Now a Hulu Original SeriesThe Handmaid’s Tale is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States and is now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to, and going beyond, the repressive … beyond, the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men in its population.
The story is told through the eyes of Offred, one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order. In condensed but eloquent prose, by turns cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry, she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment’s calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions. The Handmaid’s Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing. It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and a tour de force. It is Margaret Atwood at her best.
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The upcoming Hulu series is what initially interested me in this book since I’m not usually a fan of dystopian literature, but this was an interesting depiction of the future. Bounces around between present and the past and had a bit of action in the plot towards the end. Overall I didn’t find myself emotionally connected to the main character or …
I just couldn’t do it. I have tried 3 times know to read this book and the furthest I have made it is to the third chapter. It is boring and and long-winded. Giving bad reviews is not easy for me since I know how hard people work to put out a great book, but this is just not for me. The plot sounds so cool though, and I will probably try to read …