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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
No
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-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
Easily one of my favourite books of all time. I still think about it years later!
dark
reflective
tense
3.5
“Because I'm telling you this story I will your existence. I tell, therefore you are.”
“Because I'm telling you this story I will your existence. I tell, therefore you are.”
Whew. Where do I even begin? I find it much easier to write a review about a book that I dislike than one that I really enjoyed. No, that I really appreciated. I appreciated it so much that I am having a hard time browsing the one star reviews and being tolerant of them and their insults. I've grown protective of this one. I do not understand the writing style being confusing. I don't understand why people have such a difficult time when quotation marks are missing. I am really baffled by this. I get a little bit like this about the negative comments:
But moving on (because everyone has their own opinion and so on and so forth)...
I adored the writing style and did not find it difficult to read/follow/etc. I was hooked on the prose within the first few pages and found myself lingering because I didn't want the book to be over. I didn't want to chance picking up my next read and having it feel inadequate next to this writing of wonder woman Atwood.
Offred, our main character, is a Handmaid. She is there to have sex with the Commander in hopes of getting pregnant because his wife cannot (because she is a billion years old just like her husband is, but he is not at fault because men cannot be blamed for being impotent). Most of the admiration I felt for Offred came from her thoughts and not from her actions. Her memories of her husband, Luke, and her daughter broke my heart. I thought of my own daughter.
Most of the dystopia I have read has been limited to YA, which is usually pretty action packed and not-so-serious. The exception would be [b:The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600241424l/6288._SY75_.jpg|3355573], which I really enjoyed. Don't get me wrong, I love my YA ones as well, but they have a bit more "fluff" to them that makes for great pacing. Don't read this if you are expecting some huge, in-your-face event. This is a little more quiet than that, quiet like Offred. That doesn't mean I wasn't blown away. There were memories and thoughts that Offred had that made me feel like I should cherish my life a little bit more, cherish my relationships, my family a little bit more.
I'd like to have Luke here, in this bedroom while I'm getting dressed, so I could have a fight with him. Absurd, but that's what I want. An argument, about who should put the dishes in the dishwasher, whose turn it is to sort the laundry, clean the toilet; something daily and unimportant in the big scheme of things. We could even have a fight about that, about unimportant, important. What a luxury it would be. Not that we did it much. These days I script whole fights, in my head, and the reconciliations afterwards too.
Like that. Something that would never, ever cross my mind that I would miss if I couldn't have it. But she makes me think that I would, too. I started to feel a connection with Offred, which is something I hope to do with the characters in every book I read but mostly cannot. I cared what happened to her. I wished the best for her. I sought ever silver lining I could in reading between the lines. I like that Atwood didn't just shove it in my face, I had to work to think about it.
Beautiful book. I am very glad I read it. Solid 5 stars from me.
But moving on (because everyone has their own opinion and so on and so forth)...
I adored the writing style and did not find it difficult to read/follow/etc. I was hooked on the prose within the first few pages and found myself lingering because I didn't want the book to be over. I didn't want to chance picking up my next read and having it feel inadequate next to this writing of wonder woman Atwood.
Offred, our main character, is a Handmaid. She is there to have sex with the Commander in hopes of getting pregnant because his wife cannot (because she is a billion years old just like her husband is, but he is not at fault because men cannot be blamed for being impotent). Most of the admiration I felt for Offred came from her thoughts and not from her actions. Her memories of her husband, Luke, and her daughter broke my heart. I thought of my own daughter.
Most of the dystopia I have read has been limited to YA, which is usually pretty action packed and not-so-serious. The exception would be [b:The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600241424l/6288._SY75_.jpg|3355573], which I really enjoyed. Don't get me wrong, I love my YA ones as well, but they have a bit more "fluff" to them that makes for great pacing. Don't read this if you are expecting some huge, in-your-face event. This is a little more quiet than that, quiet like Offred. That doesn't mean I wasn't blown away. There were memories and thoughts that Offred had that made me feel like I should cherish my life a little bit more, cherish my relationships, my family a little bit more.
I'd like to have Luke here, in this bedroom while I'm getting dressed, so I could have a fight with him. Absurd, but that's what I want. An argument, about who should put the dishes in the dishwasher, whose turn it is to sort the laundry, clean the toilet; something daily and unimportant in the big scheme of things. We could even have a fight about that, about unimportant, important. What a luxury it would be. Not that we did it much. These days I script whole fights, in my head, and the reconciliations afterwards too.
Like that. Something that would never, ever cross my mind that I would miss if I couldn't have it. But she makes me think that I would, too. I started to feel a connection with Offred, which is something I hope to do with the characters in every book I read but mostly cannot. I cared what happened to her. I wished the best for her. I sought ever silver lining I could in reading between the lines. I like that Atwood didn't just shove it in my face, I had to work to think about it.
Beautiful book. I am very glad I read it. Solid 5 stars from me.
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I thought it was a very interesting novel. It has an agenda, but it was informative and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love true dystopian literature/political satire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Cursing
Some of the language is vulgar, but this seems to be a plot device
Scary rereading this one now but it’s still such an amazing book
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
What a messed up story. Good, but very disturbing.