aryathebrave 's review for:

The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is the graphic novel version of “The Handmaid's Tale”, which follows Offred as she traverses the country of Gilead as a handmaid. She is forced to have sexual relations with the Commander, known as Fred, so he can cause her to have a pregnancy that he can take with his wife.

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I'm not sure if I prefer this version or if I prefer the actual novel. I tore through this graphic novel like I normally would, even though I knew exactly what would happen. I knew how the book would end and I still went through it quickly.

I still want a clearer ending and would love to know what happened to our narrator instead of guesses in the epilogue. However, I know we won't get that unless we get a third novel with the answers I know a lot of us are looking for.

I don't want to provide any spoilers for those who want to read this book for themselves. I'd hate to read a review for spoilers but that's just me. I'd say more about the ending but that would break my personal boundary surrounding spoilers.

I'm hoping we get a graphic novel for [book:The Testaments|42975172] but I suppose we shall see, won't we? I want to see what happens to the narrator of that novel as well since I know who she is but, again, I won't reveal who she is so I won't reveal any spoilers.

Yes, I'd recommend this graphic novel. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I love them. I will say, though, that there were a few pages that I wasn't able to read the narrative on because of the dark background. That's the only thing I didn't like about this graphic novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Deportation

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child death, Confinement, Suicide, Blood, Antisemitism, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol