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A review by novelesque_life
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
5.0
RATING: 4.5 STARS
One of my friends (worked with me at the bookstore, and now in my book club) recommended this novel a few times over the year, and finally I had a rainy day to read it. I first read this novel a few years ago and enjoyed the writing - clever, witty, raw and powerful - as well as the characterizations. I am not a huge fan of dystopian novels, (I cannot explain why) but when I read one that really gets into my mind, I am just enthralled. Gilead is set in the US, and is written by a Canadian novelist, and as I read this book I could see why the US. While it seems impossible, as the world seems to be getting better (in some ways, a non-white President!), there is a thin layer of ice that could be cracked. It's frightening, as a human, women, some of colour and being so close to the USA.
After my first reading of this novel, I saw this novel as - what if we don't actually learn from all the things we went through in history? What if the recent genocides is just a start? What if Roe Vs Wade is reversed? It's so scary that you don't think this can ever be reality in your future.
My second reading of this novel was after watching the movie version of this novel, and it was pretty awful. I need to cleanse that out of my mind so I reread The Handmaid's Tale. Upon the second reading I could really feel the tone of the book. Like the movie, and my first reading of this book, I was just focusing on the shock value of what the world had come to and how women were treated. When I reread the novel, I could feel the loss of freedom of Offred and most of the women in Gilead. These women were living their lives, and slowly they started to lose all the rights women in the past had fought for. We were going back in time and losing what makes us human. I definitely was hit harder on my second read.
It would be my third, and last (as of this review), reading that this book blew my mind. I read this in 2017 just as the television series was playing. I was prepping myself for the comparisons, but wow Margaret Atwood really can see the future. As Trump became president, the floodgates to what was simmering below was opened. Racism and sexism - violence and rape - were now applauded by the American President, when the last President was trying to eradicate them. As sexual assaults are belittled and victims are threatened and ridiculed and the perpetrators are freed with little or no consequences - the message sent is that women are not worthwhile. As abortions are made illegal - dangerous abortions will be on the rise. With this all on my mind, as I read The Handmaid's Tale for the third time I was terrified. This could actually be a reality. The turmoil is bubbling up and I am in awe of Margaret Atwood capturing 2016 to the present so well in the 1980s.
I also highly recommend the television show. The first season is based on the book, and the second season takes on what happens after the book ends. There are flashbacks to the characters's lives that just makes this all the more real and possible. This is one book, I think, should be taught in school and classes. This book is one of those work of art that inspires dialogue and opens your mind to what might be going on around us. To be quite honest, I am afraid to read this novel again...
At the time of writing this review (August 06, 2019) it is one month till [b:The Testaments|42975172|The Testaments|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549292344l/42975172._SY75_.jpg|66802198][b:The Testaments|42975172|The Testaments|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549292344l/42975172._SY75_.jpg|66802198] will be released. This the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. I am both excited and a bit apprehensive about reading it - but read it I will and review it once I have time to digest it all.
My Novelesque Blog
One of my friends (worked with me at the bookstore, and now in my book club) recommended this novel a few times over the year, and finally I had a rainy day to read it. I first read this novel a few years ago and enjoyed the writing - clever, witty, raw and powerful - as well as the characterizations. I am not a huge fan of dystopian novels, (I cannot explain why) but when I read one that really gets into my mind, I am just enthralled. Gilead is set in the US, and is written by a Canadian novelist, and as I read this book I could see why the US. While it seems impossible, as the world seems to be getting better (in some ways, a non-white President!), there is a thin layer of ice that could be cracked. It's frightening, as a human, women, some of colour and being so close to the USA.
After my first reading of this novel, I saw this novel as - what if we don't actually learn from all the things we went through in history? What if the recent genocides is just a start? What if Roe Vs Wade is reversed? It's so scary that you don't think this can ever be reality in your future.
My second reading of this novel was after watching the movie version of this novel, and it was pretty awful. I need to cleanse that out of my mind so I reread The Handmaid's Tale. Upon the second reading I could really feel the tone of the book. Like the movie, and my first reading of this book, I was just focusing on the shock value of what the world had come to and how women were treated. When I reread the novel, I could feel the loss of freedom of Offred and most of the women in Gilead. These women were living their lives, and slowly they started to lose all the rights women in the past had fought for. We were going back in time and losing what makes us human. I definitely was hit harder on my second read.
It would be my third, and last (as of this review), reading that this book blew my mind. I read this in 2017 just as the television series was playing. I was prepping myself for the comparisons, but wow Margaret Atwood really can see the future. As Trump became president, the floodgates to what was simmering below was opened. Racism and sexism - violence and rape - were now applauded by the American President, when the last President was trying to eradicate them. As sexual assaults are belittled and victims are threatened and ridiculed and the perpetrators are freed with little or no consequences - the message sent is that women are not worthwhile. As abortions are made illegal - dangerous abortions will be on the rise. With this all on my mind, as I read The Handmaid's Tale for the third time I was terrified. This could actually be a reality. The turmoil is bubbling up and I am in awe of Margaret Atwood capturing 2016 to the present so well in the 1980s.
I also highly recommend the television show. The first season is based on the book, and the second season takes on what happens after the book ends. There are flashbacks to the characters's lives that just makes this all the more real and possible. This is one book, I think, should be taught in school and classes. This book is one of those work of art that inspires dialogue and opens your mind to what might be going on around us. To be quite honest, I am afraid to read this novel again...
At the time of writing this review (August 06, 2019) it is one month till [b:The Testaments|42975172|The Testaments|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549292344l/42975172._SY75_.jpg|66802198][b:The Testaments|42975172|The Testaments|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549292344l/42975172._SY75_.jpg|66802198] will be released. This the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. I am both excited and a bit apprehensive about reading it - but read it I will and review it once I have time to digest it all.
My Novelesque Blog