Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

358 reviews

florenceassetto's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

i LOVE the handmaid's tale! most definitely did myself a disservice in taking so long to get through it but the honest and rawness of the sentiments that offred echoes are so captivating for a reader and i cannot help but hurt for her in her suffering. i think handmaid's is so painfully relevant to the modern reader, just as it was when it first came out in the 1980s, and it speaks so truly to societal attitudes to what it means to be a woman, love, sex and sexuality, patriarchy and so much more. i would always recommend this book 100%, one of my favourite dystopias out there and truly a classic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Infertility, Misogyny, Trafficking, Death, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Confinement, Violence, Miscarriage, Torture, Sexual content, Rape, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Antisemitism

kathastrophies's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: War, Sexism, and Sexual assault

eldritch_ace's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Death, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Self harm, Antisemitism, and Confinement

Minor: Classism, Death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide attempt, Grief, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Abortion, Miscarriage, War, Alcohol, Violence, and Medical content

latoyareadsdaily's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

 This is my first Atwood book and I found it to be a realistic dystopian story. I appreciated it for what is: a story from what seems to be an unreliable narrator who just wanted to be free but endeavoured to live according to the rules of the system until she found what she thought was a pleasurable distraction.

I read the introduction by Atwood and that alone made me salivate for the story. I really liked the writing style because I was immediately transported to Offred's world and I saw some glimpses into "June's" world before she became a nameless womb for the system. I didn't know what to expect each time I had interaction with the book which was over a few weeks as I really took my time on the only part of the book I didn't like: the academic presentation that I understood but did not feel like it was necessary. It just seemed like an afterthought that made me angry because it spoiled the story for me.

I believe June's story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Misogyny

tieflingmom's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Police brutality, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexism, Torture, Sexual content, Death, Infertility, Child death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, War, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Racism, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Suicide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Medical content

eryncaroline's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I started watching the TV show as the seasons have been coming out and I had never read the book, which I knew I needed to correct. I love and appreciate this show and was so excited to finally read the book. It was a surprise to me that "June" in the book is nameless, and that hits much harder than I expected. I was also shocked that this only covers the first season of the show, but what a fantastic story. The storytelling and the perspective of the book really envelop you. I felt closer to the characters because of the show and genuinely felt myself wishing this book was much longer. The ending really surprised me, and I read that final chapter with my mouth wide open. Fantastic storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Infertility, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage

bri_likestoread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I'm glad I watched the series first. I think it helped me follow the story better since I already had a visual. The writing style was confusing or the story was just hard to follow, and maybe it was supposed to be that way due to the trauma in the main characters life. I still enjoyed it and would definitely like to read the 2nd book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Rape, Infertility, Self harm, and Sexual assault

arifairy's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Sexual violence, War, Torture, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

lhorner06's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.75

I didn't much like the ending seemed a little rushed and not quite to quality of the rest of the book, though I'm hoping that The Testaments will clear that up. Easy to read and very enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Misogyny, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

capybara5's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Self harm