You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
peachmoni 's review for:
The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this even more upon a reread. (There was also a very informative and thought-provoking readalong that I joined here!)
It's tough reading this in a time when many of Gilead's tactics are being used in real life. Of course, Atwood drew from events that already happened to shape this world. Why shouldn't those events happen again? Sometimes it feels like authoritarianism is inevitable, but I choose to take heart in the fact that acts of resistance persist. In the book, there are many groups and individuals who fight back in whatever way they can. To me, no act is too small: carving a secret message, reading when you're not supposed to, escaping or helping others escape.
It's tough reading this in a time when many of Gilead's tactics are being used in real life. Of course, Atwood drew from events that already happened to shape this world. Why shouldn't those events happen again? Sometimes it feels like authoritarianism is inevitable, but I choose to take heart in the fact that acts of resistance persist. In the book, there are many groups and individuals who fight back in whatever way they can. To me, no act is too small: carving a secret message, reading when you're not supposed to, escaping or helping others escape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Classism