Margaret Atwood's THE TESTAMENTS The Chill is Nil in HANDMAID's Sequel

Margaret Atwood's THE HANDMAID'S TALE published in 1985 was a shocking depiction of a dystopian future which was Hell on wheels for women.  The novel received the 1st Arthur C Clarke Award and a Booker nomination.  The fictional country of Gilead created by Atwood was a living nightmare that gave serious pause as to what horrors could come to pass.  Atwood's ORYX and CRAKE was another classic sci-fi apocalyptic future of sheer terror.  About to turn 80, Atwood is one of Canada's most talented & beloved writers.  Returning to THE HANDMAID'S TALE in a greatly anticipated sequel, THE TESTAMENTS proves to be a thriller that offers little in literary fiction.  There is a prequel, plodding escape & exacting revenge leading to the demise of Gilead but fails to deliver a revolutionary communique.  THE TESTAMENTS reads as a sequel for another successful TV series but it's staid and unremarkable.  The oppressive society against women and back stabbing espionage is entertaining, nevertheless, its power to evoke a sense of impending doom is sorely lacking.  There are parallels to the US's history of slavery and the devised Underground Railroad.  The novel overtly preaches warnings of diligence in maintaining a just society.  "We must continue to remind ourselves of the wrong turnings taken in the past so we do not repeat them."  THE TESTAMENTS is an equanimous novel in comparison to the imbedded & imaginative messaging in Atwood's earlier works.  I admire her ability to spin a twisted yarn but THE TESTAMENTS is more of a yawn.  I do agree with her concerns regarding  memory and thus how history is perceived.  "Such a cruel thing, memory.  We can't remember what it is that we've forgotten.  That we have been made to forget." "The collective memory is notoriously faulty, and much of the past sinks into the ocean of time."  THE TESTAMENTS fails to deliver a worthy tribute to THE HANDMAIDS TALE or her legacy of literary brilliance.

"The Gifted School" a Dramedy that Mirrors the College Scandal of the Social Elite

Bruce Holsinger's novel "The Gifted School" is a prescient dramedy that mirrors today's college scandals of privileged parents with plenty of means and believe the means justify the ends where their precious prodigies are concerned.  Felicity Hoffman is the first among a throng of celebrities and wealthy families sentenced for fraudulent tactics taken to insure their teens a backdoor entrance to elite universities.  This easy read, real housewives parody brings together 4 women in Crystal, CO whose friendships were born after the births of their children.  The mommy and me group has lasted more than a decade and consists of a colorful foursome including Rose, a neurological physician whose head needs examining.  Holsinger has written a romp of female friendships that sours into frenemies as they vie to get their pre-teens into a new public school for the gifted child.  Rose is not the only voice we hear and the multi-narratives becomes somewhat muddled between the women, their spouses and their offspring.  The young bloods include competitive twins Aidan & Charlie and two Emmas attached at the hip.  The strains of over programed privileged children parodies the tilted playing field that already favors the rich.  Almost no one comes off smelling like a rose except for the twins mother Azra and a young Atik, a self-taught origami talent.  Atik's single mom & grandma make ends meet by cleaning the homes of the rich on the sparkling side of Crystal.  Holsinger scores with the unscrupulous measures taken by parents to provide an added edge and appearance of perfection.  The vloggings by Tessa, a talented but troubled teen are particularly noteworthy.  Tessa and her younger, quirky chess wiz brother bring down the house of cards of pretentious preening and scandalous secrets.  "The Gifted School" raises good questions regarding the allocation of educational investments and focus for the general population but reads like a pop culture reality show.  "The Gifted School" gets a grade of B-.    

