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What Members Thought
Honestly more of a 4.5, but I decided to round up because I really did love the book. I haven't read this since my early 20s and I appreciate it just as much, if not more this time around. I've been recently reading some books dealing with slavery too and I am fascinated with how the human spirit resists attempts to crush it completely - both fictional and true. I think this book is so chilling because it doesn't seem too far outside the realm of possibility - which I'm sure is why the book is h
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So I finally read one of the most iconic pieces of Canadian Literature. And this one being my second title from Atwood, I have to say the lady is very reliable for churning out disturbing cautionary tales of bleak future. Her stories don't particularly blow me away, but they still manage to provoke deep thoughts and glue me to their pages for hours. I highlighted the crap out of my copy, and I'm sure I'll be thinking about some of the passages for a long while.
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Quotes/parts I liked:
We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.
We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom.
We lived in the gaps between the stories.
But remember that forgiveness too is a power. To beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest.
Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isn't really about who can own whom ...more
We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.
We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom.
We lived in the gaps between the stories.
But remember that forgiveness too is a power. To beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest.
Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isn't really about who can own whom ...more
I don't like the science-fiction novels or the novels that give a pessimistic view of future. this book is very controversial. In one review, I have read that the way the Islamic Regime of Iran behave Iranian women to force to wear scarf and hijab inspired Margaret Atwood in this novel. the book won literary award and the critics welcome it, however, I don't like it. The way she explains the women's status in this imaginary society is totally pessimistic.
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To say this book is beautifully written is an understatement. To be reading it during this time in history is especially harrowing. This should be required reading. The ending came up and gut punched me, but after reflection, it makes perfect sense. The Hulu show has done an excellent job with the source material and is exquisitely acted. Do both, share it with loved ones and stay alert in the #resistance.
I could not get into this book at all. I read up to page 110 and kept waiting for the book to get better but it doesn't. I finally decided to give up on it. There was too much violence and sexual scenes involving forced rape for me to enjoy it. I hate not finishing a book but this one I gave up on reading!need to retry to read this book now.
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This was a strange book. I was compelled to read and finish it though. We did have an interesting discussion at book club. As being mostly women we were very much appalled and yet we knew it could easily happen. I don't want to be a doomsday person but it definitely reminded me that history repeats itself.
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A gripping tale of life in a theocracy. A distopian US has been taken over by a Christian fundamentalist theocracy, which severely represses women. A harrowing tale.
4.5 felt a little slow for me to get into, but wow.
Jan 22, 2012
Audrey
marked it as to-read
Oct 22, 2012
Alex
marked it as to-read
Mar 18, 2015
Anna Katharine
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
too-good-to-read-only-once,
2015
Apr 04, 2015
Lindsay
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
z-own,
z-own-hardcover
Feb 08, 2016
Nikki Spencer
marked it as to-read
Jan 11, 2017
Maddie **~~MotherOfOneDragon~~**
marked it as to-read
