The Heart Goes Last

A lot of Margaret Atwood's dystopian realities seem a single step away from our current reality, as if they could happen overnight. Not this one. It’s humorously absurd but it doesn’t hold much weight.

‍

The novel paints a bleak picture of a reality that hints of heinous manipulation and coercion where some pretty bad ideas are brought to life and made money off of.

‍

Like headless chickens, which would create a greater profit margin because they wouldn’t need to eat. And like sex bots, which would create incredible wealth for brothel owners because the bots don’t get tired, don’t complain, and don’t need to eat or drink.

‍

“Now, you take your time, no hurry. I’ve fixed us brunch.” She smiles her tight, wrinkle-free smile. What if it’s not her real face? thinks Charmaine.

What if it’s only stuck on and there’s a giant cockroach or something behind it? What if I grabbed her by both of the ears and pulled, would the face pop off?

“Oh, thank you so much,” she says.

The story revolves around a couple who, at the beginning of the story, are living in their car because the whole east coast of the U.S. has been made destitute by a financial collapse. The little bit of money Charmaine makes as a part-time bartender is just enough for gas and for them to eat poorly.

‍

One night the TV in the bar shows an infomercial of a gated community that promises everyone a job and a house. Sounds great, right? Each person is given not one but two jobs: one in the normal world and one in prison. And each person lives in their house for one month and in the prison for one month. It’s a cost-saving circular economy! But like Hotel California, you can never leave.  
‍

And it is working, because look: safe streets, no homelessness, jobs for all! Though there were some bumps along the way, and those bumps had to be flattened out.

But right now Charmaine doesn’t intend to dwell on those discouraging bumps, or on the nature of the flattening.

‍

The couple living in their car signs up, moves in, and enjoys the stability and order of their lives until they experience infidelity, death, a move, a change of careers, a risky escape, and a reunion. The story is never boring but I found it a bit tiresome.

‍

The lying bastard, he wasn’t even sincere, thinks Stan. He was shitting poor Charmaine all along. Setting her up. Leading her astray for motives different from the ones you’re supposed to have when you lead someone astray. It’s as if Charmaine wasn’t good enough for him; not good enough for a genuine illicit passion.

‍

I think Atwood has become such an expert at writing dystopian stories that she can phone it in. I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped to.

‍

It would be nice to see her try her hand at science-fiction or a fantasy novel.  

‍