Ian McEwan's MACHINES LIKE ME - Artificial Intelligence v. Irrationality of Humans

Renowned British author Ian McEwan latest novel MACHINES LIKE ME examines artificial intelligence of humanoid robots by challenging the logic of human reasoning found flawed by illogic.   Set in London in the 1980s (amidst anachronistic events) the first limited roll-out of robots made to be discernible from humans in physicalities are rare, highly priced, coveted possession.  The male/female robots are all named Adam or Eve but each is given unique physical features & ethnicities.  Charlie recently came into a windfall inheritance and splurges on the purchase of an Adam (although he would have preferred an Eve).  Charlie enlists the help of the attractive female tenant Miranda to transport Adam into his apartment.  Both Adam & Miranda are fascinated to learn Adam's abilities and behaviors.  Charlie has fallen in love with Miranda and decides to allow her to select half the personality traits (unbeknownst to him) that will determine Adam's characteristic sets.  Still, there is a learning curve for Adam to develop human interaction skills and for Charlie & Miranda to appreciate or not Adam's presence in their lives.  As much as science as advanced in the field of AI mastery of the mind remains an elusive enigma influenced by indeterminate emotions & morals.  Adam's mind built on logic is in turmoil confronted with the hurricane of contradictions noted in human's behaviors. McEwan's thought provoking novel manufactures dilemmas that are mind bending.  The distinctive inherent essence of human existence that heretofore believed pertained to humans alone become ambiguous as relationships progress between Charlie, Miranda and Adam.  The implications for a future where brain-machines interface and merge androids and man seem both chilling and probable.

HELLO UNIVERSE the 2018 Newberry Award Winner by Erin Kelly for Young Readers

HELLO UNIVERSE is children's literature at its finest.  Writer Erin Entrada Kelly is a Filipino-American whose delightful novel captures the the creative imagination of youth, its angst and mixes with a twist of magical folklore.  Virgil is the youngest child in a family with 2 older, exceptional brothers.  He's been mostly overlooked & underestimated.  That is until his grandmother Lola arrives from the Philippines and takes a special interest in her grandson.  Lola is sensitive to Virgil's feelings and shares legends of her homeland that are foreign & fearful.  Virgil is haunted by his grandmother's tales.  He and 3 middle schoolers will cross paths in the woods and the wonders of the universe will come into play in a heroic and magical way.  Valencia is a classmate of Virgil's whom he's admired from afar. Valencia relies on her hearing aids & lip reading which casts her aside from her classmates.  Forward thinking sisters Kaori & Gen are open to signs in the universe for guidance.  This motley crew of likable characters collide courageously.   A bully Chet torments Virgil & Valencia but his meanness doesn't measure up against friendship.  HELLO UNIVERSE is a creative & clever story that doesn't talk down to young readers about kindness or virtue.  It opens onto a world of self-awareness in an entertaining escapade.  I highly recommend HELLO UNIVERSE for young readers & adults alike.

"The Ghost Clause" A Haunting Tale Mirroring 2 Marriages and a Missing Child

"The Ghost Clause" gives pause to ponder marital relationships and the skeptical realm of mystic anomalies.  Howard Norman received the Nat'l Book Award for "The Bird Artist". "The Ghost Clause" is an intriguing intertwining of 2 marriages connected by a gossamer entity.  Simon & his wife Lorca inhabited the charming home that gets purchased by Muriel & Zach after Simon's death at 48.  Simon's passing transforms his existence into a spiritual realm where he doesn't exist - yet exists.  He's an invisible voyeur of the newly married couple; Muriel a writer & Zach a detective.  The novel is enriched by Japanese poetry adding a layer of artistry and consternation considering what gets lost in translation.   Praise bestowed to Muriel by her editor reflect Norman's novel "a truly original and intellectually...emotionally - provocative book."  Zach's first case in the new home is the missing 11 yr. old, autistic girl Corrine.  Corrine has an endless fascination with moths.  She benevolently gathers, studies and releases these moths.  Zach successfully recovers the kidnapped child.  The case itself is a fascinating study which relies on critical listening and questioning.  Corrine's birthday celebration is held in Zach & Muriel's yard.  A large sheet strung up and lit from behind elicits a magical magnet gathering a phalanx of moths.  The many tiers of perception and patience add transcendent & iridescent elements.  Simon's presence doesn't go unnoticed.  The house cat, Epilogue, is constantly aware of his presence.  Lorca is drawn to the property & visits often where she speaks to Simon. Muriel perceives a ghostly presence and Zach's logical deductions eventually  arrives at the same conclusion.  But, when Lorca is presented with the legible diaries of Simon's ongoing observations on the family, Lorca steps in.  She addresses Simon "Your writing about their marriage can't complete the years taken from your and my marriage."  She warns Simon he must allow this family to lead their own lives in privacy or she'll never forgive him.  Lorca tells him, "We had a good marriage with some difficult things in it.  We began 2 or 3 marriages within the one we had."  Simon's omnipresent eavesdropping served as a conduit to his memories & relationship with Lorca; their happiness and sadness.  It gave him an overwhelming sense of loss because their intimate conversations opened realms of wisdom and emotion he could no long alter. The house sale has a legal ghost clause stating should the seller be aware of an entity residing in the house the seller is obliged to inform the buyers and should an entity prove problematic the seller is obligated to buy back the home.  "The Ghost Clause" is a mesmerizing novel of elegiac anticipation and contemplative wonders.  Prior to the light fading before gathering moths, Corrine who rarely speaks repeats softly "Wait, wait, wait, wait."  This novel is great, great, great.

