Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

The Heart Goes Last (Positron 0)

Living in their car, surviving on tips, Charmaine and Stan are in a desperate state. So, when they see an advertisement for Consilience, a ‘social experiment’ offering stable jobs and a home of their own, they sign up immediately. All they have to do in return for suburban paradise is give up their freedom every second month – swapping their home for a prison cell. At first, all is well. But then, unknown to each other, Stan and Charmaine develop passionate obsessions with their ‘Alternates,’ the couple that occupy their house when they are in prison. Soon the pressures of conformity, mistrust, guilt and sexual desire begin to take over.

So this is part of an ongoing series. Have any of you read the other books? Do you think if you've read the rest of the series you'd have a better read?

For anyone new to the series, do you think you'll carry on with the series?

Can't wait to read this. I have it on hold. Hope to get it in time to discuss. Love, love, love Margaret Atwood!

I have never read this author. Cant wait to check it out!

Actually, looking at the descriptions and based on some other posts regarding this book, I believe that The Heart Goes Last is the combination of the serialized Positron saga. It was released this past year as a single novel.

Let me start my comments by saying that I love Margaret Atwood. She has a unique ability to look at societal trends and twist them to a point to which they become downright disturbing. Never have I finished an Atwood book without some serious contemplation.

In this particular book, she depicts a future in which the chasm between the haves and have-nots has become a huge gulf. In her future society, the rights and protections of the have nots has been completely eroded by greed and corruption.

Some of the themes upon which she examines to discomfort are: robotic and AI technology, sexual mores, the diminishing middle class, biological engineering, and the diminishing respect for the humanity of lower classes.

The result was a book that was provocative and interesting. At the same time, I suspect the story will hit some hot buttons and it likely won't appeal to everyone.

I finished this last night and I'm not quite sure what I think yet. This was not my first Atwood book and her books tend to leave me thinking a bit which in turn generally has me loving her books. I like the twists some of the characters had- things are not always what they seem. I look forward to what other think as they finish.

I'm with C. I can't decide if i liked this one or not, but i had the same reaction after The Handmaid Tale and finally decided i really enjoyed the twists throughout. Heard this is a stand alone book and from my perspective i believe it is. Read this with a warning....reader beware!! Bizarre rules in this one.

I am starting this today!

I am at 39% so far and really like this one. There are definitely some freaky things going on.
It started out slowly while she was building the stetting and introducing the characters and their relationships with each other.
Now that they are in the community I wonder (view spoiler)[what Conor knew and how he is going to be back into the story.
How did Charmaine just get with Max after being so in love with her husband? What is going to happen to her now?
How can Stan stand being with Jocelyn? Since he wanted "Jasmine" so much, how is this any different? Is she who she appears to be? (hide spoiler)]
There are so many questions right now, I can't wait to find out what happens. Just remember, people, the grass is NOT always greener.. and be careful what you wish for!

63%
Isn't it odd that (view spoiler)[ though she is grieving Stan that she is still fantasizing about Max, even though he shunned her in the car? (hide spoiler)]
I am finding this one hard to put down.