The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) in Our Shared Shelf

Apr 15, 2017 Otis Chandler rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, fiction, dystopian, feminism

A classic dystopian novel published in 1985, but still very relevant - and even trending in 2017 due to the political climate. I liked how it unfolded - we learn about the state of the world and what has happened to it very piecemeal throughout the book, and I think if Atwood had just described it all up front it wouldn't have been nearly as compelling.

This book seems to be a kind of warning. It describes a future state that is chilling and depressing, and yet (to the point) chillingly possible. A classic dystopian novel published in 1985, but still very relevant - and even trending in 2017 due to the political climate. I liked how it unfolded - we learn about the state of the world and what has happened to it very piecemeal throughout the book, and I think if Atwood had just described it all up front it wouldn't have been nearly as compelling.

This book seems to be a kind of warning. It describes a future state that is chilling and depressing, and yet (to the point) chillingly possible. It describes a society that has - for reasons we never quite learn (but might have to do with radiation or sterilization?) remade itself from one where everyone has basic freedom and choice, to one that is the opposite of that. Pleasure, poverty, and other evils are eliminated in this system. And most chillingly, women have almost no rights. The books main character is a "hand maiden" who's only role is to bear children from the person who seems to have purchased/acquired her for that purpose. She doesn't even have a proper name anymore - she is called "Offred" because she is the property "of Fred".

"We were a society dying, said Aunt Lydia, of too much choice."

A lot of the book explores themes like the above - what it would be like to take away basic freedoms, choices, and also ability to have relationships with others. Chilling and depressing, because so much of what we value in modern society is our freedom. And yet, we do know that too much choice does paralyze, and many people want leaders and situations that simplify the decisions they have to make. This might sound like a balance, but its not, because our ability to make choice, especially bad choices, is actually crucial to our development.

"Better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse, for some."

This was an insightful sentence, because it implied the commander thought they were making society better, not worse, overall. And yet clearly for everyone in the book - including the commander - it doesn't sound better. Did they just miss the mark? Was it a big experiment gone wrong? Regardless, in todays world this sentence is perhaps most applicable:

"We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it. Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you'd be boiled to death before you knew it." ...more

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Feb 05, 2018 Neda rated it it was amazing

راوی کتاب زنی است که در خانه یک افسر و همسرش زندگی می‌کند. درحالی‌که داریم از زندگی الان ندیمه می‌شنویم، و از دنیای جدیدی که نرخ زادوولد خیلی پایین اومده، در این دنیای جدید خیلی فقط زنان معدودی هستند که توانایی حامله شدن دارند (ندیمه‌ها). فلش‌بک می‌خوره به سال‌های قبل زندگی راوی. روزهایی که زن بیرون از خانه کار داشته، همسر و یک‌دختر داشته، حساب بانکی داشته. روزهایی که می‌توانست آزادانه هر ساعتی بیرون خانه‌اش برود، حق و حقوق همه افراد جامعه برابر بوده. در مقابل این روزها، روزهایی که افراد جامعه م ...more

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Mar 10, 2007 Rachel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 1001-books-to-read-before-you-die

I'm ashamed to say it took me so long to read this, but now I can say I'm one of the club! Provoked lots of thoughts, and written really well. Am going to attempt Cat-Eyes for the next Atwood novel, but not for awhile. ...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Jill rated it liked it

I initially bought this book last fall because I read an article about Sarah Palin that referenced the book when discussing Palin's role in the Republican party and as John McCain's running mate. I don't think this is the exact article because it specifically draws these parallels, but it's an interesting read: http://www.truthout.org/093008R

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Aug 31, 2007 angeleen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, thegreatamericanread

This book is surprisingly fantastic. I wouldn't think I'd want to read something that could be described as feminist post-apocalyptic science fiction but I did and I loved every second of it. Read it, it's good! ...more

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