The Rogue Book Reviewer

Well let me start this off by saying I am not a Sophie Kinsella fan. I read the first two Shopaholic books and just absolutely abhorred Rebecca Bloomwood. I couldn’t get over how incredibly irresponsible she was so I just plumb gave up. When the movie came out, I actually physically snorted at the idea of paying money to put myself through that kind of torture. Which is why even I was surprised when the back blurb of My Not So Perfect Life caught my attention, enough for me to actually pay kobo to have it (yes, yes I know libraries will lend e-books but to this day I haven’t figured it out). Katie Brenner is so goddamn relatable to the point in my life that I am at, that there are no words. The aimless, praying (and working) for the job of your dreams, not being able to see how to get the life you want, soul crushing stress... yeah. I can get that. And looking at people who are living on the “other side” where the grass appears to be so much greener, without looking past the surf...

This week we have Deena, a dear friend and avid bibliophile, writing a guest review of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. It just seemed appropriate, given the current political clime in America and that's all the political discussion you're going to get from me! Enjoy, friends. If you aren't Canadian I should let you know, in Canada, so beloved a Canadian icon is Atwood that if you say anything against her works they take away your passport. (kidding of course) If you are Canadian you have more than likely read this book. If you haven't, then this review is for you. Written in the mid 80's as I recall, The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel (we are apparently now calling these "Speculative Fiction") set in and around America in 2005. Atwood, a strong feminist, was horrified at the various political, social and religious trends of the 80's and so wrote this book in response to what would happen if the USA took those philosop...