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larb's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. I’ll admit that it wasn’t the best book by Atwood I’ve read, and I feel it was a little hyped up. The ending bugged me because I would have liked to know what happens to Offred. I think I was expecting something big to happen at the end, and that just never happened.
kbc1239's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story. Left me with more questions than answers. I was hoping to learn more about how the world ended up that way. At the end there was a little teaser but not enough answers. What about her family? Overall, the story was good and worth the read. Just left too much out there for a higher rating.
gill_scribbles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
allnee's review against another edition
It’s a little too bleak for my current frame of mind. I’ll try it again when I’m in a better headspace.
falberrybots's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
melincourt's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jpbarberis's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nmbx's review against another edition
4.0
4*
I've recently started reading and enjoying dystopian novels. I had quite high hopes for this novel and I was not disappointed.
After the first third of the book I found that I couldn't put it down, I was hungry to know more and to find out what would happen to Offred and the other Handmaids. The first third gave little away and didn't grip me instantly, I knew I would have to read on to be consumed and once I did I was well and truly hooked.
Atwood's language is spellbinding. Her use of metaphors is what stood out the most to me and added to my enjoyment of the book:
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze"
The use of metaphors along with other linguistic technique pulled me into Offred's story like I was a fly on the wall. The things that Offred had to endure were horrific. This really created a sense of panic and a longing for Offred to escape. This is also possibly the first time that an open-ending has not infuriated me. All I wanted was a way out for Offred - whether or not she escaped to better or worse things, she escaped her present situation, I was just relieved that she had managed to break free of her monotonous existance. To me, this was more compelling than a 'happily ever after'.
I found the lack of quotation marks messy which often made the text difficult for me to read, having to re-read sections to ensure I was understanding whether it was the narrator or the character speaking. Once I had changed the way I approached this style of writing, it didn't take anything away from my enjoyment.
For me, this book was not a feminist book. Possibly because I'm not a feminist - I just believe that a human being is a human being and all should be treated fairly and equally. For me this was a book about a failed society and I would have loved to know a little more about how the society in the book had ended up this way, however the lack of information, I believe, is intended to leave us with these questions so that we ponder if this is possible in the real world.
A great read, I am looking forward to watching the TV series as I have heard great things about it.
I've recently started reading and enjoying dystopian novels. I had quite high hopes for this novel and I was not disappointed.
After the first third of the book I found that I couldn't put it down, I was hungry to know more and to find out what would happen to Offred and the other Handmaids. The first third gave little away and didn't grip me instantly, I knew I would have to read on to be consumed and once I did I was well and truly hooked.
Atwood's language is spellbinding. Her use of metaphors is what stood out the most to me and added to my enjoyment of the book:
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze"
The use of metaphors along with other linguistic technique pulled me into Offred's story like I was a fly on the wall. The things that Offred had to endure were horrific. This really created a sense of panic and a longing for Offred to escape. This is also possibly the first time that an open-ending has not infuriated me. All I wanted was a way out for Offred - whether or not she escaped to better or worse things, she escaped her present situation, I was just relieved that she had managed to break free of her monotonous existance. To me, this was more compelling than a 'happily ever after'.
I found the lack of quotation marks messy which often made the text difficult for me to read, having to re-read sections to ensure I was understanding whether it was the narrator or the character speaking. Once I had changed the way I approached this style of writing, it didn't take anything away from my enjoyment.
For me, this book was not a feminist book. Possibly because I'm not a feminist - I just believe that a human being is a human being and all should be treated fairly and equally. For me this was a book about a failed society and I would have loved to know a little more about how the society in the book had ended up this way, however the lack of information, I believe, is intended to leave us with these questions so that we ponder if this is possible in the real world.
A great read, I am looking forward to watching the TV series as I have heard great things about it.
wolfgold's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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? Yes
4.0
yeshi's review against another edition
5.0
This dystopian book was a pure beauty with an excellent excellent narrative! Set in the Republic of Gilead, people with fast-fading memories of the world that used to be, of the world where women were women and not just a set of ovaries. In the strange world, as depressing as it might get, there threads a thin -almost fading- line of what 'seems' like courage and what looks like hope but maybe really isn't. I am not sure and I don't want to be. Only if I had better words.
The Handmaids, the marthas, the jezebels, unwomen, econowives, aunts, daughters, keepers, shedders, wives and their worshipful duties. Praise be! This book will remain one of my top reads for a long time from now.
The Handmaids, the marthas, the jezebels, unwomen, econowives, aunts, daughters, keepers, shedders, wives and their worshipful duties. Praise be! This book will remain one of my top reads for a long time from now.