Red Series

Tuesday 9 August 2016

Book Review: The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale

Title: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Summary from The Book Depository: It is the world of the near future, and Offred is a Handmaid in the home of the Commander and his wife. She is allowed out once a day to the food market, she is not permitted to read, and she is hoping the Commander makes her pregnant, because she is only valued if her ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she was an independent woman, had a job of her own, a husband and child. But all of that is gone now...everything has changed. 

Source: Got it in 2013 for World Book Night.

Buy Link: The Book Depository

Book Review

This book is one of the creepiest things I've read in my life. There are books you'll remember until the day that you die. I think is one you'll remember after your death. Yes I found it that profound. In this world if you're not one lucky woman, you're fucked. Pretty much. There are guys who have it bad too but Lordy, Lord, do women have it bad. Offred's a Handmaid in this world set in a time when women can be captured and forced to be wholesale baby makers. You read that right. There are the lucky ones like the Commander's wife who can live a regular life (minus the ceremony when she has to be present and watch her husband the commander screw Offred in attempts to make her pregnant. You did not read that wrong. She has to be there). Punishment for disobedience ranges from beatings right up to being executed. Offred does recall her life from before when she was allowed to have a job, read, and had a husband and child. All that was torn away from her and she felt her best chance was this horrid life service compared to her other options. Still there's a spark in her and one day it might not be able to stay contained.

Margaret Atwood wrote a marvelous horror story as far as I'm concerned. No that's not it's genre but I'll take the zombie apocalypse over this insanity any day of the week. Wonderful writing, scary future. Love the book, crept out by the premise. What a book to let in schools people. But still an important read none the less. Recommend to those who want to read it. Only those people. *Shivers*

Rating: Five Stars...and a Shower.

P.S.: I decided to randomly open the book and read. Opened it close to chapter 16 then decided to also read the chapter. Big mistake. Not for your little kids to read at all. No. No.

12 comments:

  1. expecting to see how the new adaptation will go!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's a great book, wonderfully told. Atwood is my literary hero, and I'm so happy you liked it too :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Never read the book, just saw the movie with the late Natasha Richardson.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Never heard of it but it sounds fascinating.

    Betty

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an opening to your review. I'm interested in it now.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love books that stick with you and make an impression, even the creepy ones. Wonderful review!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well, it makes me appreciate all my freedoms - having read your review. I'll pass, but thank you for taking one for the women's team, Sheena-kay.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The cover may be reflective of the time in which the book is set, but all the creepiness? The cover doesn't seem to represent that. Harrowing story indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Aussie cover is different of course. Great book. Still seems relevant many years after it was written. Love Margaret Attwood! No, you can't read this one randomly!

    So pleased you're joining the WEP challenge this month!

    Denise:-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've seen the film and it creeped me out. I think I'd find the book too disturbing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I read this a few years ago. It still haunts me, so I understand the need for the shower! Great review.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think the Handmaid's Tale is the kind of dystopian future that many Republicans in the U.S.A. wish would come to pass.

    ReplyDelete

Waiting on Wednesday: Reconnected

Please Note: The final WOW on this blog as I take my final bow this month. I want to thank all readers of this post and all my blogging. I r...