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alixbx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This main character is a piece of work (derogatory) but the story’s major elements are so relevant all these decades after it’s first publication. I don’t know yet how to reconcile that I hate the main character so much and yet feel that this should be required reading.
Full thoughts to come in an edit, though.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
This book is explicit in every topic it addresses, and it is addressed through the mind of the main character who sexualizes everything, no matter how unnecessarily. It is often without warning, too, so you can’t even skip over it if you think it’s coming up. It’s also graphic in every other way, too.charri'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That is, if you can stand how Atwood tries to end every paragraph with a poignant one-liner.
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
anna_hak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, and War
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
kiesha's review against another edition
- 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
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
kerrence30's review against another edition
- 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
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
yujahey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Rape, Sexual content, and Abortion
zzdiz5656'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide
amelial_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Handmaid's Tale is bleak yet hopeful. Hopeful of what, I'm not so sure. But it sure is bleak. I was most surprised by when the narrator,
Graphic: Sexual content
marissasa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Grief, and Pregnancy
kjwalkerrr19'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? No
5.0
My hot take for this book is I didn’t find it as shocking as I was expecting to because of the horrors I’ve lived through myself as a woman in the United States the past 3 years, so it made the book more realistic, which is so sad to say. I was disappointed by my lack of surprise from the capabilities of the new government of this book because my own has already let me down so much.
I think Margaret Atwood is a genius for this book, and no wonder it’s a classic and is studied. It is a stunning piece of literature with historical accuracy and religious notes.
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Murder