Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

56 reviews

_elli_'s review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Murder, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Gaslighting

sav_22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Oddly, I did not feel as strongly for this as I did the show adaptation. I feel like it wasn’t as easy to connect to the story as much. Pacing was quick and it left you feeling hollow and sad; this was likely the point, but it didn’t really have any development other than world-building. this has a nihilistic perspective, which can be more impactful for the message depending on how you go into it.

Spoiler

the show covers this entirely in just season 1, except a few passages here and there. The show explores this concept far more deeply and gives Offred more depth and personhood. Her real name is never mentioned in the book, as the show takes many creative liberties to explore the concept more.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Blood, Body shaming, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infertility, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Self harm, Abandonment, and Ableism

elizlizabeth's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

4.0

Very immersive, the writing style made me feel so disoriented but in a good way, as if I myself were a part of this dystopian world and couldn't know real from fantasy. It is not an action packed, heroic tale, but rather a testimony of an almost passive observer. I personally enjoyed being able to explore this kind of story from a different POV, but might not be everyone's cuppa.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Torture and Religious bigotry

annelisedreyer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Terrifying yet captivating. A must read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Classism, Homophobia, Rape, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Infertility, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

alexandrabelze's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

this is considered a classic in my eyes. this is technically my second time reading this book; the first time i read the handmaid’s tale was the summer before my sophomore year of high school. it definitely made an impact on me. now that i’m older, i respect atwood so much more. she truly is an amazement.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Murder, Pregnancy, Grief, Infidelity, Death, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Infertility, Rape, Suicide, Miscarriage, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Cursing, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol and Animal death

roseisvibing's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, Misogyny, Blood, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Slavery, Body horror, Murder, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Religious bigotry

bedoesque's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, and Murder

paris_olivia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Gaslighting, Grief, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Slavery, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence

pandalesque's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Gaslighting, Antisemitism, Infertility, Child death, Racism, Miscarriage, and Slavery

balamaqab's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Abandonment