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timidizzy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-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? No
5.0
lilyloveslit's review against another edition
5.0
I loved and hated this book. It was hard to read and affected me deeply. I will be processing its contents long after I've closed it.
the_bookish_hungarian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
_naturalilac's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
interesting but probably would've enjoyed more if it wasn't for school
bethgold's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
djdimond's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
daphx00's review against another edition
4.0
This book may be written over 25 years ago, but as of today its story is still extremely believable en eerily realistic. It's a gripping story and the realistic feeling of the book is what make it such a good book.
The main character, Offred, is a Handmaid, a woman who is in the household to get pregnant so she can ensure offspring for the couple she lives with. This involves doctor visits and a monthly 'session' with the Commander, on a specific date to ensure the best change of the Handmaid getting pregnant, while his wife looks on. This specific part of her role unleashed a whole ray of emotions with me, none of them good ones. Handmaids have no choice in the matter and are to do as the rules say, so they can stay where they are instead of being sent out to work in the Colonies to clean up the pollution, most likely killing them. It's picking the lesser of two evils.
It made me realize how much freedom we have right now, and how much we actually take that for granted. Women's rights are quickly stripped away from the characters in the book and they are being used as property, unless it involved one of the elite women, who of course, had more rights. On average, women have few rights, if they have any, and it may sound hard to believe, but Atwood has a certain talent of writing it in a way that's incredibly believable.
I have to admit that I have a really hard time putting my thoughts on this book into words. It's a gripping story, compelling, realistic, and very well written. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story that may introduce you to an adult dystopian novel, without travelling too far away from the YA genre or reading about less realistic societies. The Handmaid's Tale is a story that will stick with me, gruesome as it is, and it has made me curious about her other dystopian novels.
My overall rating: 4/5
Four stars for Offred's story - only the open ending keeping me away from a full five star rating.
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This review was published on Loving Books.
The main character, Offred, is a Handmaid, a woman who is in the household to get pregnant so she can ensure offspring for the couple she lives with. This involves doctor visits and a monthly 'session' with the Commander, on a specific date to ensure the best change of the Handmaid getting pregnant, while his wife looks on. This specific part of her role unleashed a whole ray of emotions with me, none of them good ones. Handmaids have no choice in the matter and are to do as the rules say, so they can stay where they are instead of being sent out to work in the Colonies to clean up the pollution, most likely killing them. It's picking the lesser of two evils.
It made me realize how much freedom we have right now, and how much we actually take that for granted. Women's rights are quickly stripped away from the characters in the book and they are being used as property, unless it involved one of the elite women, who of course, had more rights. On average, women have few rights, if they have any, and it may sound hard to believe, but Atwood has a certain talent of writing it in a way that's incredibly believable.
I have to admit that I have a really hard time putting my thoughts on this book into words. It's a gripping story, compelling, realistic, and very well written. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story that may introduce you to an adult dystopian novel, without travelling too far away from the YA genre or reading about less realistic societies. The Handmaid's Tale is a story that will stick with me, gruesome as it is, and it has made me curious about her other dystopian novels.
My overall rating: 4/5
Four stars for Offred's story - only the open ending keeping me away from a full five star rating.
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This review was published on Loving Books.