The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
athrillerreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Cursing, Death, Child death, and Murder
alexandrabelze's review against another edition
- 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
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
breedawnwriter's review against another edition
4.0
It was a little difficult to get into if I didn’t read it consistently (as the writing style is very different from what I typically read), but I really did enjoy Atwood’s imagining of this wretched, disturbing, and utterly gripping dystopian world.
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Cursing, and Infertility
Minor: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Torture, and Suicide
lexib13'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
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Medical content, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Excrement, Infertility, Kidnapping, Mental illness, War, Trafficking, and Vomit
lilacwhisker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Genocide, Sexism, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Addiction, Abortion, and Antisemitism
sapphicpenguin's review against another edition
5.0
I think a lot of people, especially coming from the TV show, want a rebellion narrative from this book. They want an action hero. And you don't get that. You get a flawed, thoughtful, broken woman, who just exists in a horrible world. A lot is implied or mentioned or considered, but this is rarely action-packed. Whole chapters are pondering, recollecting, processing. Living through dystopia is not exciting most of the time.
And so many people dislike the main character--I would say we don't need to like her. We just have to listen.
Graphic: Misogyny, Cursing, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, and Suicide
Minor: War, Animal death, Excrement, Homophobia, Abortion, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Torture
The worst of it in my opinion is implied/alluded to, or told through moments/observations rather than actions. Nowhere near as traumatic as the TV show, but uncomfortable throughout. I tried to describe the things you need to know below. I'm sure I'm forgetting things--please be cautious. Sexual Violence:rushh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Body horror, Classism, Colonisation, Infertility, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Suicide, Death, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Murder, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Drug use, Vomit, Cursing, and Alcohol
sunnybugz'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Violence, Sexism, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Blood
up2nogood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Cursing, Homophobia, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
lorraine19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For this reason, I'd advise against reading if you are sensitive or have trauma that is easily triggered.Â
However, it does highlight some very relevant issues and is something I think many people should read. It will make you uncomfortable. You might have to put it down for a couple days to process it or take a breather. But it is worthwhile and will make you recognize small signs of sexism and discrimination. It shows how small things can escalate. It is also very heavy on religion and politics, but I view the main character as someone wanting to reclaim her religion from extremists - for this reason I do not believe it is anti-religious but anti-extremism.Â
I do wish they went more into some of the other characters impacted (which I believe she does in the sequel) but it also did a good job of explaining the world strictly from the main character's POV.Â
<SPOILER> The book only covers what is basically the first season of the show but the plot is also a bit different. This leaves it open ended as well. <SPOILER>
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Islamophobia, Hate crime, Infertility, Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Biphobia, Child abuse, Rape, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Classism, Antisemitism, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Violence, War, Abortion, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Ritualistic rape, religious extremism, political abuse