I just finished listening to the audiobook of this. I am a big Atwood fan, and I also found this novel very heavy. However, I think it's a product of its time and explores a lot of the changes in consciousness about men's and women's roles. Nate struggles with being a stay-at-home dad, supporting his ambitious wife. Elizabeth wants to have fun with no strings attached. She wants power and control. In a way, the idea of traditional roles of females and males is being turned on its head. Lesje doesn't know what she wants. She's young and expects poor Nate, just because he's older, to teach her something new. As you said, everyone is stuck in the past and once freed, can move on, so the novel ends a little more hopefully than it began, because everyone is trying to be more authentic and less compelled to "perform" their lives.
life before man more like life before man do i love new eddiecational content
I just finished listening to the audiobook of this. I am a big Atwood fan, and I also found this novel very heavy. However, I think it's a product of its time and explores a lot of the changes in consciousness about men's and women's roles. Nate struggles with being a stay-at-home dad, supporting his ambitious wife. Elizabeth wants to have fun with no strings attached. She wants power and control. In a way, the idea of traditional roles of females and males is being turned on its head. Lesje doesn't know what she wants. She's young and expects poor Nate, just because he's older, to teach her something new. As you said, everyone is stuck in the past and once freed, can move on, so the novel ends a little more hopefully than it began, because everyone is trying to be more authentic and less compelled to "perform" their lives.
I do agree with you Edd
This book truly made January even grimmer than usual. What an unhappy bunch of people. Still liked it, though!