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sapphicpenguin's review against another edition
5.0
I think a lot of people, especially coming from the TV show, want a rebellion narrative from this book. They want an action hero. And you don't get that. You get a flawed, thoughtful, broken woman, who just exists in a horrible world. A lot is implied or mentioned or considered, but this is rarely action-packed. Whole chapters are pondering, recollecting, processing. Living through dystopia is not exciting most of the time.
And so many people dislike the main character--I would say we don't need to like her. We just have to listen.
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Torture, Excrement, Abortion, and War
The worst of it in my opinion is implied/alluded to, or told through moments/observations rather than actions. Nowhere near as traumatic as the TV show, but uncomfortable throughout. I tried to describe the things you need to know below. I'm sure I'm forgetting things--please be cautious. Sexual Violence:meq_05's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion
up2nogood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Rape
lakea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
its_madi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
loxeletters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Suicide, and Grief
directorpurry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Antisemitism, and Islamophobia
Minor: Animal death and War
hannah_lou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
vivivi'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? Yes
5.0
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.
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
butlere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Animal death