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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Do not read this book if you suffer from infertility or a ticking bio clock! Other than that it was really a great book.
I read it online and nearly completed it on a Sunday.
It brought up the possibility of where the world could head one day. I don’t know how the author tied in such a long ago concept of a biblical wife with a futuristic …
I read this book when it was first released 1986; it had an immediate and definitive impact upon me and I have recommended it to everyone since. The recent HULU series has enlivened this work of fiction…Fiction thus far anyway.
With the rise of the tyrannical, religious right with in the USA, this book now stand as an even scarier, truth …
I don’t know how I missed reading such a classic! The author drew a very sad and desperate future. With the current situation in America, it was eerily scaredy. Our political arena is so unstable, it was way too easy to conceive of a similar future. Reading this gave me a wakeup call when I am already worried for the future of my children and …
Get further into June’s head. A good read but I want more.
I am glad that I took the tim to read The Handmaid’s Tale after having seen the movie years ago. The book as is almost always rge case was much better. Aother can’t stop reading it type of books.
The Handmaid’s Tale just made it onto my Top 10 All-Time Favorite Books list.
A few weeks ago, I happened upon and watched the first episode of the Hulu series. I was so taken by it that I got my hands on and read the book after which time I binge-watched the remaining 9 episodes of season one. Talk about immersive… I’m still haunted by the …
It was a very difficult book for me to read. I, personally, would not recommend it for anyone.
I read this when it first came out. I was happy to re-read such a great story.
Weird book. Dystopian civilization described by a “handmaid” keeps you looking for the climax. Keep looking.
Complex and interesting but a bit plodding.
The utopia of Gilead puts women in certain categories. I found myself feeling uncomfortable a lot because it seems very tangible.
At this end of the school year, I need a little escape from the everyday. This book definitely takes my mind off of the endless meetings and struggle. It is great food for thought in the current political climate we are experiencing. If you are looking for a light, uplifting read–this is not it.
OMG!
reality in our current world with current administration?!? It could happen! Not as entertaining as built up in all other reviews
I was so looking forward to reading this book because of the good reviews, but was sadly disappointed. Kept waiting for it to grab me but it didn’t. Didn’t care for the writing, the plot was interesting but never developed , was left wanting more details.
This futuristic, twisted world building and treatment of women hit a little too close to home for me, reading it for the first time after the 2016 US election. But even though it made me uncomfortable and felt a little bit like I was looking directly into a crystal ball of my future, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! You find yourself rooting for the main …
A frightening dystopian story. I can see Trump dismissing Congreess and disbanding law enforcement agencies for this kind of control.
Not very believable. Sure, it’s fiction, but this is lame fiction. Too many loose ends that don’t tie together in at least some reasonable way. If it was science fiction in a galaxy far away, more latitude could be given to imagination, but this is just a weak peak into a dystopian future. It may be popular, but it’s not that great.
An old classic. Hate the ending but still worth the read.
I read this book when it was first published, and ever since I have urged people to read it. So firmly fixed was it in my mind that I found the television production a little jolting, but if it convinced people to read the book, that’s all for the better. Maybe we could get VP Pence and his wife into a book group…