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

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

If I must say something good about The Handmaid’s Tale, that something is Atwood’s ability to capture the mood of the book perfectly. Even though the long, dull descriptions bored me to death, they sure succeeded in expressing the feel of Offred’s humdrum but distressing life. The book is exactly as uncomfortable as it should be. It was also confusing, though, which I doubt was intentional. It also lacked intersectionality and diversity, and every single character felt shallow. The concept of Gilead, a country ruled by Christian extremists, was only barely interesting and well-structured enough to keep my interest.