The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood: A Post 16 Study Guide

by Sue Dymoke

Genres: Audiobook, Classics

40 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Anne Degroot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, so relevant to todays issues and political landscape.

[Malek Lubadeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books have left me as disturbed and contemplative as this one. Its exploration of oppression is chilling, though the open-ended conclusion might frustrate some.

[Stephanie Pounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a recent season of the TV show Survivor, contestants stood in shoulder-deep water in the Pacific Ocean. Above their heads was a railing, and as the tide slowly came in they went from chatting amiably with each other to sputtering pitifully, their noses pressed as far through the railing as nature would allow, trying to grab that last bit of air that they could. As I read The Handmaid's Tale, that same deep sense of claustrophobia crept over me. That sudden panic when you realize that everything was just fine a little bit ago, but how in the hell did I get here and will I ever be able to get out? The unnamed handmaid in this case lives in a dystopian future where religious fundamentalists have taken over the United States. Infertility is the norm, so the powers that be enforce a strict interpretation of the Old Testament and conscript young women who may have a chance at being fertile into becoming the handmaids of powerful leaders. Their sole purpose is to bring a baby into the world, and their life is limited to only that. The fact that I felt like I was choking from lack of air most of the time I read this book is testament to Margaret Atwood's fine writing and Clare Dane's masterful narration. This one has been tagged by editors as an Audible Essential, and I agree. Really good book, highly recommended.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm assume that the reason why at the end of the book the publisher adds a Author's Note and Interview with the Author sections is because if that was not added the reader may consider Mrs Atwood a little "kookoo". The first two thirds of the book are weak but the story does pick up at the end and is actually well written. Although the underlying dystopian theme is similar to 1984, I can understand why people have a hard time figuring out it's genre - too vague writing.

[Kayti Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the actual book. It was okay. Not as exciting as I thought it would be. Although it was interesting in some spots it was slow. I know it’s a classic, but not just my style.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good but liked alias grace much better!