A review by st0bbit
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

duuuude can't believe i haven't read margaret atwood's works before... i love her writing style (at least in this book). it's got a dreamy, transcendent quality that makes me want to reach out and grab onto it??? i was struck by many of the allusions and parallels drawn because of how vivid they made the portrayals become. the gradual explanation of this dystopian world felt natural; i couldn't help but compare it with 1984's worldbuilding and compare them. 1984 has always felt more in-your-face, but with this book it draws you in slowly while the mystery and confusion clouding the reader unravels. books with commentary that touches on social and political themes are always chilling, because they serve to show us how certain aspects of reality can mirror what we read between the pages. nearly 40 years on, this book still feels as potent and relevant as ever