The Heart Goes Last: A Novel
From the bestselling author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments—in the gated community of Consilience, residents who sign a contract will get a job and a lovely house for six months of the year...if they serve as inmates in the Positron prison system for the alternate months.
“Captivating...thrilling.” —The New York Times Book Review
Stan and Charmaine, a young urban couple, have been hit by job loss and bankruptcy in the midst of nationwide economic collapse. Forced to live in their third-hand Honda, where they are vulnerable to roving gangs, they think the gated community of Consilience may be the answer to their prayers. At first, this seems worth it: they will have a roof over their heads and food on the table. But when a series of troubling events unfolds, Positron begins to look less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled.
The Heart Goes Last is a vivid, urgent vision of development and decay, freedom and surveillance, struggle and hope—and the timeless workings of the human heart.
“Captivating...thrilling.” —The New York Times Book Review
Stan and Charmaine, a young urban couple, have been hit by job loss and bankruptcy in the midst of nationwide economic collapse. Forced to live in their third-hand Honda, where they are vulnerable to roving gangs, they think the gated community of Consilience may be the answer to their prayers. At first, this seems worth it: they will have a roof over their heads and food on the table. But when a series of troubling events unfolds, Positron begins to look less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled.
The Heart Goes Last is a vivid, urgent vision of development and decay, freedom and surveillance, struggle and hope—and the timeless workings of the human heart.
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Community Reviews
I really enjoyed reading this book. Having read Handmaid's Tale recently, I saw many similarities as well as parallels with The Heart Goes Last and Handmaid's Tale. At one point there was even mention of a "Quaker town" which is seen in both books. I find those little nuances very appealing in this book. As mention by another reviewer, this book does have somewhat of a lighter tone compared to Handmaid's Tale. However, I do have to say that it is a little sadistic at times.
What I think I appreciate the most about this book, is the way in which it is broken up into sections making it flow smoother. I love how the title of the book also appears many times throughout the novel, which I must admit is clever.
My one issue with the book, and this might be on purpose on the author's part, but I feel like I had no closure from this book. I feel like the end left so many questions unanswered, or at least a hint of something more to come? It was a clever ending, but there was something missing in the end...I can't quite put my finger on it, but then again, I feel ending like that leave the door open for so many possibilities.
Overall, I did enjoy this book very much and I highly recommend it!
What I think I appreciate the most about this book, is the way in which it is broken up into sections making it flow smoother. I love how the title of the book also appears many times throughout the novel, which I must admit is clever.
My one issue with the book, and this might be on purpose on the author's part, but I feel like I had no closure from this book. I feel like the end left so many questions unanswered, or at least a hint of something more to come? It was a clever ending, but there was something missing in the end...I can't quite put my finger on it, but then again, I feel ending like that leave the door open for so many possibilities.
Overall, I did enjoy this book very much and I highly recommend it!
Read this because I like Margaret Atwood. It was decently entertaining, the characters can be frustrating at times and I saw the ending coming a mile away. Wouldn’t read again, but not mad I read it. If you like dystopian novels, the society is fairly interesting.
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