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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Brilliant vision of a dystopian world that has some eerie echos of today’s troubled times.
Enjoyed very much!
Very well written and a fantastic story. A twist ending was not expected or needed and can be left off of the book
When l first read it, it was just a dystopian novel; now it’s the mapping of our potential near future if we don’t act now, organize and resist
Prophetic! This should be required reading for all high school students. Brilliant!
I loved this book.
Another great story by Margaret Atwood.
Difficult to read at times, but an interesting plot.
Important and Way better than TV series.
I loved this book.
Layers of meanings. Much to think about.
I LOVE this book (not the movie or tv show). I wrote several essays, using different points of view, for different college classes. When I wander past my bookshelf & see “The Handmade’s Tale” there, I will reread it again!
I read this years before all of the hoopala of the recent TV series. The events were horrifying – even more so because the current world politics hadn’t caught up with its message. Unfortunately, it was predictive of many of the trends that we are now seeing. The ending was a bolt out of the blue!!! I think that it cystallised all of the horror …
A frightening dystopian novel which shows a world with no freedoms or justice. A memorable read.
Very interesting… Again a must read for everyone.
We are too close to the reality of this work of fiction. I’d rather die than live in this world, time, and patriarchy! I get queasy thinking about it.
Gives you things to think about.
too realistic in today’s times
A new 1984
Written more than 30 years ago, this dystopian vision rings all too possible in today’s climate of misogyny, racism, white supremacy.