far we take technology and I liked that. It made me think and kinda scared me. I liked James and the lengths he was willing to go to for Casey. And, uh that's about all I liked.

What's lacking
I really was expecting something better than this. Sorry, but I was. Notes to Self was amazing and didn't feel at all like a self published book. This one, however, felt much more messily written. Plus there's the whole "short story"  thing I struggle with. It just wasn't memorable, so much so, that I almost forgot to review it. Plus I think that the cover is so steamy but it did not fit the book AT ALL. I just don't get it.

Favorite moment
It's really hard to choose a moment when you didn't particularly like the book. Just sayin'.

Yea or Nay?
Meh, it's not long and won't take you much time to read. I'll leave the decision up to you.

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Head on over and link up to join us.

Q: What hyped up book do you think was not worth all the talk?

I couldn't pass this one up! 

Seriously, if I have to listen to one more person rave on and on about how wonderful this book is I'm going to shoot myself...or them. K, not really. It just irritates me that people like this one. What's to like? The egotistical "hero" who's always telling Jane how silly and naive she is and how she needs him in her life, all the while, why he's locked his other wife in the attic?! And, sure, at least Jane leaves him when she finds out but then she goes back! Totally unbelievable. It's like the author couldn't even think of a reason for Jane to go back so she had to come up with divine intervention! *rolls eyes* No thanks!  

Book Bloggers I Miss

While cleaning up my side bar the other day I was noticing all the bloggers who aren't posting anymore. Sometimes there's a reason but sometimes bloggers just stop blogging and I get it, I really do. It's been a major struggle to keep up with this blogging world now that I'm working full time. All the same, I miss these bloggers and just thought I'd give them all a shout out...though, they probably don't even follow blogs anymore and probably won't see this. :(  I'll never take them off my sidebar, though, because one day they might start blogging again and I want to be there when it happens. (cause, yes, I'm a weirdo who reads blogs from my sidebar, not Google Reader.)

Tristan from Reads With Wreckless Abandon
I think Tristan's blog is absolutely beautiful and I could never visit it without adding a few books to the TBR pile.

Selina from Fragments Of Fiction
I still sometimes click on over to Selina's blog just to look at her design. I LOVE it! At least she's still around on Goodreads but I still miss her blog.

Bekka from Pretty Deadly Reviews
I'm so sad all the blogging drama that happens got to Bekka. I loved her posts. Her raving reviews of books she didn't like made me happy! I wasn't the only one who yells at books. :) Miss you, Bekka.

B.J from The Dark Side of the Covers
I can't even link to her site because it's gone but I miss B.J. Maybe she's out there still blogging under a different name and I just missed it.

Sheesh! That turned out to be a bit sad. I wasn't trying to me so morose just thought I'd say I missed their posts cause I do.  Anyone else out there who misses blogging buddies who don't blog anymore?