Scan barcode
shelly3282's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially in the current climate. The world the Margaret Atwood describes in this book is so well thought out. Her story jumps back into the past and the present to give you a better understanding of how this new order exists. Read this book today!!!
yazmine528's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.25
mykai33's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-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
4.25
impressively modern considering its year of publishing. unfortunately feels prophetic
vicky_reads_writes_reviews's review against another edition
Need to read the physical book rather than listen to the audiobook
ptenorio71's review against another edition
5.0
Very good. Also, good review by John Green on Youtube regarding novel and Margaret Atwood.
thisislauraw's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
4.75
I went into this knowing almost nothing about it. Just the basics. I think that was a good approach.
I was surprised at how modern it felt - despite being written nearly 40 years ago, it really felt like it could have been present-day.
I don't really know what to say. It's bleak. It's terrifying. I suspect it feels like a more possible future now for some than it did when it was written.
I was surprised at how modern it felt - despite being written nearly 40 years ago, it really felt like it could have been present-day.
I don't really know what to say. It's bleak. It's terrifying. I suspect it feels like a more possible future now for some than it did when it was written.
kenderwolf's review against another edition
4.0
I have read a fair amount of dystopia at this point, some good, some bad. Most have shown the world in a chaotic light and/or with an active and present counter-culture/revolutionary group. This one is a little different. The world is very orderly and almost Puritanical in standards and what is "appropriate". A fertile female is a hot commodity due to increased infertility and, what sounds to be most-nuclear-type unhealthy, non-viable babies. Powerful men hold most of the power, and fertile young women, the "handmaids" are given to them as walking wombs. They are not to wed, they are to be silent and obedient and bred.
In the book, we as readers are fairly new in the history. The main character remembers before the change, when she had a husband and daughter and a normal life. The impetus for the change is hinted at but never outright explained, leaving the reader to come to their own decisions. There is perpetually a war going on, as we know by those soldiers who return from it and the threat of sending infertile or disobedient handmaids out to the wilds to work the fields and suffer what sounds like radiation sickness. This change seems to be isolated to the US, as the main character talks about attempting to flee to Canada. As the story progresses, we learn about the resistance and see how people, even those in power, are fighting the system.
This is a quiet book; no Hunger Games, no running gauntlets or fighting the authorities head-on with guns or bows or whatever. The revolution is underground and, seemingly in its infancy. This is not a story about one woman toppling in the new regime. It is about one woman, trying to navigate a new world (or country) order. There is not a ton of action, or too much dialogue, really. It is more descriptive and thought-oriented.
This is one of those books that can (and has) been read in schools and studied for deeper meanings and social commentary. (Really, if you remove the feminism, there isn't much left.) I stopped reading books for that purpose when I stopped being a literature major. Now I read books for pleasure. And I did enjoy this one. I like when books are quiet and thought-provoking, as this one was.
In the book, we as readers are fairly new in the history. The main character remembers before the change, when she had a husband and daughter and a normal life. The impetus for the change is hinted at but never outright explained, leaving the reader to come to their own decisions. There is perpetually a war going on, as we know by those soldiers who return from it and the threat of sending infertile or disobedient handmaids out to the wilds to work the fields and suffer what sounds like radiation sickness. This change seems to be isolated to the US, as the main character talks about attempting to flee to Canada. As the story progresses, we learn about the resistance and see how people, even those in power, are fighting the system.
This is a quiet book; no Hunger Games, no running gauntlets or fighting the authorities head-on with guns or bows or whatever. The revolution is underground and, seemingly in its infancy. This is not a story about one woman toppling in the new regime. It is about one woman, trying to navigate a new world (or country) order. There is not a ton of action, or too much dialogue, really. It is more descriptive and thought-oriented.
This is one of those books that can (and has) been read in schools and studied for deeper meanings and social commentary. (Really, if you remove the feminism, there isn't much left.) I stopped reading books for that purpose when I stopped being a literature major. Now I read books for pleasure. And I did enjoy this one. I like when books are quiet and thought-provoking, as this one was.
lar_iiious's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those rare books that actually make you think.
I like how the story is written. I like how the narration always jumps in time and there are abrupt changes of scene and everything feels just really authentic. Bare. Real. Raw.
I love the epilogue and even though the ending wasn't actually satisfying it felt right and I guess everything else would have felt forced and fake.
So. This novel is full of raw emotions, disturbing and frightening events, it's honest, sometimes not easy to read and in a way it makes you ponder all those important and difficult fundamental questions.
In a way I feel like "The Handmaid's tale" is about everything in life. About love, purpose, belonging, belief, trust, truth, death and birth.
There's a lot I could say about this book but I feel like I wouldn't do it justice and that's why I'm going to leave it at this.
I like how the story is written. I like how the narration always jumps in time and there are abrupt changes of scene and everything feels just really authentic. Bare. Real. Raw.
I love the epilogue and even though the ending wasn't actually satisfying it felt right and I guess everything else would have felt forced and fake.
So. This novel is full of raw emotions, disturbing and frightening events, it's honest, sometimes not easy to read and in a way it makes you ponder all those important and difficult fundamental questions.
In a way I feel like "The Handmaid's tale" is about everything in life. About love, purpose, belonging, belief, trust, truth, death and birth.
There's a lot I could say about this book but I feel like I wouldn't do it justice and that's why I'm going to leave it at this.