402 pages
English language
Published Dec. 2, 1998 by Seal Books.
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England, in a strongly patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state, known as Republic of Gilead, that has overthrown the United States government. The central character and narrator is a woman named Offred, one of the group known as "handmaids", who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the "commanders" – the ruling class of men. The novel explores themes of subjugated women in a patriarchal society and the various means by which they resist and attempt to gain individuality and independence. The novel's title echoes the component parts of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, which is a series of connected stories (such as "The Merchant's Tale" and "The Parson's Tale").The Handmaid's Tale won the 1985 Governor General's Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987; it was also …
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England, in a strongly patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state, known as Republic of Gilead, that has overthrown the United States government. The central character and narrator is a woman named Offred, one of the group known as "handmaids", who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the "commanders" – the ruling class of men. The novel explores themes of subjugated women in a patriarchal society and the various means by which they resist and attempt to gain individuality and independence. The novel's title echoes the component parts of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, which is a series of connected stories (such as "The Merchant's Tale" and "The Parson's Tale").The Handmaid's Tale won the 1985 Governor General's Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987; it was also nominated for the 1986 Nebula Award, the 1986 Booker Prize, and the 1987 Prometheus Award. The book has been adapted into a 1990 film, a 2000 opera, a 2017 television series, and other media. The ebook version was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.A sequel novel, The Testaments, was published in 2019.
Nice piece of distopian YA literature, although it doesn't come even close to the hype. My expectations were high, but heavily disappointed.
When did I first read this? I'm not sure...before the internet, probably when this novel was a recent one. Back then, it scared me. Now, it scares me even more. Back then, I remember thinking that all women should read this, but now I think everyone should.
Sadly, some of the aspects of life under the Gilead Regime are at work today, in certain parts of the world. The culture is extremely misogynistic, but note that most of the men in such a society are also restricted, not at all free. Not as badly off as women, of course.
Margaret Atwood excels at writing speculative fiction, I adore her writing, so it's no surprise that I would recommend this to everyone. (Not this particular paperback; the cover is falling apart, getting smaller every time I picked it up. I've left a trail.)
I listened to the version read by Claire Danes. Her breathless voice fits the story quite well. While the writing style is beautifully clear and concise the content of the story is rather heavy weight and with a slow moving plot I found it often difficult to follow Offred's meandering thoughts and ideas. But this is less about the plot and much more about the setting and its gruesome implications.
Set in a near future that is long past now - written in the early 80s it is set in the late 20st century - it feels dated and not at the same time. After a series of natural and other disasters New England has been turned into a religious authoritarian state. The major theme is the suppression of women through various means. And how quickly and easily we can fall for propaganda and can be made to accept nearly …
I listened to the version read by Claire Danes. Her breathless voice fits the story quite well. While the writing style is beautifully clear and concise the content of the story is rather heavy weight and with a slow moving plot I found it often difficult to follow Offred's meandering thoughts and ideas. But this is less about the plot and much more about the setting and its gruesome implications.
Set in a near future that is long past now - written in the early 80s it is set in the late 20st century - it feels dated and not at the same time. After a series of natural and other disasters New England has been turned into a religious authoritarian state. The major theme is the suppression of women through various means. And how quickly and easily we can fall for propaganda and can be made to accept nearly anything as normal ...
The protagonist is the Handmaid Offred, whose is forced to live in a Commander's household. While at first her duties aren't quite clear it is immediately obvious that she is not free. She serves a very specific function in this new society and she is never anything more than a "vessel". The scary thing is that even though the book has been written decades ago its themes feel extremely current.
I particularly liked the meta-chapter at the end and the afterword spoken by Margaret Atwood herself from 2017 in which she answers a few common questions about the book and draws parallels to current events.
Does it stand up to the tile of classic? Yes. I can see how this book could speak to many people. Do I liked it? It was ok, but nothing I'll be reading for a second time. The concept of the story was interesting. The writing style engaging. But somehow I found difficult to finish it. Handmaid's tale definetly has my approval and I recommend reading it, but if you find this kind of thing not for you, then go ahead and pick something else to read.
What a book. Gives us a lot to think about, and it was indeed pretty good.
Interesting world building, but impeded by navel gazing prose. Further sullied by an ending that was almost as bad as, "...but it was all a dream!"
After 20+ years, I re-read this book both because my book club is discussing it next week and because I wanted to re-read it in conjunction with the excellent Hulu miniseries. I highly recommend it for the latter purpose, as the ways in which the series diverges from the book are very interesting in themselves. Regardless of whether you are watching the series, this book is a must-read for all women in this extraordinary political climate, as an important reminder of where an autocracy enabled by a populace that embraces the erosion of civil liberties can lead.
Absolutely lived up to the hype.
4.5 stars
I didn't deeply connect with this one, but it was fascinating in a morbid way. I appreciate this genre and the weight of this book's message.
Gripping. Thought-provoking. Disturbing.
This is too damn scary, given the current political climate in the United States. As we swing toward a strong right-wing militaristic future, and male US senators silence their female counterparts, and men decide what rights and healthcare women may keep, this book strikes close to current events.
The Handmaid's Tale depicts a reality that I hope never comes to fruition. I take it as a reminder of what and why we must fight against oppression of women and minorities, relationships, and education. Another reminder that totalitarianism is not a happy and fuzzy place. It is hell, created by other people, that does not benefit but a small portion of society.
“Ordinary, said Aunt Lydia, is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary.”
Let's not let the current climate become ordinary.
The religious right in America seizes control of the government by blaming terrorist acts on Islamic fundamentalists, throwing the country into disarray and confusion, and taking advantage of this to repeal laws giving women equal rights and control of their bodies, and instead dropping the nation into some kind of religious fundamentalist patriarchy where white men rule supreme and women's only purpose is to bear more healthy Caucasian children. This book was written in 1986, hard to believe in 2017 it suddenly seems so very relevant...
an exceptionally depressing account
So. Many. Open. Question! It was a nice book!
