Book+25+-+The+Heart+Goes+Last


 * Discussion Dates:** Friday 5th February to Friday 19th February




 * 1) What would you rate this book out of 10 and why?

Gen: I would give it a 7. I quite liked it, I thought it had lots of interesting ideas, it just went off the rails towards the end. Also I didn't think the characters were examined enough, they just seemed like a device to make the bigger point about technology and greed, so it was hard to care about them very much.

Lynne: I can't rate this book because I didn't read it. I feel terrible because I missed the last book (All the Light We Cannot See) because I was stuck in Jamaica - for which I blame all of you cowards who would not read A History of Seven Killings. Anyway, instead of reading this book I spent some more time in Jamaica because I am determined to understand why it won the Booker prize, and I also decided to look at some other stuff too. I read Still Alice, about early onset dementia...which was alarming. Then The Upstairs Wife which was written by a Pakistani journalist about her aunt whose husband took a 2nd wife (which is accepted under Islamic law if you get her consent first, and then share your time equally between them) and sent her upstairs so he could divide his time each week. She injected really interesting anecdotes about the social & political conditions of life in Pakistan in the 70's and 80's which was fascinating. Loved it. And for a bit of fluff I read Girl with a Pearl Earring which sent me down an internet rabbit hole researching Vermeer paintings for hours, much to my family's disgust as the vied for my attention. So, even though I had time to read a whole lot of stuff AND remain immersed in Jamaica, I chose not to read the above book because I just don't like Margaret Atwood. There, I said it.

Sharyn: 6/10, which I feel is quite generous. It was easy enough to read but the dystopian theme is not my thing. I am too solidly grounded in reality to be able to enjoy the depiction of a fantasy world. Charmaine and Max, although quite amusing at times, lacked depth and like Gen I found it hard to get emotionally involved in their plight. The plot was just farcical in the end.

Lara: I think 6 overall. It had been awhile since I read Atwood and I usually enjoy a jaunt into her perspective - but infrequently. It was easy to read and kept my interest throughout, although I would agree with Gen and Sharyn that the characters weren't very deep and weren't people that I cared a lot about. Max reminded me of the hero of the Lego movie - an average Joe, thrust into a role he wasn't really into taking on, but he does it and is a decent guy in the end (unfortunately there was no Will Ferrell or Elisabeth Banks in The Heart Goes Last). I could easily see Hollywood making a movie of this book though - it isn't too deep, has some sex and violence, future, etc. BTW Lynne - that Pakistani book sounds really interesting. Better you than me in Jamaica, but I do love Vermeer.

2. This book has received very mixed reviews ranging from //' Having abandoned any intelligible pursuit of its dark themes early on, the story limps to a tidy and thoroughly false resolution. Some disasters can’t be avoided. This one can be' // to //' alt// // hough Atwood is obviously delivering a serious lesson about societal greed and human exploitation, it’s frankly an amazing achievement how jovial The Heart Goes Last is from start to Shakespearean-style comedic finish. The novel is certainly a dystopian effort that belongs on the same hallowed list as Brave New World, 1984 and Atwood’s own masterpiece, The Handmaid’s Tale, but it also manages to be a whole lot of quirky, poppy fun, without ever once undermining its core message.' // Which of these views do you most agree with and why?

Gen: I wouldn't agree with either although I can see where both these reviewers are coming from. I liked how it was an imagined future that was not so 'science fictiony' that it was unimaginable.

Sharyn: I would agree with the first view. I think the book would have been more enjoyable and satisfying if the themes had been explored in a more intellectual and serious way. Atwood set up these interesting themes and then went on to write a black comedy which wasn't very funny.

Lara: probably more the first. I felt the Handmaids Tale to be far superior.

3. What do you think is the core message of this book?

Gen: I think MA is critiquing lots of modern day phenomena such as the corporatisation of services such as prisons, giving up privacy and control in return for 'safety' and the effects of globalisation on economies so that the 'little people' have no control over their lives.

Sharyn: Yes, also the fact that even the best intentions of having a society free of suffering and poverty is subject to greed and corruption. The beginning of the book set the scene with the depiction of parts of modern day America that are still suffering from the global financial crisis.

Lara: Yes - I felt like you knew at high level where this was going (i.e. that it wasn't ever going to be so rosy inside and that "safety" with loss of free will isn't great either), but she at least put in a few twists a long the way.

4. Do you think that Attwood achieves her aims with regards to her core message?

Gen: It certainly made me think about these issues although once it started on the chickens/teddy bear/Elvis stuff I just found it weird and funny....

Sharyn: No! I think these issues could have been explored in a much more enlightening way.

Lara: only at high level. It made me think most when Charmaine had to "kill" Stan and the different emotions and perspectives around that. They entered into the community with such hope and there she was "doing her job" --> she was such a pawn (and she allowed herself to be so for the most part).

5. Do you think Attwood's imagined future could ever become somewhat of a reality?

Gen: In many ways yes, as the world right now is run by corporations for profit not governments for the people!

Sharyn: As a whole, no, but some aspects could e.g. robots used for sex.

Lara: I think there are already elements of reality for sure --> look at the corporate money and greed in American politics as just one example or what has happened in Flint, MI recently (those citizens had no control in the face of corporate profits); but she takes it rather far (it is fiction and she hits that home with the last few chapters!).

6. Are you a fan of Margaret Attwood's other novels? How does this one compare?

Gen: I have loved lots of MA's books like Cat's Eye, Handmaid's Tale, Alias Grace. So I was a bit disappointed in this one.

Mel: The two Attwood books that I have read I really liked - The Blind Assassin and especially Cat's Eye (which should be a 'right of passage' book read by every teenage girl). However, even though I enjoyed those two books I have never been very keen to pick up a third. I have had Alias Grace on my bookshelf for years waiting for me to pick it up. Should I? Why did you like it more than The Heart Goes Last Gen?

Lynne: I have only read The Handmaid's Tale and really did not like it. I was fairly young at the time so perhaps I should try again to get some deeper meaning from it. Mel says I need to read Cat's Eye, and given that it is //not// in my least favourite genre (dystopian futures), I'm happy to give it a go. It might allow me to dislike Margaret Atwood with a little more conviction.

Sharyn: I have read one other Atwood book, but not sure which one. I clearly remember reading an Atwood book when I was travelling in Canada in 2000 because I thought I should read something by a local author. I recall the reaction of my Canadian friends, who thought it was strange that I was reading a book for pleasure that they associated with the school reading curriculum. I think it was Cat's Eye, but clearly it did not make an impression on me!

Lara: I remember liking "The Handmaids Tale" but I was also really young when I read it. I also liked "The Blind Assassin", but strangely, like Mel, I've got Alias Grace on my bookshelf and have for about 3 years. We'll see - I think I need a bit of time now between Atwoods.

7. Are there any other questions that you have about this book or anything else that you would like to ask?

Gen: I read that this book was written as a serialised e-book with chapters released one at a time, which might explain why it was a bit uneven.

Lynne: How can we get Mel to re-consider her position on hardbacks?

Sharyn: Ha, ha, it adds another dimension to book club nominations when we have to select books that are in paperbacks. On a separate note, for Australian book-clubbers, have you ever listened to the PodCast called Chat10Looks3? It's my current obsession - a perfect mix of discussion about books, TV, movies, plays, current affairs and cooking by two ABC journalists (Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales) that makes you feel as though you are listening to a great discussion with your girlfriends. I listen to it while cooking and cleaning up etc and the time just flies. Highly recommended! In one of the podcasts they were talking about A Little Life which was one of the recently nominated book club books. By the way, what are we reading next time?

Mel: Great tip Sharyn. Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales - two of the smartest and sassiest women working in media - I will be getting onto this ASAP. And for the record - at times I DO read hard cover. the last hard cover book I read was one lent to me by Sharyn in the early days of our friendship. It was Lovesong by Alex Miller. I was in courting mode and not ready to display all my weird eccentricities, so I read the book. And... liked it. And if the blurb of the Attwood book had have blown me away I might have just pushed myself but the dystopian theme was just not enough of a carrot for me....

Lara: Do you think we could ever get Mel onto a Kindle? ;-). BTW --> I've had 3 people come back to me and thank me for recommending "All the Light We Cannot See" and then I get to tell them about our much loved little book club. It's one of the relatively few things I do that is not at all related with work or family, and I appreciate it.