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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You can’t beat Margaret Atwood. Why did it take so long to make a tv series of this?
My first reaction upon finishing this book: WHAT?! That’s how it ends?! SERIOUSLY?!
I promptly looked up when the continuation is coming out and I cannot believe I have to wait most of the year. I want to read more now!
Okay, if it isn’t clear yet, I very much enjoyed this book. It’s such a great dystopian story that has withstood the test of …
Favorite book of all time.
Wonderfully written. Hope it doesn’t happen in real life. It can, as the way things are happening.
Frightening, made me think of a world that VP Pence would like very much. Unnerving to say the least.
BRILLIANT – That’s it for the review. If you read it blind (without previous knowledge/reviews) even better.
One of my longest loves. This book reads like terrifying poetry. Atwood is fantastic.
Thought provoking classic.
The book is quite different from the Hulu series. I actually like the series better–and I don’t say that much. The writing in the book trips me up often. But I wanted to see what it was like and make a comparison.
I read this book when it came out in the ’80’s. It was a different time and meant something different than it is being used for now.
Boring and not worth reading. Also pretty weak writing.
It gave me nightmares thinking of how a male dominated society came into being so easily.
Don’t understand why this was made into a series. I found it completely boring.
This is a book every woman should read. It is an important read.
Maybe I’m a philistine but I thought this was one of the most boring books I’ve ever read. Interesting situation, but it just went on and on getting darker and more boring. I don’t understand the current clamor over it, unless it’s supposed to be some kind of abortion rights statement — I don’t get it. Didn’t like it.
Great story of a dystopian future.
Accept no substitutes. This story is raw and real.
Really scary, especially in light of today’s society.
What if ….?
I didn’t particularly care for this book and found that it dragged on. The author’s descriptions were well written and I looked up the definitions of many words. I guess I just didn’t care for a futuristic fictional America in how were are treated.