Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

72 reviews

eryncaroline's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I started watching the TV show as the seasons have been coming out and I had never read the book, which I knew I needed to correct. I love and appreciate this show and was so excited to finally read the book. It was a surprise to me that "June" in the book is nameless, and that hits much harder than I expected. I was also shocked that this only covers the first season of the show, but what a fantastic story. The storytelling and the perspective of the book really envelop you. I felt closer to the characters because of the show and genuinely felt myself wishing this book was much longer. The ending really surprised me, and I read that final chapter with my mouth wide open. Fantastic storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Infertility, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage

puseyhawk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

OMGOODNESS!!! This was STUNNING! The writing… delectable. The story…  challenging. The world building… encapsulating. The questions raised… confronting. The future portrayed… terrifying. 

This was such a dark, difficult, disturbing, yet gripping read. I was so taken aback by the writing style, the voice, the main character, the themes, the world building, the complex issues and ideas being addressed, the narrative structure, and even the narrative framing device used at the end. This is a complex and layered yet very primal emotional read. Just a harrowing tale to read. Honestly… I just loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Murder, Slavery, Racism, Suicide, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Infertility, Classism, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, War, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Abortion

nomili's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Infertility, Rape, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

kayjezza's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Murder, Death, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, and Confinement

The story is sort of based around the concept of sort of mandatory sex with a random person assigned to you. And that person is treated like Harry Potter in his broom cupboard, except they go to school for child bearing not magic and aren’t allowed to have friends.

sashtastic3's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A very good book. The story telling was interesting as was the dark horrific plot. The only thing that bothered me was the lack of indication of who was speaking and the lack of quotation marks in the book.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship, Slavery, Abortion, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

_elli_'s review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Murder, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Gaslighting

sav_22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Oddly, I did not feel as strongly for this as I did the show adaptation. I feel like it wasn’t as easy to connect to the story as much. Pacing was quick and it left you feeling hollow and sad; this was likely the point, but it didn’t really have any development other than world-building. this has a nihilistic perspective, which can be more impactful for the message depending on how you go into it.

the show covers this entirely in just season 1, except a few passages here and there. The show explores this concept far more deeply and gives Offred more depth and personhood. Her real name is never mentioned in the book, as the show takes many creative liberties to explore the concept more.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Blood, Body shaming, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infertility, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Self harm, Abandonment, and Ableism

elizlizabeth's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

4.0

Very immersive, the writing style made me feel so disoriented but in a good way, as if I myself were a part of this dystopian world and couldn't know real from fantasy. It is not an action packed, heroic tale, but rather a testimony of an almost passive observer. I personally enjoyed being able to explore this kind of story from a different POV, but might not be everyone's cuppa.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Torture and Religious bigotry

sareidle's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual harassment, Infertility, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Suicide

annelisedreyer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Terrifying yet captivating. A must read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Classism, Homophobia, Rape, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Infertility, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault