The Heart Goes Last, Margaret Atwood (4.0)
Margaret Atwood once again takes her readers to an
alternate, creepy future. In this case, the initial premise is ‘snapped from
the headlines’: imagine that we’ve had an economic recession so severe that the
majority of middle class people have lost their jobs. Needless to say, crime
rises quickly and common people have few alternatives. Life becomes so horrible
that you are not entirely surprised when joining a new marketing ‘town’ is considered
by the book’s two protagonists, a husband and wife who are living out of their
car and eating from dumpsters. He’s lost his job and she gets meager tips as a
part-time waitress at a slimy bar. They agree to join this new town – which
promises a lovely house and good jobs. But once you sign on the bottom line,
there is no leaving nor contact with the world outside of the town. What’s the
catch? If you know Ms. Atwood, you expect an imaginative one. Each couple gets
1 month to live in their house and work at their jobs, but the next month they
will go to jail, with their ‘alternates’ (another couple) taking their place in
the house with their own jobs. This swap continues month after month. The one
weakness I found is the theory that all citizens spending 1 month in jail makes
any sense with regards to lowering crime or improving prosperity. I don’t want
to spoil any more of the story, but obviously this is a flawed system. I was
most interested in which possible problems would be addressed – and was happily
surprised with the outcome. Enjoy the creative mind of Margaret Atwood!
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