A review by has3000
The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
This book was horrifying. Which I mean as a huge endorsement.
Living in a dystopian, hyper-religious, hyper-patriarchal society, the narrator is a forced potential surrogate to a powerful Commander. It is illegal for her to have un-prescribed sex, go where she wants, or even read.
The story is written in a conversational, stream-of-consciousness style where the narrator switches between present day and memories, and we get to see her both resisting and falling into the indoctrination in which she lives.
As a man this book is amazing for giving perspective into the female life, as it takes tiny facets of our culture and stretches them in to one extreme (but possible) future.
But it is a horrifying book nonetheless.
Living in a dystopian, hyper-religious, hyper-patriarchal society, the narrator is a forced potential surrogate to a powerful Commander. It is illegal for her to have un-prescribed sex, go where she wants, or even read.
The story is written in a conversational, stream-of-consciousness style where the narrator switches between present day and memories, and we get to see her both resisting and falling into the indoctrination in which she lives.
As a man this book is amazing for giving perspective into the female life, as it takes tiny facets of our culture and stretches them in to one extreme (but possible) future.
But it is a horrifying book nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Infertility, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy