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A review by nuala_koala
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
2.0
2.5
I was expecting to hate this book. I don't know anyone who likes it. I was semi-surprised. I didn't love "The Handmaid's Tale", and I didn't dislike it. It was simply "OK".
Some of my positive points about it include:
- I really liked the amount of description Margaret Atwood included within this book. I found reading this quite a visual experience - through Atwood's writing you could really picture what the setting was like.
- I thought that the way the story was told - in snippets and fragments, was both unique and interesting. While it was sometimes a little bit confusing, it was a fascinating way for the reader to gain more information about Gilead and Offred's life.
- The setting - Gilead, a world where most women were forced to be 'handmaid's to men - was interesting and a unique idea.
Some of the things I didn't like about this book;
- I thought that it should've been a lot shorter. Atwood really tried to keep the plot slow - it moved like frozen molasses, to take a phrase from "Jane Eyre". Many times, I like a slow plot - especially with classics. When the words and writing are rich and beautiful, I enjoy it. But, I feel that Atwood's writing was just not exquisite enough to pull the slow plot off. I will give it to Atwood though - I did want to finish the book. I was just disappointed throughout.
- Building on the first point, it really irritated me that there was a cliffhanger. Atwood had made me read the entire book waiting for something to happen only to leave me on a cliffhanger!? I will inevitably read the second book, though I am worried it will not explain what happened to Offred.
- I also was hoping that Atwood would also delve into how kind and good men can be. The story revolved around men being bad - even the more 'good' ones of the book. For example, even Luke had sexist views, and Nick didn't really care about Offred. I think the story could've been a lot better if Atwood had added another positive male character.
So, overall, The Handmaid's Tale was an OK read. I am definitely not rushing to pick up the next one, which is unusual for a cliffhanger ending.
It deserved 2 stars, so that's what it got.
I was expecting to hate this book. I don't know anyone who likes it. I was semi-surprised. I didn't love "The Handmaid's Tale", and I didn't dislike it. It was simply "OK".
Some of my positive points about it include:
- I really liked the amount of description Margaret Atwood included within this book. I found reading this quite a visual experience - through Atwood's writing you could really picture what the setting was like.
- I thought that the way the story was told - in snippets and fragments, was both unique and interesting. While it was sometimes a little bit confusing, it was a fascinating way for the reader to gain more information about Gilead and Offred's life.
- The setting - Gilead, a world where most women were forced to be 'handmaid's to men - was interesting and a unique idea.
Some of the things I didn't like about this book;
- I thought that it should've been a lot shorter. Atwood really tried to keep the plot slow - it moved like frozen molasses, to take a phrase from "Jane Eyre". Many times, I like a slow plot - especially with classics. When the words and writing are rich and beautiful, I enjoy it. But, I feel that Atwood's writing was just not exquisite enough to pull the slow plot off. I will give it to Atwood though - I did want to finish the book. I was just disappointed throughout.
- Building on the first point, it really irritated me that there was a cliffhanger. Atwood had made me read the entire book waiting for something to happen only to leave me on a cliffhanger!? I will inevitably read the second book, though I am worried it will not explain what happened to Offred.
- I also was hoping that Atwood would also delve into how kind and good men can be. The story revolved around men being bad - even the more 'good' ones of the book. For example, even Luke had sexist views, and Nick didn't really care about Offred. I think the story could've been a lot better if Atwood had added another positive male character.
So, overall, The Handmaid's Tale was an OK read. I am definitely not rushing to pick up the next one, which is unusual for a cliffhanger ending.
It deserved 2 stars, so that's what it got.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Torture, and Cursing