'Do you have an irony deficiency?' The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments, and your question about the wedding industry

Bri interviews Sana Qadar from 'Eyes on Gilead about Season 5. Astrid Edwards reveals the literary prize judging process and discusses the 2019 Booker fiasco.

This month’s Nerd special edition is heaving with great content. I’m so proud of it and cannot wait for you to read it and share your thoughts. There’s a special way in which the various parts of The Handmaid’s Tale phenomena make space for all kinds of deep thinking. Read on to get:

• A conversation between me and Sana Qadar (one of the hosts of the top-ranking podcast, Eyes on Gilead) in which we share our thoughts about Season 5 of The Handmaid’s Tale, including: hot takes about Serena, whether the show should do better with regards to race, and Sana’s insightful comments about how Canada (in the show) turned against refugees and what that says about Canada (in real life).

• Astrid Edwards’ review-slash-essay for this month is juicy juicy juicy. I’ve asked her to tell you whether or not she thinks The Testaments should have co-won The Booker in 2019. As a judge for this year’s Stella Prize, Astrid is uniquely placed to answer this question and I got so much out of her response!

• Each month in our Nerd special edition I pen an essay replying to a reader’s question. This month’s is a spicy one, and I’d say, directly relevant to the broader themes of the week. (I.e. Potentially regressive gender politics.) Here’s what you asked me:

I’ve noticed you have mentioned you are married - can I ask how you feel [about] marriage and the wedding industry? I’ve just turned 30, have been with my partner almost a decade, and [we] are attending so many friends’ weddings. We feel very pressured to tie the knot, however, I don’t know how I should view marriage in a modern lens. Would love your insight!

• And this week’s giveaway is a copy of the exceptionally beautiful and huge book, At the Artisan’s Table (RRP $100) thanks to Thames & Hudson.

So! Welcome, nerds, this is your special edition!