Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

30 reviews

charlotte123's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective tense

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and War

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

definitely a slow burn but i liked the way it built tension somewhat exponentially with the narrator at the center of three mini rebellions—

seeing the Commander, defecting with Ofglen and Mayday, and conspiring with Serena Joy and Nick

—but in the end it didn't really amount to all that much. i love the inclusion of the "Historical Notes," they're terrible and perfect.
it's definitely white feminism, with racism in this religious-extremist totalitarian regime only mentioned once, in passing, at the very end. compared to another modern classic published just two years later, Beloved, it's kind of embarrassing.
cover design review: ★★★★☆. instant one-star deduction for having author's name larger than the title (sorry Margaret Atwood), and this is especially egregious; the title is relatively tiny. we all know minimalism has become excessive but i really like this one. the centering of the title is very satisfying, with approximately equal overhang of "HANDMAID'S" on either side of the dress. and the best part, get ready for your mind to be blown: see that dot in front of the Handmaid's head? it's the eye of a face in profile looking to the left hidden in the negative space. genius

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War

rettasbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

mrj_mrj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• 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

2.0

The Book was not enjoyable. For me, it had many flaws and also I didn't quite understand the ending!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Pregnancy

panicpanic94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

kidcorvus's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Homophobia

therobinjoyce's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

The Handmaid's tale is such a wonderfully dark and gritty, almost dystopian novel. Considering its publication over 3 decades ago, it is surprisingly easy to read and flows with such emotion.

The system of Gilead within the book is so brutal and cruel yet it highlighted the true capabilities of man. What man can do to one another, and just how dangerous and misogyny can be.

There are so many other reviewers who could word their feelings about this book with much more eloquence than I'm capable of, but if I had to leave this review with one closing thought I would tell you that this book will change your life. It will make you think and question and ponder so many different things and appreciate the lives and freedom we are able to live in this bustling modern era. How lucky we are and how we need to remember this fact.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Misogyny

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

valyn_grebe's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Minor: Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Blood

dsaiz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Physical abuse

lizziereads608d5's review against another edition

I only got to the first few chapter and then just lost interest in it. For me i think it was a little to dark to start with, i might try it again later on but for now i will leave it in my book graveyard.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Infertility, Sexism, Sexual content, and Slavery