Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

306 reviews

marissasa's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I read this classic not knowing anything about it other than that it had a dystopian setting that was very oppressive to women, and I feel like that short description sums up the extent of its social commentary. I wasn't really impressed or moved by the narrative, and while there were a few interesting moments and characters, for the majority of the book I was just bored. I felt like there were a lot of questions and not a lot of answers in this story, and even the answers that were given didn't feel compelling or deep. I am writing this review about a month late after I finished the book and the fact I can barely remember details about it just emphasizes how little this book impacted me or left any kind of memorable impression.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Bullying, Grief, Sexual content, Torture, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

djsei's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Violence, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage

chavonnwshen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is white feminism fodder - the cast is entirely white as literally all the people of color in the book have  been exiled. Despite the book's glaring flaws in the light of intersectional feminism, the prose really is beautiful. The plot is tightly woven and the characters are complex. I can definitely see why it's considered a classic. Not the best book I've ever read, but far from the worst. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Infertility, Trafficking, Torture, Blood, and War

renorsomethin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity, Homophobia, Suicide, Miscarriage, Child death, Abortion, Confinement, Trafficking, Antisemitism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Rape, Violence, Islamophobia, Medical content, and Animal death

christinewonder's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Torture, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Murder, Confinement, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Police brutality

Minor: Vomit, Miscarriage, and War

elanele's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Infertility, Murder, Kidnapping, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Pregnancy, Bullying, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Confinement, Grief, and Miscarriage

Minor: Sexual content, War, Rape, Abortion, Slavery, and Suicide

readwithsophsx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Abortion, Gore, Pregnancy, Rape, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Medical content, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Trafficking, Blood, Deportation, and Murder

lexithelion's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

3.75

Margaret Atwood's writing skill is impeccable, there is absolutely no doubt about that. However, I can acknowledge when a book is simply not for me. Nothing much plot-wise happens in this book as it is more meant, I feel, to embody the bleakness of Offred's situation and the world she is living in. This book is dreary and bland, as the lives of the handmaids are, thus it is an incredible book in that it completes its purpose and makes you feel as though you are living in Gilead. This book is pretty boring, but that seems to be the point. It took me longer than usual to finish this book but if you enjoyed reading it, you would probably also enjoy the TV show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Pregnancy, Death, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Suicide

Moderate: Medical content, Blood, and War

rogier_vdw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Self harm, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Violence, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Blood and Deportation

Minor: Abortion, Child death, and War

mgcalder's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Whilst Margret Attwood is clearly an excellent writer, and the concept of the book is fascinating, I found the story itself to be somewhat lacking. The open ending also seemed at odds with the rest of the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Slavery, Infertility, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War, Body shaming, Death, Self harm, Abortion, Confinement, Medical content, Physical abuse, Blood, Mental illness, and Murder