Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

38 reviews

mk194's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Classism, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Rape, and Sexism

Moderate: Vomit and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage, Confinement, Suicide, and Pregnancy

sashtastic3's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

A very good book. The story telling was interesting as was the dark horrific plot. The only thing that bothered me was the lack of indication of who was speaking and the lack of quotation marks in the book.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship, Slavery, Abortion, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

ieotter13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

this book has been on my TBR list for a while and it was definitely something I’m glad I read - all criticism of the book (diversity, etc) is extremely valid, but Atwood is still able to write a compelling story that in some ways seems not too far off from our current political system. i listened to this book via audiobook and given the “historical notes” at the end it actually felt more accurate to the story to read it that way. regardless, worth the read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Infidelity, Death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Infertility, Genocide, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Racism, Religious bigotry, Rape, Pregnancy, Suicide, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Antisemitism

salem0's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

as i do with most books, i'm writing this review after several months of reflection.

so... i really wanted to love this, especially after watching the incredible (at least till s4/5) show. i do think this story has some powerful messages, an interesting concept, it's good at making you feel tense, and it really makes you reflect on how women's rights are like in this age- gilead brings to mind many current events that have occurred (particularly in 2022). i thought the ending was very thought-provoking too. but overall it just didn't do it for me. it's a nice enough book, but to me it wasn't very outstanding, and a bit dull in some parts. i appreciate this nevertheless, for its impact on modern lit and discussion of feminism.

edit: did a reread, 23/05/24
this is definitely better than i remember. the prose is actually so wonderfully written, if very confusing at times. the story of offred is so compelling, her story is one of the most human stories i've read in a while. i've boosted the rating in reflection of that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Rape, and Violence

Minor: War, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Antisemitism

jessicaa_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Grief, Rape, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Confinement, Infertility, and Hate crime

tea_leaves's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Death, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Classism, Rape, Drug use, Grief, Body horror, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Violence

giulianalb99's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.0

Al principio me pareció un poco aburrido y me ha costado leerlo. Está bien, pero esperaba más. Todavía no he visto la serie y tengo muchas ganas pero creo que esperaré a leerme el segundo libro. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Infertility, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, Racism, Miscarriage, Islamophobia, Body shaming, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Death, Confinement, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, Abortion, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol

sleepy_yoshi's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Infertility and Toxic relationship

Minor: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts

exbecks's review against another edition

reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

0.25

This book is so boring! I read it after watching the show and the pacing is just brutally slow. It’s much harder to root for book June, she doesn’t feel like a heroin at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Violence and Sexual violence

Minor: Religious bigotry and Toxic relationship

mikala's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, and Infertility

Moderate: Transphobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Biphobia, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Blood, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship