The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Set in the future, this is the story of Offred and her life in the Republic of Gilead, a dystopian society where women have no power, individualism is repressed, sterility is the norm and fertile women are treated as production machines.  The position of women in society is indicated by the colour of their uniforms.  Handmaids where long, loose fitting blood red dresses and huge white headdresses that restrict their sight.  Offred is a Handmaid and, as such, her role in the Republic is to breed.  Once a month, she is taken to her Commander and his wife for a bizarre breeding ceremony.  Forced to live her life under this new dictatorship, Offred dreams of her old life and of being reunited with her husband Luke and their daughter, but she knows that if she breaks the rules she risks severe punishment or even death.  She remembers what it felt like to desire and be desired.   In the end it is desire that makes her risk everything. I liked the way the author made the ordinary extraordinary.      

The Viking Hostage by Tracey Warr

The setting for this historical story is set in late 10^th century France and Wales.  It is the story of three women, Sigrid, Aina and Adalmode.  Sigrid is Norwegian and the story opens with her being sold as a Northchild slave at a market in Tallinn.  Aina is heiress to the French fortress of Segur.  It is Aina’s mother who buys Sigrid and she becomes Aina’s maid.  The girls grow up together and become confidantes.  Adalmode is the daughter of the Viscount of Limoges.  Her father has promised her hand in marriage to Guillaume, the young heir of the Duke of Aquitaine, but she has fallen in love with Audebert who is being held prisoner by her father.  Adalmode is close to her brother Guy and begs his assistance.  But Guy has problems of his own trying to win the heart of Aina to whom he is betrothed.  As the story unfolds the lives of these three women become inextricably linked.  I enjoyed the historical detail of the story and the political power struggles between the women and the men.  A genealogy of the characters that are based on real historical people together with dates of accession to titles are included.  I was surprised by how powerful the women of that time were.  I’m lucky to have heard Tracey talk about The Viking Hostage and the importance of setting in her writing at the Parisot Literary Festival and to attend some of her creative writing workshops.  I’m looking forward to reading Tracey’s next novel, Conquest – Daughter of the Last King, which is due to be released in September.