A review by salem0
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

dark inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

as i do with most books, i'm writing this review after several months of reflection.

so... i really wanted to love this, especially after watching the incredible (at least till s4/5) show. i do think this story has some powerful messages, an interesting concept, it's good at making you feel tense, and it really makes you reflect on how women's rights are like in this age- gilead brings to mind many current events that have occurred (particularly in 2022). i thought the ending was very thought-provoking too. but overall it just didn't do it for me. it's a nice enough book, but to me it wasn't very outstanding, and a bit dull in some parts. i appreciate this nevertheless, for its impact on modern lit and discussion of feminism.

edit: did a reread, 23/05/24
this is definitely better than i remember. the prose is actually so wonderfully written, if very confusing at times. the story of offred is so compelling, her story is one of the most human stories i've read in a while. i've boosted the rating in reflection of that.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings