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: Racism, Rape, Toxic friendship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, Ableism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Abandonment, Self harm, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Medical content
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Confinement, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
sheshallbenamed'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Self harm
chadelaine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
annoyedhumanoid'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? Yes
4.0
Spoiler
seeing the Commander, defecting with Ofglen and Mayday, and conspiring with Serena Joy and Nickit's definitely white feminism, with racism in this religious-extremist totalitarian regime only mentioned once, in passing, at the very end. compared to another modern classic published just two years later, Beloved, it's kind of embarrassing.
cover design review: ★★★★☆. instant one-star deduction for having author's name larger than the title (sorry Margaret Atwood), and this is especially egregious; the title is relatively tiny. we all know minimalism has become excessive but i really like this one. the centering of the title is very satisfying, with approximately equal overhang of "HANDMAID'S" on either side of the dress. and the best part, get ready for your mind to be blown: see that dot in front of the Handmaid's head? it's the eye of a face in profile looking to the left hidden in the negative space. genius
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicide, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Classism, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Trafficking, Violence, Domestic abuse, Death, Rape, Infidelity, Misogyny, Infertility, Murder, Sexual violence, and Torture
Moderate: Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cursing, Mass/school shootings, Antisemitism, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Animal death, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Blood, Drug use, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Abortion, Medical content, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Eating disorder, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Racism, War, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Vomit
rory_john14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Biphobia, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Infertility, Infidelity, and Misogyny
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Racism, War, Child death, and Murder
z0333's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Trafficking
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content