Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

170 reviews

kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content

Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

hey_whatsoever's review

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Murder and War

sestout's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gore, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and War

katie0528's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I've never actually picked up this book until now, despite being an advid watcher of the TV show. The book follows "Offred" as she serves as a "Handmaid" in an alternate timeline. While some aspects of the book still really hit home in 2024, I think I was just expecting more. Offred's knowledge of the world around her is very limited, at least that she is willing to share in the story, and while that makes sense, I just wish we could see more of the world and the resistance or lack thereof. The fall of America is only briefly alluded to despite Offred living through it, and the epilogue set in the far future with mock historians discussing the book offers little additional clarity to the settings or characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Police brutality

alixbx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

To be edited when I can compose my thoughts.

This main character is a piece of work (derogatory) but the story’s major elements are so relevant all these decades after it’s first publication. I don’t know yet how to reconcile that I hate the main character so much and yet feel that this should be required reading.

Full thoughts to come in an edit, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

This book is explicit in every topic it addresses, and it is addressed through the mind of the main character who sexualizes everything, no matter how unnecessarily. It is often without warning, too, so you can’t even skip over it if you think it’s coming up. It’s also graphic in every other way, too.

avpapato's review

dark 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? Yes

4.0

I had some issues with the writing style, but overall thought this was a decent book. I understand why it's considered a modern classic.

I felt the inclusion of a "historical notes" section - which the author admitted in a BBC interview I listened to was cribbed from 1984 - was a jarring tone shift after the previous chapter, but in considering it as essentially a separate document about the book, or an addendum, I appreciate learning more about the politics and cultural shifts of the time than Offred was able to glean.

That said, it's perfectly readable without the last chapter, and may be more enjoyable without.
That is, if you can stand how Atwood tries to end every paragraph with a poignant one-liner.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, and Alcohol

sophie42's review against another edition

dark reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, and Medical trauma

Minor: Infidelity and Abortion

gabbygarcia's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Torture, Vomit, and War

parent-child separation

kiesha's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• 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: Death, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

coffeedumps's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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? No

4.5

When the classic is a classic 😳
No bc like how much are you willing to sacrifice to keep hold of your sense of morality??? Miss Atwood shoves that question right in your face. Legend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Suicide