Reviews tagging Violence

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

174 reviews

baruss666's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, War, Sexism, and Rape

lauraleecrifasi's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicide, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Infertility, Sexual content, and Violence

vivivi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Hooolyyyyyyyy snaps! 

As I've said a few other times before, this was rather disturbing. Sickening how twisted society became (twisted — not created from nothing, but from our current society: twisted, bent, pressed, and reformed into the Gileadean era). But I had to finish the book! I kept cheering for her and wanting to know if she escapes. 

I think my rage at the professor in the end shows just how invested I was in her story and how much of it I believed. I'm also creeped out by the professor's tone. Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like he tries to be all reasonable and aimeable while every other sentence sows distrust in her record.

I didn't expect it to end the way it did, but it definitely reads like a diary that was secretly recorded by a survivor, so I'm not too surprised. There's a lot to unpack in this book, and it's one of those that stays in your head even after you've finished it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Infertility

Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Miscarriage

faithkol's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

One of the first dystopian books that feel as if they could become reality. Quite different than the Hulu show but not as good.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Sexual content

Minor: Violence

elenayasmin's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Beautifully written with incredible world-building, Margaret Atwood combines her understanding of successful totalitarian regimes with her explosive imagination, making The Handmaid's Tale a believable future for patriarchal societies. I would however liked to have seen the experiences of minority races in the Gilead period, and although this was mentioned in a couple of sentences, this seemed insufficient considering the huge population of ethnic minorities in USA. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put down.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Body shaming, Sexism, Violence, Pregnancy, Classism, and Misogyny

emfass'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I have no idea why the heck I felt inspired to re-read The Handmaid's Tale at a time with lots of other hard things going on in my life, but there you go. 

Loved Claire Danes' narration, as well as the expanded materials at the end that Atwood wrote. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Classism, Rape, Sexism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Violence, and Infertility

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Torture, Deportation, Police brutality, Trafficking, Body horror, Sexual content, and Homophobia

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Vomit, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Medical content, and War

allidone's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Trafficking, Violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Torture, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, Infertility, and Hate crime

Moderate: Racism and Ableism

apokillipse's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, Infertility, Violence, Pregnancy, and Rape

zams's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

It seemed to be a very slow read and super slow-paced in the beginning, but picked up the pace A LOT towards the end. A gruelling outlook on how life could be in society, and a brutal reality already for countless people on the planet.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Infertility, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Slavery, Misogyny, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Classism, Death, Child death, Ableism, War, Violence, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Sexism, Rape, Murder, and Miscarriage

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Blood

littlecharming's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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? No

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage