Sue
Sue asked:

Chapter 41, second sentence - mistake or not? Emailed the publisher.

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Carol Katarsky It is a joke -- it's less often used than the original phrase, but the reverse "Time wounds all heels" is a known saying. In essence, karma's gonna get you.
Candi I wondered the same thing and researched the quote, apparently it’s a thing.
Karen Another possibility is that Aunt Lydia has gotten the saying mixed up herself. It's been decades (I think) since Gilead began, and people probably don't use those sayings so much anymore, and maybe she's just forgotten. She's very sharp but no one's memory is perfect.
Rich Lambe I BELIEVE this is a joke - the actual saying is 'Time heals all wounds' and I believe Aunt Lydia has changed this to 'Time wounds all heels' in order make a comment on the ageing process. Something about getting old and bodies breaking down?
She seems to confirm this a few sentences later by mentioning jokes.

I agree that it IS confusing considering it's grouped with three other genuine phrases so perhaps I'm wrong.
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by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)
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