Jayson Green's "Once More We Saw Stars" Navigating Grief of His Daughter Greta Aged 2

 Jayson Green recounts the tragic death of his daughter Greta caused by a falling brick in NYC and the unfathomable grief he and his wife Stacy bore. "The worst affliction that can happen in a lifetime, and no can understand how we feel?"  We cannot fathom the depths of grief or the agonizing purgatory in the aftermath nor their journey into the future with their irrevocable loss. We shudder  to consider that the unthinkable; the worst thing that befall a parent.  Jayson is professional music critic and former editor of "Pitchfork".  Jayson purging the incomprehensible pain on page in a his raw & soul bearing manner it gets the reader keenly aware of our human feelings and our how we express our feelings and behaviors.  "Grief at its peak has a terrible beauty to it, a blinding fission of every emotion."  Jayson tells us "We learn to live with the sadness like a great, lovely companion, because it's a soft sadness that softens the heart and makes you op to everything."  Jayson's elegiac prose paints a vivid portrait of his daughter that is filled with joy, wonder & love.  The ripples in the wake of Greta's death continue to reverberate in expanding circles of family, friends and into the future.   Jayson shares his journey along with his wife carrying on with their lives while maneuvering around a bottomless cavern of grief and oftentimes being enfolded into this omnipresent aperture.  Wallace Styron's auto-bio "Darkness Visible" shares his battle with depression which shines a light on his personal bouts that illuminate for others its overwhelming darkness.  Green's book "Once More We Saw Stars" also provides a close proximity & empathy for this horrendous tragedy.  The reader passes through realms of emotions in a momentous ways that leaves its indelible mark that serves as a tendon to keep us connected to life and expanding our openness to our existence and those of others.  .

Rachel Howard's "The Risk of Us" The Instability and Challenges for Foster Families

Rachel Howard's debut novel "The Risk of Us" gives us a piercing portrait of a married couple who choose to foster 7 year old Maresa intending to adopt her.  Maresa is an aggressive child resorting from trauma, abuse and separation from her birth mother.  The book is written from the foster's mother's perspective as she records the traumatic toll of events & emotions that wreck havoc on her, her husband, Maresa and their marriage.  The book deals with the distress of loving a child deserving of love only to feel incapable of coping and unsure of wanting to accept the formidable demands.  Howard's written a heart wrenching tale that is true of many children in foster care hoping for a permanent home, having dealt with abuse and torn between their birth their mothers & foster parents.  The endless social service workers, therapy and legal entanglements inherent in the system are taxing and oftentimes borders on lunacy.  At the center of the story we're torn between feeling empathetic with Maresa and sympathetic with the mother who waffles in her steadfast commitment for fear of destroying her marriage and waning abilities to cope.  The mother speaks to Maresa in a memoir that is excruciatingly draining.  The reader understand the couple's urge not to finalize the adoption and give up on Maresa for their own well-being.  There are phalanx of people who interact with Merasa & her foster parents including family, social workers, educators to varying degrees of patience, understanding, frustration & resentment.  The risk of providing unconditional love knowing the tumultuous course of caring for a child filled with rage & destructive behavior bearing the gravitas of  concern meshed with guilt.  Howard's elegant writing winds gracefully though the intricacies of adoption and the tempestuous capacities of tenacious love.  There is a driving mystery as to how the family dynamics will play-out.  This is an unflinching & compelling novel of the harrowing risks of selfless love that speaks directly to all of us.