The Handmaid's Tale

I found this book mostly fascinating and terrifying. With our current political and religious culture this could be a possible future.

I loved the prose and Claire Danes was perfect as narrator. I would absolutely read it again. Maybe with my eyes next time.

I did have to take a short break because it was so heavy emotionally. That's not to say there's much in the way of emotional writing because the narrator, Offred, is not emotive in her telling. She's sharing her story in a direct way. Well, direct in that she's giving facts and reasons behind her decisions. There are a few places where she gives her more personal feelings but she tries to keep it to a minimum. I think this forced me to experience my own emotions rather than feed off of hers.

I'm glad I finally read it.

Margaret Atwood's writing and Claire Dane's narration are so beautiful! The writing is poetic and powerful, the narration brings life to the story and gives Offred a voice. I think the audio book did more for me than reading a physical book would have. I could not do this book the justice it deserves.

As Offred told her story, I could not help but become indignant, not only at the commanders, but also at the society that existed before. That there was room for this messed up society to rise up and gain a foothold. That humans could treat other humans this way. That people still had not learned from history. I know that no one believes this can happen to society, nobody willingly puts themselves in a position for oppression, but emotions run rampant with this book. My emotions are not immune to Atwood's words.

This book does not have a perfect, fairy tale ending. While that often leaves me feeling confused at the end, I enjoy the harsh reality of it. Life isn't a fairy tale. Reading a book that is true to life in this manner is refreshing and eye opening. It reminds me not to take things for granted.
The speculation lets the novel live on past its final pages; the reader is kept guessing, wondering,
questioning.

I have high praise for this book. It is beautifully written, expertly narrated, and very thought provoking.

I couldn't finish this. It made me so, so anxious. Perhaps if things weren't playing out the way there are in the world, it would have been easier to stomach, but this just hit a bit too hard for comfort at the moment.

The tv series (although a spinoff that adds more fiction scenes) is better than the book, which I thought was vague and left too much to the imagination. The idea of the book is brilliantly creative but it just falls short of too many details.

Audiobook listen. A chilling classic. One of the best books I’ve read. A cautionary tale of removing women’s rights and Religious Totalitarianism. I think everyone should read this book at least once.