From the Bookshelf of Reading List Completists…

The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)

Margaret Atwood

Start date: January 1, 2017

Finish date: January 31, 2017

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the January 2017 Thug Notes Poll
[close] Winner of the January 2017 Thug Notes Poll

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What Members Thought

Mar 17, 2017 Michael Finocchiaro rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, novels, canadian-20th-c, fiction, feminism, arthur-clarke-award-winner, made-into-movie

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a tale of terror as well as a warning. The dystopian future she describes in "Gilead" which appears to be centered in Boston (due to the reference to Mass Ave and the town of Salem) is chillingly misogynistic where women are reduced to strict categories: Martha for housework and cooking, Jezebels (easy to guess, right?), Eyes, Angels (soldiers for the state), infertile Wives and potentially fertile Handmaids. It is beautifully written with lots of flashba Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a tale of terror as well as a warning. The dystopian future she describes in "Gilead" which appears to be centered in Boston (due to the reference to Mass Ave and the town of Salem) is chillingly misogynistic where women are reduced to strict categories: Martha for housework and cooking, Jezebels (easy to guess, right?), Eyes, Angels (soldiers for the state), infertile Wives and potentially fertile Handmaids. It is beautifully written with lots of flashbacks of "Offred",
the protagonist's name, of how things devolved into the horrors of her present. It is disturbing because it exposes the politics of reproduction and male sexuality taken to extremes of violence that are shocking and, yet, probably seemed one possible future during the Reaganite 80s when she wrote the book and now feel like the world of which Michael Pence in particular and perhaps Paul Ryan but most definitely Steve Bannon must dream. Could things so change as quickly as she describes in the book? Let us hope not. #resist

It is certainly the most explicitly feminist dystopian book I have ever read. It was thought-provoking cover to cover.

All in all, a very well-written feminist text that should serve as a clarion call for defending women's rights to maintain control over their own bodies and lives now and forever.

Just found this article about my last point: here

Drumpf's sexist, violent tweet against Morning Joe and the escalating attacks against reproductive freedom are moving the American experiment dangerously towards Atwood's Gilead. #resist

Apparently, there are also changes at the CIA that bring the spectre of Gilead a little closer. In another note, I just got Mona Eltahawy's Headscarves and Hymens which is also on subject.

Any of my review readers want to tell me whether the Hulu show about this book is worth my time or not?
[UPDATE] I have watched the first two seasons of the Hulu series and am hooked. That being said, I have watched 5 episodes of S03 and been disappointed. For those who may not know, only S01 is based on the book. The other two seasons are new writing (but with Margaret Atwood supervising the writer's room).

I am quite interested to know if anyone has already read the sequel that was just published in September 2019?
[UPDATE] The sequel The Testaments was pretty good. My review here. ...more

622 likes · Like · see review

Feb 23, 2018 Henry rated it did not like it

Did not live up to the hype. It’s no wonder I never really heard about this book until the TV series came out. Elizabeth Moss is a terrific actress. This book—meh. Slow, convoluted writing, and not credible plot. It seems to be a book written over 30 years ago which suddenly became relevant in the age of “We hate all men.”

58 likes · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2019 Caroline rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: feminist, favorites

INCREDIBLE! It took me a long time to read this (seriously, it sat on my shelf for about three years oops) but once I got started I could not put it down.

It's a beautifully written, horrifying story that seems quite relevant at the moment. I loved every moment of it and am quite looking forward to diving into the show. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2017 Melody rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a book I wanted to have read, but didn't want to actually sit down and read. Luckily peer pressure came to the rescue and now I have, in fact, read it.

The Handmaid's Tale is extremely uncomfortable, but brilliant. Also terrifying. ...more

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Oct 27, 2017 Jeff rated it liked it

Shelves: my-library, college-for-an-old-man

cop out ending.

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Dec 27, 2014 Kristina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, scifi, favorites, complex-women, literary, writing-examples, wow-thats-fucked-up, go-to-recs, makes-me-cry, i-support-womens-wrongs