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Golems and Handmaids
Aug. 22nd, 2020 07:00 pmI finished two very different books today!
The Golem and The Djinni by Helene Wecker tells the story of the two titular characters, both of whom find themselves unexpectedly cut adrift in New York in 1899, one awoken to life while the other is released from long imprisonment.
Both are complex and layered characters with rich inner lives and real obstacles to tackle. The cast of surrounding characters are wonderfully drawn and link into the main plot in interesting ways. The setting is rich and vivid, and the the way the characters' background and circumstances inform their actions and desires is masterfully woven into the story.
I really wasn't sure how it could reach a satisfactory ending - I didn't want it to end tragically, but I couldn't see how a happy ending could be possible or credible. But everything concluded in a way that made me cry but also made me love the book even more. It somehow presents a very real exploration of the best way to navigate life, even though its protagonists are mythical creatures that have difficulty understanding and interacting with humans. I particularly appreciated the Golem's struggle for independence, and where she finally got to in her reflections on her existence.
There were some aspects that didn't quite work for me - the way in which those characters who reject superstition or religion are forced to examine their attitudes in the face of the supernatural didn't sit well - but overall this was a wonderful read, and a beautiful story to fall into and immerse myself in.
One of my teachers suggested I read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in preparation for university interviews back in 1995 and I remember hating it at the time. I watched the first season and a half of the TV show before giving up on it because it was so unpleasant. But then The Testaments came out and intrigued me, so I decided to revisit the original book and try again. I selected the audiobook version read by Elizabeth Moss - and it's amazing! The way the story is woven together from flashbacks and scenes of Offred's life as a handmaid is so well done. It's really compelling and horrifying, and yet Offred's reactions are so realistically muted by her experiences and lack of prospects.
It did feel as if the devolution of American society into the totalitarian regime of Gilead must have happened unrealistically quickly. And I'm not sure if the 'historial note' at the end undermined the ambiguity of the conclusion of Offred's narrative - though the fact that she is clearly recording it somehow does heavily suggest at least a temporary escape.
Elizabeth Moss was an excellent narrator, and I have to say I was hooked from start to finish, so I'm very glad to have been prompted to revisit this book after 25 years, so I could finally appreciate it.
The Golem and The Djinni by Helene Wecker tells the story of the two titular characters, both of whom find themselves unexpectedly cut adrift in New York in 1899, one awoken to life while the other is released from long imprisonment.
Both are complex and layered characters with rich inner lives and real obstacles to tackle. The cast of surrounding characters are wonderfully drawn and link into the main plot in interesting ways. The setting is rich and vivid, and the the way the characters' background and circumstances inform their actions and desires is masterfully woven into the story.
I really wasn't sure how it could reach a satisfactory ending - I didn't want it to end tragically, but I couldn't see how a happy ending could be possible or credible. But everything concluded in a way that made me cry but also made me love the book even more. It somehow presents a very real exploration of the best way to navigate life, even though its protagonists are mythical creatures that have difficulty understanding and interacting with humans. I particularly appreciated the Golem's struggle for independence, and where she finally got to in her reflections on her existence.
There were some aspects that didn't quite work for me - the way in which those characters who reject superstition or religion are forced to examine their attitudes in the face of the supernatural didn't sit well - but overall this was a wonderful read, and a beautiful story to fall into and immerse myself in.
One of my teachers suggested I read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in preparation for university interviews back in 1995 and I remember hating it at the time. I watched the first season and a half of the TV show before giving up on it because it was so unpleasant. But then The Testaments came out and intrigued me, so I decided to revisit the original book and try again. I selected the audiobook version read by Elizabeth Moss - and it's amazing! The way the story is woven together from flashbacks and scenes of Offred's life as a handmaid is so well done. It's really compelling and horrifying, and yet Offred's reactions are so realistically muted by her experiences and lack of prospects.
It did feel as if the devolution of American society into the totalitarian regime of Gilead must have happened unrealistically quickly. And I'm not sure if the 'historial note' at the end undermined the ambiguity of the conclusion of Offred's narrative - though the fact that she is clearly recording it somehow does heavily suggest at least a temporary escape.
Elizabeth Moss was an excellent narrator, and I have to say I was hooked from start to finish, so I'm very glad to have been prompted to revisit this book after 25 years, so I could finally appreciate it.
