Little House on the Wasteland By Laura Ingalls-Wei

It's not often that I refer to a post-apocalyptic book as a "joy" to read because, well, the subject matter usually isn't that joyful, but it's the perfect descriptor here. Little House on the Wasteland is the story of Laura and her family and their desire to find some semblance of peace at a time when it's every man for himself.

We aren't privy to the year this story takes place or what caused the Great Bust that pulled the U.S. apart financially and physically, but we do know one thing: a plague (or "ague" as our characters refer to it) has wreaked havoc on the world and the things we take for granted in 2020 are no longer available. There is no electricity. No running water. No cars, trucks, buses, manufacturing, restaurants, newspapers. Even buildings and roads have gone by the wayside. It is what it is.

But you have little Laura, her two sisters and ma and pa eking out an existence in what was once Wisconsin. Until they can't any longer. And that's when they take to the (former) road in search of a new life in the wastelands, what once was the midwest.

This is the story of that journey and the trials and tribulations the family faces on that long trip. They must take shelter in places you and I wouldn't dream of. They must stand up to villains and those exhibiting signs of the illness. They must make friends with those they might not otherwise interact with and trust in people who might otherwise be untrustworthy.

When I call this story a joy, I mean that while the subject matter is tough and heavy and mostly not pretty, the writing is simply superb. The story elements are a delight and the character development deep and most worthy of something with the "Laura Ingalls" name attached. Our storyteller's cleverness with spelling and pronunciation made me laugh out loud at times, and I adored the song choices that dotted the pages of this read. I'd love to see a sequel.

Many thanks to Reedsy/Discovery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Little House on the Wasteland is available here. See this review on Goodreads.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

4.5 stars rounded up

Let me start by saying that in my book, Margaret Atwood can do no wrong. I've been a fan for decades, and that's not going to change anytime soon. I tend to love everything she puts her name to.

That said, there are a few problems with the Testaments. Others have said because of two of the three narrators, this book reads like a YA dystopian novel. I get that. And for that reason, this book doesn't have the heft that the Handmaid's Tale had.

We already know that Gilead is an abominable place to live, with a theocratic, misogynistic regime. So Atwood could either choose to further that story or take us into the future, to the end of the story, if you will. She chose the latter. And the story has a satisfying end, although I think I would have enjoyed learning more about how the men in power may have met their demise.

I think this series needs two more books. I'd like to read the story of how Gilead was formed. We get a bit of that in the TV show but aren't privy to it in the books.

I'd also like a book to bridge the gap between the Handmaid's Tale and the Testaments. Fifteen years have passed since "Baby Nicole" was smuggled from Gilead. I need to know what has happened since that time. You don't get many answers to that in this book.

I loved the Testaments, but others may be disappointed because it doesn't read like its predecessor. My only hope is that there is more to come.

See review on Goodreads and Amazon.