49 pages 1 hour read

The Heart Goes Last

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015

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Book Brief

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Margaret Atwood

The Heart Goes Last

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015
Book Details
Pages

416

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Northeastern USA • Near Future

Publication Year

2015

Publisher

Nan A. Talese

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood follows a young married couple, Stan and Charmaine, navigating a financial crash that leaves them homeless. They join the Positron Project, which offers stability in exchange for freedom, and end up entangled in secretive and morally dubious activities. Themes include love, obsession, free will, and the destructive greed within capitalist societies. Contains themes like coerced intimacy, euthanasia, and unethical practices.

Mysterious

Dark

Suspenseful

Unnerving

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.6

80,950 ratings

48%

Loved it

35%

Mixed feelings

16%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Margaret Atwood's The Heart Goes Last presents a dystopian future blending dark humor with chilling societal critique. Reviewers praise its inventive plot and sharp wit but note uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters. While the novel's satirical edge is celebrated, some find the narrative's resolution unsatisfying. Overall, it offers a provocative, if sometimes flawed, exploration of human nature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Heart Goes Last?

Fans of dystopian fiction and dark satire will enjoy Margaret Atwood's The Heart Goes Last. Readers who appreciate themes of societal control and human resilience, similar to those in George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, will find this book captivating and thought-provoking.

3.6

80,950 ratings

48%

Loved it

35%

Mixed feelings

16%

Not a fan

Character List

Stan

A protagonist struggling with feelings of inadequacy and lack of control, often finds himself swept along by circumstances and external pressures.

A protagonist whose outwardly conventional appearance contrasts with secret desires and dreams, becomes entangled in complex personal relationships.

Operates Consilience's security and surveillance, her appearance and actions mark her as distinctive in a predominantly heteronormative setting.

Involved in an affair with Charmaine, presents an attractive and enigmatic persona that serves varying symbolic roles for other characters.

CEO of the Positron Project, projects a facade of friendliness and inclusivity while engaging in ethically questionable business practices.

Stan’s ambitious brother, represents a contrasting approach to life that emphasizes personal freedom and success outside conventional norms.

Book Details
Pages

416

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Northeastern USA • Near Future

Publication Year

2015

Publisher

Nan A. Talese

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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