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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In this time, the book is incredibly important and depressing. Personally the ending pissed me off, don’t try to make me feel hopeful for Offred, the entire book was just depressing event onto depressing event. But don’t get me wrong I understand the need for an ambiguous ending, especially here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I needed up liking this way more than I thought I woild. Honestly a little scared reading this since the current state of the world is getting dangerously close to this. In my littke head canons, the main character is queer on some way shape or form but that is neither here nor there. This book brought the modd all the way down to the floor whenever I read it, but I didn't mind. I did have to read this for school by the way.
I had seen the 1990 movie with Natasha Richardson, so I knew the basics going in. I couldn't remember many details, though, and I'm glad of that, because it let me really "experience" the events through Offred's reconstruction (which is what she called it). I found myself thinking an awful lot about what my position would be in this new society as well as how to adjust like Offred and the others had to. It would be incredibly difficult to go from reading a book and typing a review one day to not being allowed to read at all the next and having my every move scripted. It's chilling.
The pace of the book isn't very fast, and I appreciated that. It helped me feel what she was feeling, which enriched the experience for me. I found it haunting and beautiful even in its harshness.
This next part will be a little political - sorry about that, but I feel it must be included. This is the last paragraph, so you can skip it if you'd like. We would like to think that the society in this book could never come to pass here in the US, but with the way things have been developing the last few years (just think of how little women have a say in their health care some places and how the conservatives are getting more conservative), something like this really isn't too far fetched. I don't have any answers on how we can guard against it except for continuing to fight for women's rights.
The pace of the book isn't very fast, and I appreciated that. It helped me feel what she was feeling, which enriched the experience for me. I found it haunting and beautiful even in its harshness.
This next part will be a little political - sorry about that, but I feel it must be included. This is the last paragraph, so you can skip it if you'd like. We would like to think that the society in this book could never come to pass here in the US, but with the way things have been developing the last few years (just think of how little women have a say in their health care some places and how the conservatives are getting more conservative), something like this really isn't too far fetched. I don't have any answers on how we can guard against it except for continuing to fight for women's rights.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Handmaid's Tale is well worth a re-read. It was even better than what I remembered from reading it in high school. When I think of how daring the subject is and how new the book was back then, it really makes me admire my HS English teacher.