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dorhi's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Gilead is a anarchist-Christian state that manages to take over much of the east coast of the USA and enforce their extremist religious beliefs due to the infertility crisis that seems to be infecting the US in particular. It's somewhat scary to think this book was written almost 40 years ago and how relevant and modern some of the concepts of this still are. This idea of women only worth anything for their wombs is still scarily common and often in the mainstream discussions surrounding feminism and what it means to be a woman. This book (and subsequent show) should serve as a warning to those who want to dilute the meaning of womanhood and wrapping it up so securely with fertility that this can not be the defining feature of a human, and yet is still happens so often.
I did enjoy this book, but I have seen the 5 seasons of the show that have been released so far so it was quite difficult for me to line up some of the events and characters described in the book with what they are like in the show. Janine especially seems a completely different character. June herself is much changed in the show as she is a particularly driven and vengeful woman hellbent on reuniting with her daughter, Hannah, and getting out of Gilead. June in the book seems a little more realistic in her downtrodden and 'used to this' kind of feel. It's a depressing read at times, but a fascinating one.
Graphic: Abortion, Pregnancy, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia
evelyncore's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Pregnancy
zazzisara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
warriors123's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Graphic: Torture, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Rape
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Mental illness, Alcohol, and Murder
aubsends's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Infertility, Rape, War, Murder, Torture, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
gabramovitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, and Suicide
booksnobb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Sexism, Pregnancy, Cursing, Infidelity, War, Infertility, Rape, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Animal cruelty, Blood, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, and Animal death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Abortion, Stalking, Gun violence, Murder, Vomit, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
florenceassetto's review against another edition
- 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
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
eldritch_ace's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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.
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Misogyny