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raesansom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Murder, and War
yleavy's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Abortion
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War
dearbhlanoonan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death and Abortion
Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, and War
teh_niarr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and War
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
gvstyris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The world is being run by people my age, men my age, with falling-out hair and health worries, and it frightens me. When the leaders were older than me I could believe in their wisdom, I could believe they had transcended rage and malice and the need to be loved. Now I know better. I look at the faces in newspapers, in magazines, and wonder: what greeds, what furies drive them on?
After trudging through Cat’s Eye and DNFing Oryx and Crake, I think it’s time for me to accept that The Handmaid’s Tale is the exception, not the rule, when it comes to my taste in Atwood's novels. While I picked up on the social commentary hidden amongst Cat’s Eye's depressing tone and unlikeable characters, Elaine’s internalised misogyny (and straight-up cruelty!) rendered this novel pretty insufferable for me. Perhaps I’m just a couple decades too young to appreciate it properly -- I can see where the portrayal of female bullying would’ve been revolutionary in the 1980s.
My main highlights were Atwood's writing style, as always, and Elaine's relationship with her art. Atwood also portrays childhood both realistically and with sensitivity, which is difficult to pull off. I'm curious about the autobiographical elements of this novel, and will definitely be doing some digging.
Primarily, though, I've come away with an increased fear of one day being a middle-aged white woman myself...
Graphic: Bullying, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion
Minor: War
lay_kone's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and War
floralfox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying and Abortion
Moderate: Death
Minor: Antisemitism and War
astridrv's review against another edition
Graphic: Bullying, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: War
kabornman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, and War