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.
more
I have to admit that when I first picked up the book in the fall of 2017, I read a few pages and was so confused. What time period was it? What was going on? (and, honestly, I was probably just tired since I tried reading before bed.) I closed it and didn’t think about it again until I started watching the TV series. I tried it again after …
A lot has been said about this much lauded book. Its resurrection from the 1980’s with the well-known mini- series has found a greater appreciation and a fresh audience and is relevant in its message today as it was then.
I read it many years ago in my twenties and having read it again for the second time found a new appreciation. This dystopian …
I re-enjoyed this dystopian tale. CLAIRE DANES narrates audio format & W O W ! For high-schoolers wondering what to read this summer or anyone who wants a page-turner that exercises the neurons, do yourself a favor and grab The Handmaid’s Tale. Set in the future, when the ‘Sons of Jacob’ annihilates the US government. The story opens and we land …
Mind =
Very much like 1984, but I liked THE HANDMAID’S TALE better. Eerie how much a novel written in 1984 reflects the current climate in the United States. It’s like Margaret Atwood had a crystal ball and tapped all of its foreshadowing ink when she put pen to paper.
I listened to this book on Audible, but now I want to buy the ebook to …
I found this book somewhat predictable. I think I was expecting more because of all the publicity from the Hulu show. I haven’t seen that so I can’t comment about the show.
I really liked this book. Especially in the age of Trump, it’s interesting to read about what can happen when we restrict women like this. The book has fantastic worldbuilding, everything in it is based on something that has happened somewhere in the world, which I think is really cool. It also draws attention to issues like climate change, …
As many others have said, this book takes on all sorts of creepy relevance and meaning in regards to our current political climate. Like many works of dystopian fiction, this book does a good job of throwing the reader into the world, letting her/him figure out how ti got that way bit by bit. The only downside to this book, and honestly, it would …
I recently re-read this classic dystopian novel in preparation for the upcoming mini series on Hulu. I used to like this book but I don’t feel that way any more. Now, I LOVE this book.
The book seems so out of reach and yet so close to possible that the reader isn’t sure what is more real; the world or Offred or the world in which we live …
I swear when I say, I read that first page more than 15 times, and every time, I didn’t want to read more because I felt, I’m not taking in enough that it has to deliver. So I stopped and started reading from the beginning once again, and I did it I don’t know how many times. This first page changed my life.
I will say how when the time is right. …
This is essential reading, and a cautionary tale. I love dystopian books but Atwood is the master. Terrifying, chilling, and repulsive. Atwoods narrative style is unusual and slower than I am used to, but in this scenario very effective
Truly horrible, nothing is resolved. I ended the book being just as confused and disturbed as when I started it.
I watched the first season of The Handmaid’s Tale recently and just had to read the book. I do like the show better than the book. The book is dry but I find it appropriate. It’s a dark tale after all. The show has more feeling and followed the book great. I’m not sure if I would like the book if I hadn’t watch the show first. The whole concept …
Kept me glued to the pages….hated to put it down to sleep!
I place this on the scale of Rebecca and To Kill a Mockingbird. The adult subject matter is written well.
The audiobook adds another dimension to an incredible story.
I was very disappointed with this book. I only managed to finish it because I was convinced it had to get better. My gosh, there’s a hit TV show based on this book. Which is really hard for me to understand. TV shows have characters who interact with each other in conversations, but that very seldom happened in this book. It’s at least 90% just …
Unusual plot. Reminds me of Brave New World. Keeps your attention, although somewhat repetitious. Loved the unusual way she handled the ending.
Feminist classic
Exceptional dystopian tale set in America. Thought-provoking, to say the least.
A bleak futuristic cautionary tale
Read as an 18 year old and liked it. Have read it again almost 30 years later and loved it.