The Testaments is not The Handmaid's Tale, but it is well-written and has an Aunt Lydia. The Testaments is told in three perspectives, two teenage girls and Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia stole the spotlight in this book. Her perspective made her human, and demanded respect. She was a manipulative, clever witch who created her own broomstick from a strand of straw. She is the reason for my four star rating. One star is subtracted for the two teenage girls. The one girl, no names, who grew up in Canada, came across as a spoiled brat who never seemed to understand the lack of freedom the other girl faced. Aunt Lydia, a true survivor of the times, understood all of it. I started out hating Aunt Lydia, and then my hatred grew to indifference out of pity. Aunt Lydia was a victim not just at the beginning, but throughout her life She constantly had to look over her shoulder for the choices she made. She was a much more complicated villain than the cold heated witch I first pegged her for. The Testaments is pretty predictable, but who cares, after The Handmaid's Tale I needed something hopeful and a little less dark. I needed the good guys to have some leverage. After watching the show, and reading The Handmaid's Tale I needed a branch to pull me out of my quick sand funk. The Testaments is that branch. I highly recommend reading it!
