Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

373 reviews

avpapato's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.0

I had some issues with the writing style, but overall thought this was a decent book. I understand why it's considered a modern classic.

I felt the inclusion of a "historical notes" section - which the author admitted in a BBC interview I listened to was cribbed from 1984 - was a jarring tone shift after the previous chapter, but in considering it as essentially a separate document about the book, or an addendum, I appreciate learning more about the politics and cultural shifts of the time than Offred was able to glean.

That said, it's perfectly readable without the last chapter, and may be more enjoyable without.
That is, if you can stand how Atwood tries to end every paragraph with a poignant one-liner.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, and Alcohol

sophie42's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, and Medical trauma

Minor: Infidelity and Abortion

melist6's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Infertility, and Suicide

Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion, and War

g30rgina'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I read this book for English although it is not my taste it is still good. This book successfully shows what the author set out to do and is written very well.
The story is not conclusive and the ending is up to the interpretation of the reader. This may not be ideal for those who like a definite ending. However I enjoyed the ending and feel that it fits with the flow of the narrative. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide

gabbygarcia's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Torture, Vomit, and War

parent-child separation

kiesha's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

coffeedumps's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

When the classic is a classic 😳
No bc like how much are you willing to sacrifice to keep hold of your sense of morality??? Miss Atwood shoves that question right in your face. Legend. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Suicide

anxieteaandbiscuits12's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Self harm, Antisemitism, Abortion, War, and Injury/Injury detail

beeping_librarian's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense 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

3.75

Good story, horrifying premise. Unreliable narrator. Didn't enjoy the writing style with its run-on sentences, lack of quotation marks, and frequent asides / backtracking / waxing poetic. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Slavery

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Classism

Minor: Infertility, Suicide, and Abortion

kerrence30's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Outstanding concept, character development & writing style. Cannot rate this higher. Terrifying world to think of; the reflection on a real feared future. One of the few books that you’ll think about time and time again after finishing. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child death